Arise TV has become the must-watch television station in Nigeria today. Over the last few days, the station has become more visible than the rest. With the burning down of TVC, and the short exit of Channels TV on air a few days back ARISE TV seems to have redoubled its efforts to stamp its authority on the TV broadcast space. One of the things the station has going for it is the formidable staff strength led by Prince Nduka Obaigbena. Nduka Obaigbena is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ThisDay newspaper. He is also the founder of Arise TV, a global media firm that is currently making waves right now. Recall that this is a man whose entry into the newspaper industry brought landmark changes to the business of print journalism in the county. He has also doubled his effort by placing Arise TV as a top choice for viewers. If you are not familiar with Arise TV or it is not your regular TV station, the recent happenings in the country must have endeared you to the station. It also became a station of choice because of their groundbreaking on-the-spot reports of the EndSars protests and most especially Lekki shootings which has become global. Arise TV is currently the most talked-about television station in the country now. Unknown to many, Arise TV has been in operations for almost 7 years. They started small but have gradually transformed into one of the biggest media conglomerates in Nigeria. Arise TV’s brightest moment however came during this past weeks. Their fantastic and commendable coverage of the EndSars protest drew commendations from far and near. Their team of presenters, news correspondents were all given a topnotch commendation for this act. This shows to tell you, the station is a product of one of the best brains in journalism.
Some of the experienced presenters on the station are Dr. Reuben Abati, a Journalist, Politician, Television Anchor and Newspaper Columnist. He was the PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate in Ogun State for the 2019 Guber election. Abati was Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria between the Year 2011 and 2015. He was previously a newspaper columnist and the chairman of the editorial board of the Nigerian newspaper The Guardian from 2001 to 2011. He was a graduate of Theater Arts from the University of Calabar. Equally importantly, Reuben Abati is a Senior Research Associate with the Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for Cultural Studies and National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). After his stint in government, Reuben Abati returned to journalism, writing his regular two columns in The Guardian newspaper (Friday and Sunday). He subsequently moved to ThisDay newspaper where he now writes a Tuesday column titled Tuesdays with Reuben Abati. He is now one of the news anchors of Arise TV handling the Morning Show.
The beautiful Tundun Abiola and daughter of foremost philanthropist, late MKO Abiola is also one of Arise anchors. She is a Lawyer and Entrepreneur with years of experience in the Maritime Industry. She has occupied senior roles in both the Executive and Legislative arms of government at state and national levels. She is currently also a Co-presenter of The Morning Show on Arise TV. Tundun is a UK trained lawyer and has worked at the famous FRA Williams chamber before going to work with Senator Gbemi Saraki as her legislative assistant. She is also a former staff of Airtel Nigeria. She’s quite beautiful with a slim figure to compliment. She has good sense of fashion and also appears at high profile gatherings. Tundun lived in the United States before relocating to Nigeria. She was one of the presenters who interviewed Gov Sanwoolu recently.
One of the Presenters is Ngozi Alaegbu. She was a former Newscaster with Lagos-based Television Continental (TVC), Alaegbu is regarded as a core professional and veteran in the broadcast space in Nigeria. Ngozi Alaegbu moved to Arise TV to join her former colleague at TVC, Mr Ndee Iheanacho Amaugo, who has been with the new TV station for some years now. Mr Ndee is also one of the best brains on Arise TV.
Amaka Udeh is a renowned Nigerian media personality. She is currently anchoring on Arise news after previously working at Hot FM Abuja for almost a decade. Amaka was a judge at the 2016 MTV base VJ search (Abuja Auditions). Now the senior correspondent and anchor at Arise TV.
Another bright brain is the popular Oseni Oluwaseun Rufai popularly called RuffyD. He hails from Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State… He attended Federal Government College Odugbolu Ogun State and subsequently graduated from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta with a degree in Animal Physiology. Rufai Oseni is a change agent and media personnel who has worked with the BBC in the past, he is now an investor and part-owner of Loyalbonus.com. He is a celebrated public speaker and thinker. Rufai works as an On-Air Personality for Inspiration FM in Lagos for 7 years where he gained his fame, he is now one of the anchors of Arise TV news. The story of Arise TV will not be completed without given honour to whom honour is due. The founder, Nduka has done well for himself having come out in flying colours establishing major media houses in Nigeria and beyond.
Nigerian media mogul and Publisher of ThisDay, Nduka Obaigbena launched the global TV network to add a refreshingly new perspective to the connected world 7 years ago. The global media network reflects the experiences of under-served communities, championing the voices of the African diaspora across all continents and engaging citizens of the world”. Obaigbena says about his new entrant global TV service in one of his interviews,.
ARISE News will foster his vision of, “a global news channel connecting all the colours and shades of news around the globe.”He is leading a team of a team of world-class journalists, behind-the-scenes and in front of the camera, to build a global TV network that, “will cover the compelling issues of our time in a way no one else can.”
The network flagged off the broadcasting of its 24-hour international TV news operation which was set to rival existing giants in the global market broadcasting from its main News Centres in London, New York, Johannesburg and Lagos as its opened. He adds that, “there will be no state funding and no state agenda. Our coverage will be balanced, comprehensive and completely independent. Our efforts will concentrate on robust journalism anchored on imperatives of the marketplace”.
Who is Nduka Obaigbena? He was born in Ibadan into the royal family of Owa kingdom, Delta State. He is a Duke of Owa Kingdom and the founding Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the ThisDay Media GROUP, Arise News Channel and African focused Style and Culture magazine, ARISE Magazine. Obaigbena founded the ThisDay Nigerian newspaper in 1995 introducing disruptive changes that impacted print journalism business in the country. In 2000 Obaigbena founded the annual ThisDay awards which honours those who made contributions to Nigerian society in Global business, Political arena, Women of distinction, and Leading figures in the Nigerian education sector. In 2013 he launched an International TV news channel with an African Focus, Arise News, signing a contract with Globe cast for satellite transmission on Astra 2g for broadcast on the UK Sky platform, and to Hot Bird for cable distribution, with bases in London, New York City, Johannesburg, and Lagos.
Obaigbena began the ThisDay newspaper in 1995. Nduka Obaigbena also founded Arise Magazine. The publication was launched at THISDAY music and fashion festival at London’s Royal Albert Hall on October 14, 2008, and powered the ARISE (AFRICA) FASHION Week starting in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, and later finding a home in Lagos Nigeria after shows with the African Fashion on collectives in the Royal Albert Hall, London; Kennedy Centre, Washington DC; Lincoln Centre, New York.
Obaigbena was a Senatorial candidate in 1991. He was elected a member of the Constitutional Conference in 1994. He also belonged to international boards and committees. Obaigbena is a regular attendee and sessions moderator for the World Economic Forum and has served as a member of the Nomination Committee of the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum. He is the Chairman of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) as well as chairman of the Nigeria Press Organization comprising the NPAN, the National Union of Journalist and the Nigeria Guild of Editors where he is a fellow.
It is only fitting to describe Obaigbena as the most positively disruptive and innovative entrepreneur in the history of Nigerian media — on the basis of evidence.
– TAYO OYEDIJI
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