Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has extolled the visionary leadership of the Premier of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, challenging Nigerians to build on the foundations he and other nationalists laid.

The vice president was speaking on Thursday in Ibadan at the 60th anniversary celebration of Africa’s first television station, the Western Nigeria Television, Ibadan, which commenced operations on October 31, 1959.

Prof. Osinbajo said that the achievements of the late sage “represents sturdy shoulders for us to stand on,” pointing out that Nigerians could do more today.

He said: “the vision of Awo was to build a people capable of excelling beyond his own achievements, adding every generation has a historic responsibility to reach for the highest peaks that human capacity can achieve.”

[b]Vice President Osinbajo noted that the establishment of the WNTV 60 years ago by Chief Awolowo, assisted by his lieutenants, late Chief Anthony Enahoro, and and late Chief T. T. Solarin, entered the history books as a remarkable achievement in a country that was still under colonial rule.

He pointed out that the WNTV was not only the first television station in Africa, but also preceded television broadcasting in China, which began in 1962, Canada in 1967, New Zealand in 1960 and several European countries, including Netherlands and Ireland.

Speaking further on Chief Awolowo’s vision and achievements, Vice President Osinbajo said: “it would ordinarily have been unimaginable that somehow in a part of the yet to be independent Nigeria, a man and his team would build a television station in three months, the first as we have seen, in many parts of the world. but for the man it was. [/b]

“Papa had laid out a plan for the rapid development of the western region. It included physical infrastructure and human capacity development.

“The plan included free and compulsory education as of the date of the inauguration of the WNTV almost a million children were in school in the western region.

“41% of the region’s budget was spent on education the highest proportion anywhere in the free world, a clear demonstration of the importance of education for development.”

According to Prof. Osinabjo, the celebration of the 60thanniversary was historic as for three main reasons.

“First it demonstrated the capacity of the Nigerian mind, to conceive of and achieve anything no matter how complex or difficult.

“Secondly it demonstrates how visionary leadership can inspire and lead people from the lowest levels to the high points of human imagination.

“Third it exemplifies the use of public resources for the public good. The WNTV was built to inform and to educate.

“So today as we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of the WNTV we also celebrate what is possible in our nation and states what Vision, hard-work and a commitment to the public good can do.”

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, represented by the Director-General Nigerian Television Authority, Mallam Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, said the rapid spread of television is a great testimony to the nobility of the vision of the nationalist and Pan-Africanist, Chief Awolowo.

“What was sown then as a little mustard seed has grown to produce uncountable fruits in the broadcasting world.

“A typical example of this is the fact that NTA alone can boast of over 101 television stations spread across Nigeria.”

The book, “Heritage of Excellence: Reminiscences of Men and Women Behind the Bright Rise of Africa’s First Television,” was presented at the event.

Reviewer of the Book, Prof. Nkechi Christopher of the Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan, said the book consists of the voices of individuals employed in the first two decades of television in Nigeria and the trajectory of its expansion.

https://www.von.gov.ng/vice-president-extols-awolowos-leadership-marks-60-years-of-television/

MelesZenawi:
Obafemi Awolowo made a mortal mistake of assuming he can poke nature and God's children without consequences......and of course he died regretting it.


Very shameful and disgraceful ending.

MelesZenawi:
Obafemi Awolowo made a mortal mistake of assuming he can poke nature and God's children without consequences......and of course he died regretting it.


Very shameful and disgraceful ending.

Awolowo didn't set a nice precedent for the younger generation to follow because following his path will only lead someone to self destruction like awolowo did to himself

Evil doesn't pay

jahsharon:


This hatred that your parents planted in you is the reason why you are sad, , frustrated, depressed and suicidal.

Mind you, God's children do not traffic hard drugs nor kidnap nor do armed robbery like the ones Awolowo dealt with.

MelesZenawi:
Obafemi Awolowo made a mortal mistake of assuming he can poke nature and God's children without consequences......and of course he died regretting it.


Very shameful and disgraceful ending.

Awolowo didn't set a nice precedent for the younger generation to follow because following his path will only lead someone to self destruction like awolowo did to himself

Evil doesn't pay

MelesZenawi:
Obafemi Awolowo made a mortal mistake of assuming he can poke nature and God's children without consequences......and of course he died regretting it.


Very shameful and disgraceful ending.

Awolowo didn't set a nice precedent for the younger generation to follow because following his path will only lead someone to self destruction like awolowo did to himself

Evil doesn't pay

helinues:


As expected he will be here.. He doesn't want to hear anything relating to Awolowo . As if Awolowo is pursuing him both physically and spiritually.

