By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde on Saturday insisted that only a restructured Nigeria will help the nation regain her past glory in Africa .
Speaking at the launch of SATVIEW Network digital broadcast channel, held at the SATVIEW Network headquarters, Ring Road, Ibadan, the governor lamented that it was unbelievable that Nigeria, which had the first television station in Africa, now has to rely on foreign television networks if its people must watch clear signals.
He stressed that the push for a restructured Nigeria is aimed at making it regain the series of firsts recorded by the first generation leaders in the country as well as to move the country forward
” I came here today to let our people know that all is not lost. We are pushing for a restructured country because when we achieved all of these firsts, the country was not over centralised at that time.”, he said.
The governor added, ” we believe that when we push through the agenda to restructure the country, we will be in a better position for people to unleash their talents, not just the local economy, but also to place us where we really belong in the comity of nations right across Africa.”
Governor Makinde stressed that his administration will continue to tap into the potentials of the talented ones and give them necessary support to thrive in their chosen fields.
” We missed the road but we believe that, with the talents that we have, if we nurture them, we can get our position back as truly the first in Africa. I came here to, first of all, validate my position that there are several young talents within us that we need to encourage. They may be doing their things in the smallest of our villages, I will go there, seek them out and support them.”
Governor Makinde maintained that the SATView Network ” is not the first network to bring programme to our people but what is unique about this offering is, once you buy the decoder, you are not going to pay any money.
” That is the difference. “Oyo State, Ibadan precisely, hosted the first TV station in Africa. Almost all of us here have DSTV at home and the money we are paying to DSTV is going directly to South Africa because that is where the parent home is. I saw a replica of myself coming up in SATVIEW NETWORK. I started my private business at 29 and it is still in existence today. So, I want to encourage the management and other members of staff that this may be a small beginning but you can change the world with it.”
Speaking further, the governor lauded the contributions of coalition party members in the build-up to his election in 2019, particularly the Chairman, Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM, Pastor Akin Alamu, and his colleagues in the Alliance for Democracy (AD) .
Chairman/CEO, Dexterity Group, Dexter Femi Akin-Alamu, while speaking said SATVIEW was dedicated to shaping the mind and thoughts of the people, and that the network will bring quality contents to the people of the state and nation in general.
“We are ready to effectively use the media to shape the minds and thoughts of the people of our nation. America is where it is today because of the types of messages that the media spread to the people of the nation. And we believe that a new Nigeria will be born.We are dedicated in bringing quality content coming from our platform. It is adding to the portfolio of Oyo State series of firsts.”, he said.
