Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has given marching orders to the Boards of Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba and Warri Stations, to work out modalities and operational strategies that would enhance service delivery and news synergy of government activities across the state.
Executive Assistant on Orientation and Communication to the Governor, Dr (Barr) Latimore Oghenesivbe, made the disclosure on Sunday in Lagos, while speaking as a guest on a popular television station, saying that governor Oborevwori gave the directive when he hosted the new state executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, at the Exco Chambers in Asaba.
He said governor Oborevwori’s directives is aimed at making the two stations in Asaba and Warri, to compete favourably with private television stations, which is why government shall henceforth pay adequate attention to manpower development, quality contents, upgrading of equipment and facilities that would attract the right audiences and big time advertisers to boost Internally Generated Revenue.
Oghenesivbe quoted the governor as saying that the boards of the two state owned television stations and their General Managers, must of a necessity cross fertilize operational ideas that would bring about a new dawn in news and information dissemination synergy, such that government events and activities are to be beamed simultaneously without any form of hindrance or delays.
Oghenesivbe, who is also a member of Delta State Information Management Council, DSIMC, further posited that in order to reach heterogeneous audiences across Nigeria and beyond, DBS Warri and Asaba would require the allocation of Channels on Gotv and DSTV broadcast networks, which would invariably attract huge viewership and multifaceted commercials from manufacturers, advertising agencies, corporate bodies and the advertising public to upscale the two stations Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, from the private sector.
He disclosed that the radio and television stations were established to primarily project government programmes, policies, activities and achievements, as well as synchronize news in line with guidelines and regulations by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, and other regulatory agencies.
To efficiently and effectively achieve government objectives, Oghenesivbe averred that DBS Warri and Asaba, must be well equipped with digital broadcast facilities and trained personnel, so as to produce high quality programmes and create contents that would stimulate the right audiences, attract radio and television commercials to boost IGR.
“As I speak, Governor Oborevwori is looking ahead, thinking positively on how to rebrand and equip Delta Broadcasting Services stations in Asaba and Warri. He gave marching orders to the two Boards and the General Managers to workout modalities and operational strategies for efficient service delivery.
“The governor charged the two stations to timeously synchronize or synergize on news broadcast, such that they would consistently be on the same page to avoid delays or partial distortions in information dissemination to the good people of Delta State. To achieve this noble objective, the stations requires resources for state of the art equipment.
“The need for effective and efficient news networking cannot be overemphasized, and must be achieved as soon as possible. Governor Oborevwori is ready to encourage and fund the process for Delta Broadcasting Services; Asaba and Warri Stations.
“As a state, we have so much to talk about, so much activities, programmes and achievements to bring to our people, and the state radio and television stations must be ready to educate citizens without any form of operational obstacles.
“The rebranding will include; enlisting the two television stations on Gotv and DSTV broadcast networks through allocation of specific channels. This is very key, so that government activities and achievements can be viewed and appreciated across Nigeria.
“If private television stations are on the GOTV and DSTV broadcast networks, Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, does not see any reason why the state owned stations cannot be enlisted to compete favourably with their counterparts and private stations.
“This is where the state owned television stations ought to belong, and the governor is determined to drive the process to fruition, to ensure that we’re right there on Gotv and DSTV Networks as soon as possible,” Oghenesivbe assured.
