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

Published

4 months ago

February 12, 2025

Editor

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

Immigration Officer Gets N5m For Arresting Fleeing Ritualist

Published

7 hours ago

June 10, 2025

Editor

An immigration officer, Ugochukwu Orji, who arrested a fleeing Enugu State-based native doctor accused of killing and kidnapping people for rituals, has been rewarded with N5 million for his efforts by an industrialist, Ebuka Onunkwo.

Onunkwo, who is also a senatorial aspirant for the Anambra South senatorial by-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, hosted the immigration officer at his residence in Ihembosi, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, according to a press statement released by his media team on Tuesday.

Orji was at his duty post along the Seme Border area last month when the fleeing native doctor, popularly known as “Ichie Billion” attempted to use a motorcycle to cross over to the Benin Republic from Nigeria at Seme Border, but having seen his face on the internet, he quickly intercepted him.

Recall that “Ichie Billion”, who hails from Umuojor village in the Isiagu Community of Enugu State, had been on the run after being declared wanted by the Nigerian Police Force in connection with the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl and alleged multiple ritual killings.

The native doctor was thereafter intercepted by the Nigerian Immigration Service and subsequently handed over to the Lagos State Police Command following his arrest at the border by the immigration officers.

Onunkwo, an industrialist, while presenting a cheque of ₦5 million to the immigration officer at his residence, said the gesture was part of his company’s Corporate Social Responsibility and encouragement for moral renaissance in the society.

News

Tariff Hikes Won’t Solve Nigeria’s Power Crisis, Expert Tells Tinubu

Published

7 hours ago

June 10, 2025

Editor

Attempts by the current administration to rely on increased electricity tariffs to resolve Nigeria’s chronic power supply issues are unlikely to succeed, according to energy expert Nick Agu.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, Agu argued for a fundamental restructuring of the power sector, prioritising infrastructure over tariff hikes.

Responding to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu’s optimism and recent celebration of Nigeria reaching a new peak generation of over 5,000 megawatts, Agu acknowledged the incremental increase as “a good thing, is good news.”

However, he quickly added, “But should we celebrate? The answer is probably not.”

Agu underscored Nigeria’s severe “energy poverty” by drawing comparisons with other nations.

He noted that while Nigeria, with over 200 million people, struggles with around 5,000 megawatts, South Africa (65 million people) boasts 55,000 megawatts, Brazil (200 million people) supplies 150,000 megawatts, and even Qatar (3 million people) provides 8,000 megawatts.

“So, you can see that three million people are enjoying more electricity than Nigeria, which has 200 million people,” he highlighted.

Agu underscored Nigeria’s severe “energy poverty” by drawing comparisons with other nations.

“So, you can see that three million people are enjoying more electricity than Nigeria, which has 200 million people,” he highlighted.

News

From 158 To 351: Lagos Teen Excels In UTME After Initial Glitch

Published

8 hours ago

June 10, 2025

Editor

A 16-year-old student, Oyindamola Apampa, has achieved a remarkable aggregate score of 351 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, with 65 in English Language, 98 in Mathematics, 98 in Physics, and 90 in Chemistry.

Apampa, a student of Lagoon Secondary School in Lagos, described the feat as the result of determination, strategic preparation, and divine favour.

A statement on Tuesday revealed that it was her second attempt at the UTME, explaining that her initial score of 158 was later invalidated due to technical issues experienced at her exam centre.

She said, “In my first UTME attempt, I scored 158. However, the results were widely criticised and later acknowledged by the authorities as inaccurate due to technical glitches affecting several examination centres, including mine.

“Consequently, the examination body authorised a resit to address these irregularities. In the resit, I achieved a score of 351.”

She added that her parents played a crucial role in supporting her academic journey by fostering a learning-friendly environment at home.

“My parents made our home a positive place for studying. We have a full library in the family living room, in addition to a separate multimedia study room where the whole family often gets together to talk about different topics and help each other learn,” she shared.

Apampa also credited a learning centre in Lekki, Lagos, for providing her with additional academic support through UTME preparation classes and frequent mock examinations.

“The frequent mock exams at our learning centre were a great help in my preparation for UTME,” she said.

In his reaction to the learning centre head, Osayi Izedonmwen, stellar 98 per cent pass rate in the 2025 UTME, attributed the achievement to its hybrid learning approach.

“At Teesas, we are fully IT-equipped to seamlessly support both online and physical learning within a convenient and friendly environment. This has played a key role in helping our students excel,” Izedonmwen stated.

Apampa is no stranger to academic excellence. She was placed on her school’s Honours list after securing 10 As and one B in her Junior WAEC.

She has also represented her school in international competitions, such as the Conrad Challenge, where her team reached the final stage and earned a special mention.