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Content Creator, Skit Makers Get Boost In Edo, As FG Sets Up Digital Hub In Benin

Published

10 months ago

February 12, 2025

The Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Charles Ebuebu, on Wednesday, revealed plans by his agency to partner with Edo State Government to create a digital hub that will enhance better broadcasting services, content development, skit making, among others in the state.

The DG, who stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Monday Okpebholo in Government House, Benin City, disclosed that this would be achieved through Edo State Broadcasting Service (EBS).

A statement signed by Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, quoted The NBC boss, as saying, “We have shared some of the ideas, and we commend you, Your Excellency, on your remarkable achievements in a few months in office.

“We are ready to partner the administration on some of the objectives to enable us to bring up the standard of broadcasting in Edo State and empower the youths, using EBS as a platform.

“NBC will collaborate with your administration to develop the youths and harness their talents, using EBS as a viable platform.

“We have youths with so much content, but no platform to put the contents.

“We will partner with EBS to create that platform that the youths will explore to break even.The partnership will equally help EBS to grow.

“The visit is very promising, and NBC chose to partner with Edo State, which is the first amongst other States. We are partnering with his administration to see what we can do with the media on how to empower the youths to produce more contents and be able to give a platform where they can be visible in Nigeria. Also, all over the world and be able to monetize their contents.

“Our visit to the Governor is very rewarding. We have been able to touch on certain initiatives which we have the mandate to deploy all over the country, and that is a digital switch over. That is, we are digitalizing signals, clearer pictures, and more content.”

In his response, Okpebholo commended the NBC for choosing to partner with the Edo State Government.

He said his administration will create an enabling environment to ensure that the partnership is successful.

He noted that the NBC decided to partner with his administration and use EBS as a platform after recognizing the very many achievements recorded in just a few months.

He assured the NBC that the necessary support needed to enable broadcasting to thrive in Edo State will be provided.

“I want to welcome you to Edo State, and you have started well by choosing to partner with us in the State. Edo is a home of history and culture. We have everything here. Coming to partner with us shows you recognize what we are doing in Edo State,” Governor Okpebholo noted.

On his part, Managing Director, EBS, Sulaiman Aledeh, commended the Okpebholo-led administration for the developmental strides EBS has received in the last few months of the current administration.

He noted that in less than 100 days in office, the Okpebholo administration has been able to revive the EBS station in Ihievbe, Edo North, which has been down for over a decade.

“I never saw this day coming where a regulator will come to partner with us. This has been made possible because of the road map given to us by his Excellency, Governor Monday Okpebholo.

“In less than 100 days in office, our office at Ihievbe has been activated by Governor Okpebholo, a station that has been down for over a decade. Our key focus with that station is to bring back Edo language and pigin to spice up our broadcasting,” he said.

He noted that the partnership will yield better results, as Edo State has a lot of content creators and skit makers, among others.

News

IYC Expresses Displeasure Over Okpebholo’s Neglect Of Edo Ijaw

Published

60 minutes ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, have expressed displeasure over what they described as the “persistent marginalisation of the Ijaw political class, traditional institutions and the ongoing abandonment of Ijaw communities,” by the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led Edo State government.

The IYC, in a statement jointly signed by Comrade Nicholas Igrama, Barr. Ebi Olowolayemo and Comrade Tare Magbei, Western Zone Chairman, Secretary and Information Officer respectively, lamented that despite the “massive support Ijaw people gave to Okpebholo across the five Ijaw clans in the state,” not a single appointment has been given to the Ijaw speaking people in the state.

The statement which was made available to newsmen in Benin on Tuesday, said that the “conspicuously absent of Ijaw man or woman in the State Executive Council,” gives credence to their claim.

The IYC, while stating that “we state this not out of bitterness or entitlement, but as a call for fairness, equity, and justice,” emphasized that “despite our enormous contributions to the state’s treasury through natural and human resources, Edo Ijaws remain conspicuously absent in the State Executive Council.”

The statement reads: “It is important to remind the Governor that the Ijaw nation mobilised massive support across the five Ijaw clans in Edo State to ensure his victory at the polls.

“Our voice was loud, our mobilisation was firm, and our votes counted significantly toward the success of this administration.

“Regrettably, one year after, this government has not deemed it necessary to appoint a single individual from the Ijaw extraction, nor has it addressed the glaring infrastructure deficit in our communities and also left our traditional issues unattented to.”

The statement noted that “the Ijaw areas are the bedrock of the state’s oil wealth, the same wealth that qualifies Edo State as an oil-producing state and entitles it to the 13% derivation fund. Yet, there is no visible reflection of this revenue in our communities.”

“We state this not out of bitterness or entitlement, but as a call for fairness, equity, and justice.”

The IYC, therefore, urged the governor to “have a rethink so it doesn’t take to another form of agitation in the state where we contribute.”

News

EPL: Arteta Gives Update On Havertz, Saliba, Gabriel, Others

Published

3 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has provided the latest update on four of his players ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Brentford on Wednesday.

The four players are Kai Havertz, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães and Leandro Trossard.

Arteta’s side will host Brentford in a Premier League tie at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

Arsenal head to the game following a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in their last game over the weekend.

“Kai Havertz is still weeks away,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference as quoted by Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday.

“We are all desperate to have him. I mean, it is a player that, personally, I love so much for what he brings to the team – his character, his personality. I see him suffer, being outside.

“Gabriel Magalhães is doing very well, but it will take weeks to see him back.

“For William Saliba and Leandro Trossard, hopefully it’s a matter of days.

“For Saliba, this one is very bizarre injury… but hopefully it will be a short time out.”

News

BREAKING: Tinubu Nominates New Defence Minister

Published

5 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, rtd, as the new Minister of Defence.

In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu disclosed Musa’s nomination as the successor to Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, who resigned on Monday.

Musa served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa received his primary and secondary education there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria.

He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.