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Edo Journalists Embark On Endurance Trek To Honour Dokpesi, Want Oct. 25th Declared As National Private Broadcasting Day

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In recognition of his contribution to the media industry in Nigeria, and as a way of immortalising him, journalists in Edo State today, Friday, October 25th, 2024, embarked on an endurance match in honour of High Chief Raymond Dokpsesi, pioneer of private broadcasting in Nigeria.

Themed Raymond Dokpsesi Annual Endurance Treck, the Edo journalists led by the council Chairman, Comrade Festus Alenkhe and Mrs. Olabisi Akpadia, Head of Benin Network Centre, DAAR Communications – owners of AIT and Raypower – kick-started the fitness match at the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benin, and went through Ezoti Street, Airport Road, Oba Square popularly known as Ring Road and Sapele Road, in honour of the departed media icon, businessman and politician.

INFO DAILY reports that in the wake of deregulation of broadcasting, on 24 August 1992, DAAR Communications Plc, founded by Dokpesi, applied for and was granted approval to operate an independent radio station.

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The station which started test transmission on 15 December 1993 made history on 1 September 1994 when it commenced commercial broadcasting with the launch of Raypower 100.5 in Lagos, as the first 24-hour broadcast service station in Nigeria, as well as the first private independent broadcasting station in the country.

READ ALSO: Ondo Poll: INEC To Begin PVCs Distribution Thursday

Speaking shortly after the endurance trek, Akpadia said the trek was to honour the late business tycoon on his posthumous birthday and also to remind the Federal Government on the need to declare every October 25th (Dokpsesi’s birthday) as National Day for Private Broadcasting in Nigeria.

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The Head of Benin Network Centre, AIT/Raypower, who disclosed that the Endurance Trek in honour of Dr. Dokpsesi has been on for the past 17 years, said media practitioners would continue to do the Endurance Trek until the Federal Government honours the day as National Day for Private Broadcasting.

Akpadia, who said the Endurance Trek was done simultaneously in Lagos and Abuja, noted: “our voices have not been loud enough and that is why we would keep talking about this day until the Federal Government declare this day to honour him.”

She further described her late boss as “someone who loves everyone that comes his way. A very generous and brilliant man. He’s someone who breaks ground. He was not afraid of anyone.”

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Also speaking, Acting Head of News, AIT, Benin Network Centre, Osarose Sadoh, described Dokpsesi as “a politician, a renowned broadcaster, someone who gave Nigerians the platform to be aired.”

READ ALSO: Asylum: UK Deports 44 Nigerians, Ghanaians In Single Flight Air Traffic

According to her, the late business tycoon “did not just bring innovation to the broadcast industry in Nigeria, but brought a total transformation to the industry.”

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Also lending his voice, Edo NUJ Chairman, Alenkhe joined the AIT family to call on the Federal Government to declare October 25th every year as National Day for Private Broadcasting.

“We are making the call that every October 25th should be declared as National Day for Private Broadcasting in Nigeria. This was the mind of Dokpsesi when he was alive, we want to continue from there,” he appealed.

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Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

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The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.

Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.

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“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.

READ ALSO:How Wike Rescued Me From Political Oblivion — Oshiomhole

He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.

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According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.

Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.

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READ ALSO: He Can’t Fix His Party Let Alone Nigeria – Oshiomhole Blasts Atiku

He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.

One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.

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He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.

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Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

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Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.

Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.

He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.

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READ ALSO: Wale Edun Opens Up After Sack

Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.

“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”

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He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.

He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.

Watch the video here

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Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

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Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.

The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.

‎ A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”

‎Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.

READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection

It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.

‎Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.

‎The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.

‎Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

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READ ALSO: Egor LG Chair, Ogbemudia, Vice, Osawe Impeached

Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.

He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.

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Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.

The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.

“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”

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