60 Hearty Cheers For Dokpesi

High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, a marine transport engineer, was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, on 25 October 1951. He hails from Agenebode in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. He attended Ebenezer African Church Primary School, Ibadan, Loyola College, Ibadan, and Immaculate Conception College, Benin City. He worked briefly with the Nigerian Ports Authority as Marine Office Cadet in 1969 before proceeding to Poland for further studies. He attended Wyszsza Szokta Morska Gdynia Maritime Academy, Gdynia and University of Gdansk Sopot for his Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate degrees. He made a first class with distinction and was also the best graduating student in 50 years in Poland in Marine Transport Engineering.

He lectured in the University of Gdansk, Poland as an Assistant Lecturer in Marine Transport Economics (1975-1977) before returning to Nigeria on the invitation of the then Nigerian Head of State who was on State visit to Poland. During his university days in Poland, he held the following positions: President, Nigerian Students Union, Poland (1972-1975), President, African Students Union, Poland (1974/76), President, International Students Association, Poland (1974/76), President, Nigerian Students, Eastern Europe (1975/76).

He worked with the Federal Ministry of Transport as the Head of Water Transport Division on secondment from Nigerian Ports plc (NTCC) from 1978-1982. He served as the Chief of Staff of the Gongola State Government from October to December 1983. He was the pioneer Managing Director of African Ocean Line Limited from 1984-88. He founded his own shipping line – Baldok Shipping Lines Ltd – in 1989 as the Chairman/CEO. Apart from the shipping industry which was his core professional calling, he also reared into other business ventures through the establishment of DAAR Investment and Holdings Company and Rimat Properties Ltd.

Upon the deregulation of the broadcasting sector in 1993, he was granted licence to operate a radio station with some other Nigerians. Being under the military era, the sincerity of government in the implementation of the spirit of broadcast deregulation was seriously in doubt, but Dokpesi’s patriotism, which was propelled by the global best practices of liberalised broadcast operation, invigorated his zeal and passion to establish RayPower 100.5FM as the first independent radio station in the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 1 September 1994. The successful pioneering efforts of RayPower FM made the government that was a bit cautious of the practicability of a deregulated broadcast regime to also grant DAAR Communications Ltd, now PLC, the licence to operate a global satellite television which eventually gave birth to the establishment/operation of Africa Independent Television, AIT, in December 1996.

High Chief Aleogho Dokpesi’s role in broadcasting in Nigeria is remarkable. Apart from pioneering private radio and global satellite broadcasting, he also revolutionised the sector through the introduction of 24-hour transmission on both radio and television right from the inception of both RayPower FM and AIT respectively. He introduced cyber and chroma technology for television operations and digitalised audio and video signals on both radio and television. Through his efforts, AIT became the first African broadcast station to transmit into the United States of America, USA.

To his credit and exceptional scholarship prowess are the following publications: Optimal size of Tankers for Nigerian International Trade (1974); West African Shipping Range (1975); Technological Changes in Shipping and its impact on Ports, (1976); Consultation Machinery in Shipping – The West African Experience (1978); International Multi-modal Transport System – Implication on Nigeria Economy (1980); Thoughts on Nigerian National Shipping Policy (1981); Fiscal and Financial Arrangements to Encourage Investment,in Shipping in Nigeria (1984); Problems of Line Shipping Policy and the review of the United Nations Convention on a Code of Conduct Linear Conferences – Present Status and Prospects (1984); Security in Cargo Handling – The Nigerian Experience (1985); Bulk Fleet Development (1986); The Role of Seaports in the structural Adjustment Programme (1986); The Issue of a Shipping Agent in the Maritime Industry (1987); The Role of Shipping Agents in Maritime Industry (1987); He is a fellow of several professional and management institutes: Nigerian Institute of Shipping (1989), Chartered Institute of Transport (1991), Institute of Transport Administration (1991), Nigerian Institute of Management (1992) and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (1987).

The following are some of the National assignments he had been called upon at various times to perform for the Federal Republic of Nigeria: Member, Presidential Committee on Long Term Measure to solve Piracy and Security Problems in Nigerian Sea Ports and Territorial Waters (1981); Member, Chief of Defence Staff Board on Borders and Harbour Security Force (1982); Member, Committee on Decentralisation of Nigeria Ports PLC (1983); Member, Shipping Policy Implementation Committee (1985); and Member, Committee on the Ccommercialisation of Nigeria Ports PLC (1987). The Late President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, considering Dokpesi’s uncommon patriotism and the revolution that he introduced to broadcasting, his resourcefulness and the passion for excellence in the respective capacities that he has been fortunate and priviledged to contribute to the glory of the country both internally and externally, conferred him with the National Award of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, OFR, in February 2008.

In recognition of High Chief Aleogho Dokpesi’s contribution to academics through his various internationally acclaimed publications in journals, intellectualism and media development globally, the Federal University of Technology, Yola conferred him a Doctorate in Technology (Honoris Causa) in March 2009. He is a recipient of several national and international awards, amongst which are Dr. Kwame Nkurumah African Leadership Award and Gold Medal for Excellence in Business Practice, awarded by the Foundation for Excellence in Business Practice, an organ of the United Nations based in Geneva, Switzerland. He holds the following chieftaincy titles: Ogieorumoa of Weppa Wanno, Edo State (August 1986); Araba of Osooro land,Ondo State (November 1987); Osese of South Uneme, Ondo State (December 1990); Gbobaniyi of Ilawe, Ekiti State (1994); Oganigwe Umu Orji Ako Nibo, Anambra State (September 1999); Sardauna of Kpaduma, Abuja (2002); Ezomo of Weppa Wanno Land, Edo State (February 2003), and Otunba Akorede of The Source, Ile-Ife, Osun State (January 2010).

He is a member of Island, Ikoyi and Apapa clubs. An avid reader, researcher, philanthropist and humanitarian, he also loves sports, travelling and music. He is happily married and has children.