By Ofonime Honesty
Let us speak truth to power. The Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC) has been on life support in recent years.
We have watched the infrastructural retrogression of that great breeding ground where the finest crop of broadcasters in this region cut their teeth. They were drilled in excellence, and their voices informed, educated, and united us.
This was not just a mere decline; it was a monumental failure we all witnessed unfold. AKBC wobbled even as newer broadcast stations lured her talents away.
But wait. Pause the lamentations!
Governor Umo Eno has signed an agreement with Media Guru Consultant, LLC, of Dubai, for the transformation of the station into a “world-class broadcasting entity.” This is no mere project; it is a rescue mission. It represents the political will to snatch a vital asset from the greedy jaws of oblivion.
This partnership with Media Guru Limited covers consultancy, design, procurement, and installation of advanced broadcast equipment, which will position AKBC to compete favorably with leading broadcast stations within and outside Nigeria.
For context, Media Guru is not a faceless consultant. Independent checks by yours truly indicate that it is a global media services company offering solutions in content digitization and preservation, turnkey technology projects, and digital media, with physical offices in the UAE, Singapore, South Africa, and India.
With over 21 years in service, over 64 projects completed, and successful jobs in over 20 countries, the firm possesses the qualifications and expertise for this project.
TVC, Huawei, Bloomberg Africa, Raj TV, Daily Independent, ConSat TV, News Live TV, and several others are notable clients of the firm.
In this age of digital journalism, a feeble broadcaster is a mute spectator. AKBC cannot tell the Akwa Ibom story properly with a broken microphone, a broken camera, and dilapidated transmitters.
Its employees cannot counter toxic narratives while operating from a studio that leaks rain.
Look around you. Our airwaves are being invaded by content that erodes our identity.
Our people are being fed junk content while the rich banquet of our own heritage gathers dust. AKBC was supposed to be the gatekeeper of our stories, the guardian of our values. Instead, it became a sleeping giant while others came in and colonized our narrative space. The Akwa Ibom story must now be told by AKBC. That task is compulsory!
The Governor has thrown a lifeline. Funding will not be a problem. The burden now falls squarely on AKBC’s management and staff. The management must undergo a mental revolution. They must purge the system of deadwood and complacency. Training and retraining are essential. The modern gadgets and facilities must not be destroyed by analogue hands.
We cannot pour new wine into old wineskins. They must recruit fresh talent with fire in their bellies and innovation in their blood. Anything less would be a betrayal of this second chance.
This new studio must become a fortress of truth, a hub of cutting-edge programming, and a stage for the next generation of trailblazers. AKBC has to move with the times. Archaic or out-of-fashion programming must cease.
We are watching. The people are watching. History is watching. The contract is signed. The gauntlet has been thrown. AKBC, a Lazarus, must rise!