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Chuck Todd, moderator of NBC’s Sunday Morning Talk Show “Meet the Press” since 2014, leaves the scene September. He is likely to pass the baton to colleague Kristen Welker.

Todd, who made the announcement on Sunday morning’s edition of the show, made some explanations: “When I took over ‘Meet the Press,’ it was a Sunday show that had a lot of people questioning whether it still could have a place in the modern media space”. Todd who will become NBC’s chief political analyst, also said: “Well, I think we’ve answered that question and then some.”

Todd was credited with expanding the “Meet the Press” brand, hosting a daily show on MSNBC that ended in 2022.

It is not that Todd did not come under regular criticisms for some of his editorial decisions. On Sunday, Todd nodded to the criticisms, which he said he took in stride. “If you do this job seeking popularity, you are doing this job incorrectly. I take the attacks from partisans as compliments.”

He also addressed some of the broader critiques of his performance as a moderator and interviewer.

“We didn’t tolerate propagandists, and this network and program never will. But it doesn’t mean sticking your head in the sand either; if you ignore reality, you’ll miss the biggest story.”

TVC’s co-presenter of ‘Your View show’ Obiajulu Ugboh, has announced she got a new job, just as Dotmount Communications Limited announced her as its new marketing director.

The company in a press release stated that “as part of its continuing international expansion programme, Dotmount Communications, a worldwide provider of media research, media content distribution, monitoring and evaluation services for public relations, has announced the appointment of Obiajulu Olabisi Ugboh as a Country Marketing Director for Dotmount Communications and to represent its interests in Nigeria’s dynamic and rapidly growing media sector, effective April 15, 2023”.

Commenting on her new role as Country Marketing Director of the company, Rahma Himid, Vice President of Middle East and Europe regions, said: “Dotmount Communications’s clear commitment to Africa’s media sector has made a very positive impact. I believe there is a genuine opportunity for us to develop a significant market share here.

“We are excited to have Obiajulu join Dotmount Communications’ team as Nigeria’s Marketing Director and we look forward to relying on her depth of experience in leading sales and marketing in private and public companies as we continue our path forward.”

In her new role, Obiajulu will oversee business operations and developments in Nigeria, with a focus on Nigerian enterprise customers, MNC customers, carrier partners and consumer markets.

She will report directly to Aisha Salisu, VP in charge of the Africa region, who said: “With her business expertise and proven achievement in the past years, Obiajulu is ideally positioned to lead our Nigerian entity for further business expansion and better service to our customers/partners in the country and beyond.”

Obiajulu Olabisi Ugboh, also known as BeeCee Ugboh, is a multi-talented individual who wears several hats. She is a TV host, podcaster, actor/filmmaker, entrepreneur, personal and spiritual transformation certified life coach, and neuro-linguistic programming practitioner (NLP) from the Olusola Lanre Coaching Academy in Nigeria. She holds a degree in Political Science and an International Diploma in Montessori Education. She also obtained a basic presentation certificate from the National Broadcast Academy and an MBA from Zurich Elite Business School in Switzerland. Currently, she is pursuing a master’s degree in education from UNICAF University.

As an entrepreneur, she is currently running four businesses and cohosts Nigeria’s no 1 breakfast TV show Your View TVC where she won the TV Personality of the Year 2019. Back to the four businesses, She runs a consulting firm (BisUch Consults) that handles coaching, training and educational consulting, A media company (BisUch Media Entertainment) that covers television and radio hosting as well as film productions; Hair By BeeCee which covers wig sales and House Of BeeCee fashion label for African outfits, bags and footwear.

Obiajulu in her response to the appointment said: “I am very excited to join Dotmount Communications in this new role. Nigeria has a very diverse market structure and complex consumer demographics, with unparalleled evolving market dynamics.

Dotmount Communications has an ardent and richly-experienced management team, and I’m honoured to be working with them to drive our business and category growth.”

Dotmount Communications Group is an international strategic communications consultancy that uses an in-depth understanding of public, commercial and political drivers to provide insightful strategic counsel and meet complex communications challenges.

From freelancers to the Fortune 500, the world’s communicators look to Dotmount to make sure their message succeeds. And with over 8,000 media platforms, publishing in 40 languages, the company is one of the largest news content distributors in the world. Providing the PR and media solutions – including software, services and tools – to help clients navigate the changing media landscape and cover every angle – from beginning to end, around the globe.

The Management of the National Broadcasting Commission led by the Director General, Mall Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, yesterday, Wednesday 31st May, 2023, held a meeting with Pay TV Operators, to remind them on the need to pay the 2.5% of their annual turn over to the Commission as stated in the NBC Act CAP N11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

The DG noted that the mandatory fee, forms a part of the Revenue Generated by the NBC for the Federal Government of Nigeria and as such wants to use the opportunity to advise operators to keep to the terms of the contract.

The meeting was attended by representatives of Startimes and Trefoil Nig. Ltd (Our TV).

It came as a rude shock but the reality has dawned on everybody that the founder of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi is dead. He died on Monday in Abuja. Dokpesi was aged 71.