Hatred, envy and frustration is their regular trademarks

We are here celebrating what our hero did/achieved 60 years ago. Even the current generations haven't met up with such achievements and developments

Our Hero rest on sir

MelesZenawi:
Obafemi Awolowo made a mortal mistake of assuming he can poke nature and God's children without consequences......and of course he died regretting it.


Very shameful and disgraceful ending.

Awolowo didn't set a nice precedent for the younger generation to follow because following his path will only lead someone to self destruction like awolowo did to himself

Evil doesn't pay

Kapilta:
[s]the greedy zik that actually caused the death of your 3 mil kindreds is in hell gnashing his teeth in regrets why he was so greedy that he couldn't see the future.

Pa Awo, continue to rest at the right hand of our Lord Jesus, you will live forever. You are in our hearts(the ones you brought good tidings to and a whole lot of first thing in africa and west africa to), you defended the lands of your forefathers, you knew they fought hard to retain it and you never lose a portion out of it.

To me you are the greatest human that has ever lived(doesn't include the days of Jesus as human of course). I will tell all about your good works and wisdoms to many generations to come. I pray the land of Oduduwa get someone like you again. Such a visionary and protective leader.[/s]

johnmartus:
Really i wish you can say this in public.

helinues:


As expected he will be here.. He doesn't want to hear anything relating to Awolowo . As if Awolowo is pursuing him both physically and spiritually.

Hatred, envy and frustration is their regular trademarks

We are here celebrating what our hero did/achieved 60 years ago. Even the current generations haven't met up with such achievements and developments

Our Hero rest on sir

MelesZenawi:




Are you a product of awolowo's free education?


I am asking because such free education is totally free of knowledge......very suspicious.

helinues:


We are glad to had the opportunity of free education through our able leader ( Awo) who cares about his people . What did your hero Ojukwu gave to your people if not putting them in agony with his ego and power drunk

Name one thing any of your Hero from SE ever did that supersedes Awolowo's legacy ? This is very important before any further engagement

Thanks in advance

helinues:


We are glad to had the opportunity of free education through our able leader ( Awo) who cares about his people . What did your hero Ojukwu gave to your people if not putting them in agony with his ego and power drunk

Name one thing any of your Hero from SE ever did that supersedes Awolowo's legacy ? This is very important before any further engagement

Thanks in advance

Unbiased1:
no wonder the lives of Awo's people are just like that of NTA. Very mediocre.

MelesZenawi:



At least Ojukwu released the ungrateful man from prison alongside other grateful comrades and infact grateful comrades at arms.

helinues:


I asked you what Ojukwu gave to your people.. Is Awo from SE

Btw, Awolowo and his comrades are less than 10 in number. But same Awolowo educate million of his people through his free education program.

Back to the question, what was Ojukwu's impacts/achievements that his people (SE) benefited from

This time no shifting of goal post

helinues:


We are glad to had the opportunity of free education through our able leader ( Awo) who cares about his people . What did your hero Ojukwu gave to your people if not putting them in agony with his ego and power drunk

Name one thing any of your Hero from SE ever did that supersedes Awolowo's legacy ? This is very important before any further engagement

Thanks in advance

helinues:


I asked you what Ojukwu gave to your people.. Is Awo from SE

Btw, Awolowo and his comrades are less than 10 in number. But same Awolowo educate million of his people through his free education program.

Back to the question, what was Ojukwu's impacts/achievements that his people (SE) benefited from

This time no shifting of goal post

MelesZenawi:
Obafemi Awolowo made a mortal mistake of assuming he can poke nature and God's children without consequences......and of course he died regretting it.


Very shameful and disgraceful ending.

Awolowo didn't set a nice precedent for the younger generation to follow because following his path will only lead someone to self destruction like awolowo did to himself

Evil doesn't pay

MelesZenawi:




Ohhhhh.....If Ojukwu will be so magnanimous to release awolowo from prison.... a man condemned to death but was given hope and life again by Ojukwu then you should how much he will do for his own people.

Question answered

MelesZenawi:
Obafemi Awolowo made a mortal mistake of assuming he can poke nature and God's children without consequences......and of course he died regretting it.


Very shameful and disgraceful ending.

Awolowo didn't set a nice precedent for the younger generation to follow because following his path will only lead someone to self destruction like awolowo did to himself

Evil doesn't pay

MelesZenawi:

Ohhhhh.....If Ojukwu will be so magnanimous to release awolowo from prison.... a man condemned to death but was given hope and life again by Ojukwu then you should how much he will do for his own people.

Question answered

helinues:


Better to revert to our ignoring... Your line of arguments are always lame..

See his shallow responses to the reasonable question i asked

Bye bye bye

Magicians:
My brother fake Jews n Biafra pigs from the hellhole the sun will never rise are not God's children. God's children global business is not cocaine pushing OK.