Date: 2016-08-03

The General Manager of Nigeria Television Authority, (NTA) Ilorin, Adetunji Majeed, has revealed that the Authority bought footages from British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) while shooting a documentary about Nigeria's civil war "No Victor No Vanquished," due to lack of documented materials.

The Former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, announced ‘No Victor No Vanquished’ shortly after the civil war, which ended in 1970. Majeed, who spoke while briefing newsmen as part of activities marking NTA Ilorin’s 40th anniversary yesterday, regretted that culture of preserving treasures and heritages of the country was dying especially now that students no longer take History as a course in schools.

He disclosed that NTA Ilorin would on Wednesday commission a museum, which is stocked with the station's treasures since it started operation as a state television known as NTV, Ilorin in 1976, for public use, to mark its anniversary. The museum, according to him, would serve as archive and information centre about history, treasures and projection about the broadcasting station as it moved towards digital migration.

Earlier, chairman of the 40th anniversary planning committee, Ray Yusuf, who was also one of the station’s pioneer staff, said the anniversary was meant to celebrate among other things, the positive influence of NTA Ilorin to national programming and broadcasting. He said it was purely a local event without prejudice to what NTA national was planning to do, and that the station has come of age, adding that two lectures would also be delivered at a symposium on Tuesday at Banquet Hall Government House, Ilorin.

According to him, former Director General of Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, (NBC) Yomi Bolarinwa would deliver a lecture titled "Digitization and its Implication For NTA". He added that the second lecture would be delivered by former General Manager, Radio Kwara, currently of Department of Linguistic, Al- Hikma University, Dr. Bola Omolosho on "Effect of Television Broadcasting in Nation Building."

The ceremony according to him, would be concluded with a Gala Night at Banquet Hall on Saturday where eminent Nigerians including first Military Governor of Kwara state, Brigadier- General, David Bamigboye (rtd), would be conferred with Award of Excellence in Governance. Also nominated for the awards are late 9th emir of Ilorin, Dr. Sulukanaini Gambari and late Second Republic senate leader, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki who would be conferred with a "Humanitarian Service" award. Other awardees would be second General Manager, NTA Ilorin, Peter Olowo and former NTA Executive Director (NEWS), Jimy Atte.