As the pioneer of private broadcasting in Nigeria, he was the owner of the Raypower FM and AIT media platforms.

Chief Raymond Anthony Aleogho Dokpesi was born in Ibadan, but his parents were from Agenebode, Edo state in a family including six sisters. He entered the Nigerian mass media industry with Raypower FM under his company DAAR Communications and later set-up the Nigerian TV network Africa Independent Television (AIT).

Dokpesi started his early education going through Loyola College Ibadan. After this, he joined the Immaculate Conception College (ICC) in Benin City where he was the pioneer member of Ozolua Play house, a dance/drama group. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Benin Edo State and completed his studies in University of Gdansk, Poland where he earned his Doctorate degree in Marine Engineering.

Dr. Raymond Dokpesi started as the personal assistant to Alhaji Bamaga Tukur one of the general managers of the Nigerian Ports Authority. Dokpesi also served as a civil servant in the Federal Ministry of Transport under Alhaji Umaru Dikko and General Garba Wushishi. The association of Raymond Dokpesi with the likes of the Tukurs and the late Abiola resulted in the birth of African Ocean Lines (AOL).

Dr. Raymond Dokpesi never forgot his first love, showbiz and entertainment. This can be traced back to his early days in secondary school when he was the pioneer member of Ozolua Playhouse, dance drama group. He decided to put his dream to reality when he conceived the idea of starting a radio station during the Ibrahim Babaginda regime when the atmosphere was conducive enough due to the deregulation of broadcasting in Nigeria. In 1994 he launched the first Nigerian private FM radio station RayPower. Two years later, he launched Africa Independent Television.

Dokpesi received awards on behalf of DAAR Communications Plc and had been conferred titles from his hometown in appreciation of his tremendous efforts towards Nigeria. His hometown conferred two chieftaincy titles upon him, both of which are only bestowed on worthy sons. He was the Oghieumua and Ezomo of Weppa Wanno, Edo State, as well as the Araba of Osoroland, Okpe.

Behold, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice.

A new administration takes over today in a democratic transition just as entertainment icons make the list of national honours. It is a thing of joy that Afrobeats star, David Adeleke aka Davido and ace filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan are among other notable Nigerians listed as recipients of the 2023 national awards.

The Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs announced the awards in their various cadres.

Davido, popular for sublime songs both in Nigeria and the world, bagged the award of Officer Of The Order of The Niger (OON).  Afolayan, a multiple-award-winning movie producer whose productions are widely acknowledged to have facilitated the path to a new Nollywood, was also awarded the OON.

Napoli and Super Eagles hotshot, Victor Osimhen, also made the list as he was awarded an MFR (Member of The Order of Federal Republic) after a phenomenal season with the Partenopei, helping them clinch their first Serie A title in 33 years.

All the award recipients were asked to send a soft copy of their citation or resume to the ministry before Wednesday, May 31.

The ministry also expects the recipients to be physically present for the collection of their medals and certificates scheduled for June 1, 2023.

Many did not know Hilda Baci until her world record competition.

In a special message to the youth, Hilda actually said this: “I represented Nigeria in 2021 during Jollof face-off competition in Ghana and defeated Ghana’s Leslie Kumordzie to win the competition. Unfortunately, nobody recognised me then, but see me today. Nigerians and other countries recognise me and shower me with plenty love. Indeed, no place like home”.

Hilda is full of joy as she draws from her experience that there is a gift in every struggle, advising youths that: “Let this be a motivation to you as a Nigerian Youth.

“In your education, your job, your business, your career, give yourself a high standard and pursue it”.

“My purpose for this journey”, Hilda said, “is to create awareness that we Nigerians have what it takes to contest in the global space. It is awareness to the Nigerian youth that we are capable”.

Investors of Fox News were told last Tuesday that the corporation was planning no change to their programming strategy despite its decision to take Tucker Carlson off the air.

Explaining the reason for this, Lachlan Murdoch, the executive chairman of the Fox Corporation, conceded on Tuesday that a Delaware judge’s pretrial rulings against the company “severely limited our defense at trial” and contributed to his decision to settle the landmark defamation case brought by Dominion Voting Systems.

The $787.5 million settlement, which is believed to be the largest in the history of defamation law, is “a decision clearly in the best interest of the company and its shareholders,” he said.

He also defended the conduct of Fox News personnel, saying the settlement “in no way alters Fox’s commitment to the highest journalistic standards across our networks, or our passion for unabashedly reporting the news of the day.”

Fox swung to a net loss of $50 million for the quarter, compared with earnings of $290 million during the same period last year. The loss came despite revenue increase of 18 percent, to $4.08 billion.

Lachlan Murdoch did not explain his reasons for taking Tucker Carlson, Fox News’s top-rated prime time anchor, off the air shortly after the settlement was announced.

“There’s no change to our programming strategy at Fox News,” Mr. Murdoch said. “It’s obviously a successful strategy, and as always, we are adjusting our programming and our lineup, and that’s what we continue to do.”

Fox agreed to settle on the eve of a sensational public trial that would probably have exposed Rupert Murdoch and several star Fox anchors to harsh questioning on the stand.

