Chief Dr Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi , politician and media guru founded the first private radio station in Nigeria Raypower FM
He followed it up with African Independent Television ( AIT ) a station that showcases the best in African culture
The two broadcast stations set the pace for what has led to the liberalisation of the broadcast space in Nigeria
Over the years Dr Dokpesi used his broadcast stations to advance the cultural heritage of not only Nigeria but Africa and Africans in diaspora
It became a reference point to measure standards in Nigeria's broadcast media
Many Alumni of Daar Communications can be found in practically all radio and TV stations in Nigeria
His contributions to the revolution of the Entertainment industry in Nigeria is second to non
While his services is still needed , Dr Raymond Dokpesi bowed out on May 29th 2023
For his immense contribution to the growth of the media industry in Nigeria and Africa, Dr Raymond Dokpesi is posthumously awarded the CKNNews MEDIA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2023
May his soul rest in peace
Profile
Chief Raymond Anthony Aleogho Dokpesi (25 October 1951 – 29 May 2023) was a Nigerian media businessman. His parents were from Agenebode, Edo state in a family including six sisters. He entered the Nigerian mass media industry with his company DAAR Communications and set-up the Nigerian TV network Africa Independent Television (AIT).[1] He was the organising committee chairman of the People's Democratic Party national conference in 2015.
As of March 2020, he was still undergoing a trial on corruption charges.
In May 2020, Dokpesi survived a serious COVID-19 infection.
He suffered a stroke shortly after the 2023 Ramadan fast .Raymond died from a fall on his treadmill
Education
Dokpesi started his early schooling with 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. 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, Nigerian media was dominated by the government only. Information was only made possible by 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. Dokpesi not only pioneered the first satellite TV, but also the first privately owned radio station in Nigeria.
Raymond's set the standard for salary structure in the media industry in which Nigerian Television Authority imitated.
Career
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.
Africa Ocean Line
One of Dokpesi's first businesses, Africa Ocean Lines, was the first indigenous shipping line in Africa, and was established in the 1980s. Although the business did not last long, it contributed to the Nigerian shipping industry, as it helped formulate the Nigerian Shipping Act Decree 1986, which stated the sharing of formula 40:20:20 for cargo between developed and developing countries.
Daar Communications
In 1994, Dokpesi launched the first Nigerian private FM radio station, RayPower. Two years later, he launched Africa Independent Television.
Expansion in the USA and Europe
On 20 September 2003, Africa Independent Television launched its signals in the United States. Presently, AIT is received in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe-wide on the Hotbird satellite as well as countries within Africa.
Politics
Dokpesi also had his hands in politics. One of his first political assignments was as a political to Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, he was the DG of Atiku Abubakar/Ifeanyi Okowa Presidential campaign during the 2023 Presidential election under PDP