9th November, 2010
As it kicked off celebrations to mark its 30th anniversary, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Monday commended the management and staff of Lagos Television (LTV), Ikeja for innovativeness and commitment to duty, saying these have helped government to interact with the governed in the state.
Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, while receiving members of staff and management of the television station who paid him a courtesy visit as part of the three-day anniversary celebration of the station, said by broadcasting in all the major languages in Nigeria and Pidgin English, the station has been able to capture the essence of Lagos as the heartbeat of Nigeria.
Mentioning some of the programmes, especially those that enable the people to ask questions and make comments on air, Governor Fashola declared:: “This is the way rights are being protected; this is the way rights are being enforced; this is the way Government is engaging in a daily handshake with the people for whom it is responsible; for whom it is accountable; for whom only Government exists.
“We acknowledge the great work you are doing; so many of you, too numerous to mention; Baba Babs Fashina, Mr. Odumosu who is no longer in the service, Bukola Kukoyi, Deji Balogun and others behind the stage that we do not see. You have taken television broadcasting in this country to a level beyond what you may probably imagine.â€
According to the governor, “If you want to know what is happening in Nigeria, switch on to DSTV Channel 129. I say this because this is the news network that really typifies what the feeling of the average Nigerian is because every Nigerian community is represented hereâ€.
Governor Fashola paid glowing tribute to elder statesman and former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, for founding the station in 1980 saying all Lagosians owe him a debt of gratitude for the legacies he left behind as Governor.
“All of us are proud inheritors of his very enviable legacy; a legacy that has continued to churn out committed and passionate Governors for the State. It is that type of legacy which produced my most immediate predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubuâ€, the Governor said.
The Governor also commended the Permanent Secretary of the Station, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo, and other senior staff of the Station for the innovativeness of the Station which, according to him, “has enabled Government to have communication with the governed through feedbacksâ€.
Wishing the Management and staff of the Station a happy anniversary, the Governor prayed that they would pass the torch to the next generation adding, “There is nothing esoteric about institutions. When institutions fail, it is people in that institution who have failed. But when institutions succeed, if you look behind it you will see great men and women who have worked hard. And so when institutions like Lagos Television succeeds, it is the great men and women who have worked hard that have succeededâ€.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, while speaking said the management of LTV 8 resolved to set an example in how to celebrate the event by coming to the Governor’s Office to congratulate him for the feat recorded by the station in joining DSTV during this administration
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of Lagos Television, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo, said the courtesy visit was part of the three-day events planned to mark the 30th anniversary of the Station.
Other programmes lined up for the anniversary, according to Mr. Ogunbanwo, includes a lecture to be delivered by the Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, on Wednesday.
Also present at the event were the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, the General Manager of Radio Lagos, Mrs. Tinu Aina-Badejo, top officials of the station and top government functionaries.
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