Fox faces another major defamation suit from another election technology firm, Smartmatic. Mr. Murdoch called that lawsuit “a fundamentally different case” than the Dominion litigation and asserted that “our full complement of First Amendment defenses remain.”

At Broadcasters Int’l Magazine, we are for the Broadcast World and its personalities, not into politics. Prof Wole Soyinka, is a global personality, acknowledged Broadcast Pioneer, a literary giant. The Nobel laureate hosted Peter Obi last Sunday. The visit was historic. For the purpose of Arts/Culture/Literary World, Obi explained why he had to visit Prof Soyinka.

“Today, I visited one of Nigeria’s most revered figures and an international literary icon, Prof Wole Soyinka. Prof Soyinka has been a father whom I hold in very high esteem for what he has achieved and stands for in the struggle for a better Nigeria.

“His reputation as a fighter for justice and equity in our society has been legendary and we will NEVER ignore them. I had a very useful and enriching discussion about his aspirations for a better and greater Nigeria, and he shared a lot with me about his dream for a greater and more inclusive Nigeria. I reminded the Nobel laureate of the huge price he paid just before the outbreak of the civil war, fighting for the cause of the Igbos.

“I cherished this Sunday’s visit which was intended to erase the needless misconceptions about the relationship between the great icon and the OBIdient family”.

The Governor, State of Osun, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola described the Osun Master plan for Culture and Tourism for Sustainable Economy as a laudable component  of the state’s comprehensive template for expanding the state’s economic diversification programme, while improving its internal revenue generation drive and bolstering the reputation and image of the state. The governor made this remark as he kicked off the Tourism Master Plan for the State recently.

According to him, this novel initiative is aimed at putting in place a cohesive and coordinated plan to radically improve the potential in the Culture and Tourism Sector for the development of the State, by deploying intellectualism which is the strength of any enterprise towards driving the potentials in the sector for optimum performance and gains.

The governor said the choice of the theme “Unveiling of Osun Sterling Tourism Vision 30-30” is apt in view of the fact that, it is coming at a time, when the country and the State of Osun in particular need to look away from oil and diversify the economy in all ramifications.

He emphasized the need to bring investors to the state for a mutually beneficial engagement, by introducing some of the many Tourism sites like OLUMIRIN water fall at Erin Ijesha, AYIKUNNU water fall at Oke-Ila, OWALA Resort at Okinni, KARELE OODUA Village, Ila Orangun,  MOUNTAIN RESORT,  Iragbji, Iba, Otan Ayegbaju, IPETUMODU YOUTH POTTERY AND CRAFT CENTRE, Ipetumodu, JALUMI SPORTS CLUB, Inisa (close to Otin River) IGILA BOTANICAL GARDEN, Iwara near Iwo and OSUN INTERNATIONAL ARTS AND CRAFTS VILLAGE, Iragbiji.

This is a major way to develop a home grown Public Private Partnership investment model that will take care of immediate needs of the stakeholders and pledge a promising future for the participants on key issues of land, reward system, tax matters and providing the basis of relationship with committed employment and Social responsibilities to the community.

The Governor of the State of Osun did not mince words while explaining the fact that Agri-Tourism helps to preserve rural lifestyles and landscape and also offers the opportunity to provide Sustainable “Green” tourism. The Identification of “Agri-Tourism” as the refinement of the farms, hospitality, trades between farmers, and the holidays offer on the farms, he said, represent an important pillar to pick up the fallen prices of the primary products.

The launch of the State of Osun Tourism Master Plan and Tourism For Sustainable Economy could be described as spectacular as groups from the nooks and crannies of the state came up to entertain the guests which included almost all the members of the state executive council and other important dignitaries from the state and beyond.

Highlight of the event was the Award ceremony where notable and prominent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various vocations were honoured, some posthumously; Duro Ladipo for his contributions to indigenous Drama. His play “Oba Koso” was adjudged a world class master piece. Also Owomoyela, (Orlando Owoh) a master of his own genre of music.

Governor Oyetola made a cogent reference to the undisputable fact that many performing artists especially the high ranking ones, started to ply their various vocations from the State of Osun, Osogbo in particular.

King Sunny Ade was mentioned as one of the musicians who actually started off in Osogbo and particular reference was made to his relationship with the Late Orlando Owoh.

Other notable Nigerians who were given special Awards were, Lere Panimo (Eda Onileola), Alhaji Kareem Adepoju (Baba Wande) (Both of them were in Osogbo in their formative years).

Late Oyin Adejobi also bagged a posthumous award in Arts and Culture. Some prominent State indigenes were also honoured. Chief Adegboye Onigbinde from Modakeke was given a special Award for his unsurpassed contributions to football in Nigeria.  

Disabusing the minds of those who might be wondering what Vision 30-30 actually stands for the Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the State of OSun, Dr Ade Obawale said the state will be celebrating, thirty years of its creation, making the “Vision 30-30” a worthwhile project of the State of Osun at 30.

The State of Osun is home to some of the most authentic expressions of culture and tradition like the beautiful ancient palaces, traditional architecture and many others too numerous to mention.   

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