Africast, the biennial conference of Africa Broadcasters has come of age. This was evident at the just concluded 7th edition, Africast 2008, held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja, from October 21st to 23rd 2008. The conference and exhibition enjoyed record attendance from Africa and beyond. More than 300 participants thronged the eight plenary sessions to listen to the 23 presentations that were on offer. All the 50 exhibition stands, two Ball Rooms and six Activity Rooms were fully taken up by exhibitors of broadcast hardware and services from several African, American, European and Far Eastern countries including China and Japan, displaying the latest digital broadcast equipment in the market. In fact some of the exhibitors brought to Africast the same equipment they exhibited at the recently concluded IBC, in Amsterdam.
Feelers from these exhibitors revealed that quality business deals running into millions of dollars were sealed. The excited exhibitors actually began to campaign for an Africast that would be held annually. Broadcasters and contractors who supply broadcast equipment were grateful to the National Broadcasting Commission for organising the event, which gave them a platform that brought the world of broadcast equipment to their doorsteps, saving them tidy sums in travel and precious time in enquiries. Most importantly, Africast has gone a great length in changing the perception of foreigners about the Nigerian business environment. One of the exhibitors, Lachmi Enterprise, who needed so much persuasion to come from Singapore enthused that he had found a place to do business.
Africast 2008 opened with a welcome cocktail on the night of the 20th with quality attendance, with the Chief Host, the Honourable Minister of Information and Communications, Mr John Ogar Odey, at hand to welcome the guests and give them a breath of fresh air and an atmosphere of relaxation in preparation for the intense activities of the next three days.
On Tuesday, the 21st of October, 2008, the President of the Nigerian Senate, Distinguished Senator David Mark, GCON, represented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Communications, Distinguished Senator Ayogu Eze declared the Conference open. He commended the National Broadcasting Commission for organising a conference of such stature and called on the Nigerian broadcast industry to take full advantage of such a rare opportunity. The Honourable Minister of Information and Communications, Chief John Ogar Odey presented the Welcome Address in which he urged participants to deliberate meaningfully to ensure that Africa was neither left behind in the digitisation movement nor used as a dumping ground for obsolete broadcast equipment.
Mr Robert Nkuna, Councillor, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, ICASA, presented the Keynote Address. His presentation captioned “Digital Migration in Africa: Prospects and Challenges” set a road map for digital migration. Drawing from the experience of his home country, South Africa, Nkuna made a strong case for urgency in the digitisation process, highlighting key issues including Agenda setting, Legislative review, Regulatory framework, Frequency Planning, Set-top-boxes, Technical standards, Licensing implications, Local content , Consumer education and involvement, Digital dividend and Digital Switch Over time frames.
He concluded that Digital migration provided an opportunity to address a range of social and economic challenges. Currently, he said, Africa lagged behind, but was optimistic that the continent would soon catch up with the rest of the world. He, therefore, canvassed for information sharing for the continent for the common good given the significant role of communication in regional and continental integration.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Honourable Minister of State, Information and Communications Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Salihu Nakande, the Chairman of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, (B.O.N), who is also the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Jijiwa, the Chairman of Nigeria’s House of Representatives Committee on Information and Communications, Hon. Dino Melaye, and the President, African Union of Broadcasters and former Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Mr. Ben Egbuna.
Other dignitaries present at the occasion included Ambassador Yusuf Mamman, who represented the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Aliyu Umar Modibbo; the Governor of Bauchi State, His Excellency, Mallam Isa Yuguda, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Government House, Alhaji Baba Madugu; two former Directors-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mallam Nasir Danladi Bako, the Kogunan Sakkwato, and Dr. Silas Yisa, as well as Mr. Emeka Mba, Director-General, Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board.
There were also delegations from Cameroun, Benin Republic and Burkina Faso.
Mr Daniel Obam, Chairman of the Committee on Digitisation in Kenya, Alhaji Ibrahim Buba, former Chairman, NTA Board of Directors, Dr Tonnie Iredia, former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Dr Victoria Ezeokoli, former Executive Director, Programmes, NTA; Steve Buckley, President, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters; were among a galaxy of players in the African broadcast industry who attended the opening ceremony.
Done with the opening formalities, the conference took off with thought-provoking presentations. For Example, Mr. Jim Eggan of the BBC, spoke on The Tripod of Digitisation – the Government, the Broadcaster and the People: Roles and Challenges. Dr. Tonnie Iredia Spoke on Regulatory Challenges, while the DG NigComSat, Engr Ahmed Rufa’i spoke on the satellite factor and business prospects. Indeed, for the scheduled three days, the Conference featured the presentation of erudite papers by eminent scholars, professionals, Veterans and Captains of the broadcast industry from Africa and beyond, spanning 12 professional papers, 2 professional roundtables with a total of 8 speakers, and 3 product pitches. The Product Pitches are a newly introduced commercial product presentation platform for manufacturers, content providers and Channel providers to make a sales presentation to the participants of Africast.
The Night events followed rapidly. On the Night of the 21st was the Premier of the Film titled “Sharp Sand” by NewAge Network and a cocktail at the end of it. It was a striking and refreshing experience for those that were privileged to preview it. Sharp Sand took a critical look at the challenges of development and ethics facing the Nigerian Society.
The night of 22nd was the Programmes Competition. Though the entries were few and mostly from Nigeria, sufficient variety and quality presented the judges with tough choices. The Chairman of the Programmes Competition Committee, Chief Peter Igho, in a rare show of commitment to excellence in production left the hospital to be physically present and to endow an award for Africast Best Television Producer, which he promised to sustain in years to come. Each of the winners, including that of the Peter Igho Award for Africast Best Television Producer, went home with plaques, certificates and the Naira equivalent of one thousand US Dollars prize money each. The programmes competition was rounded off with a dinner.
Africast 2008 was rounded off with a gala night on the 23rd to appreciate the participants, the sponsors and the organizers for their contributions towards a very successful hosting. Four Nigerian broadcast icons were honoured at the event, hosted by the erstwhile Minister of State for Information and Communications, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Salihu Nakande, for their contributions to the growth and development of broadcasting in Nigeria. These were High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, MFR, Dr Tonnie Iredia, OON, Mr Ben Egbuna, MNI, Mr Amin I Muosalli, and Alhaji Sahabi Isa Gada, MNI.
And the curtains fell on Africast 2008 just before midnight after an electrifying cultural display by the Heritage Cultural group from Jos, Plateau state. The zest in that performance could only be quenched with a sumptuous dinner.
The elated Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Engr Yomi Bolarinwa, fnse, thanked everyone for their input towards a successful Event, wished everyone a safe trip back to their various destinations and invited everyone to Africast 2010, slated for October 19th to 21st, 2010. |
