News

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

Published

2 years ago

October 25, 2024

Editor

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

58 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.