Akeem Lasisi
As media mogul and politician, Raymond Dokpesi, dies at 71, it is time to remember his landmarks in the industry.
For one many will credit his Ray Power and AIT for being at the foundation of the liberation of the Nigerian music industry.
He also ensured his TV station promoted culture by making presenters wear indigenous dresses.
Dokpesi:
- Established the first privately owned radio station Raypower FM in Nigeria.
- Pioneered Nigeria’s First global TV which was Africa’s first ever Satellite TV station.
- Established the first TV station to run 24-hour broadcasting in Nigeria.
- Launched the African Independent signals in the United States.
- Chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria..
Based on his online profile, Alero Raymond Dokpesi was born in Ibadan on October 25, 1951. His parents were from Agenebode, Edo state in a family including six sisters siblings. He entered the Nigerian mass media industry with his company DAAR Communications and set-up the Nigerian TV network Africa Independent Television (AIT).
He was the organising committee chairman of the People’s Democratic Party national conference in 2015. As of March 2020, he is still undergoing a trial on corruption charges. In May 2020, Dokpesi became a COVID-19 survivor. .
Dokpesi started his early schooling with Loyola College Ibadan. After which he joined the Immaculate Conception College (ICC) Benin city where he was the pioneer member of Ozolua Play house, a dance/drama group. He did his undergraduate studies in the University of Benin Edo State and completed his studies in University of Gdansk, Poland where he earned his Doctorate degree in Marine Engineering. His studies, from secondary school to university level was sponsored by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur
In the early 1990s, as a result of the historic National Broadcasting Commission decree, according to Muyiwa Oyinlola (2004) Nigerian media was dominated by the government only. Information was only made possible from government owned broadcasting firms. However, the Head of State then General Ibrahim Babangida, issued another decree which allowed private broadcasting in Nigeria. After this decree came the first private television network in Nigeria, Africa Independent Television (AIT). AIT was pioneered by Dokpesi, and was also Africa’s first satellite Television station.[6] Today Dokpesi is regarded as the media guru of Nigeria. Some also refer to him as the Ted Turner of Nigeria. Dokpesi not only pioneered the first satellite TV but also the first privately owned radio station in Nigeria. According to the journalist Kolapo (2006), Raymond claims that AIT set the standard for salary structure in the media industry in which Nigerian Television Authority imitated.
