In his untiring efforts to propagate the lofty objectives and mandate of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, and to synergize with various stakeholders in the culture sector, the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, recently paid a courtesy visit to the General Manager of the Bayelsa State Government-owned television station, Niger-Delta Television (NDTV), Mr. Tamarakuro Oweifiye.
Briefing the NDTV boss, Dr. Ayakoroma stated that thevisit was recognition of the strategic position of the station in propagating the programmes and policies of government in the South-South zone, and that NICO was at the fore-front of the campaign for the preservation of the languages and cultures of the various ethnic nationalities that make up the country, adding that the Institute has offices in all the geo-political zones.
According to the NICO helmsman, the mandate of zonal offices is to translate and transmit the programmes and activities of the head office at the grassroots and that the South-South zonal office located in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, is doing that creditably.
He stated that the NICO zonal office is desirous of collaborating with NDTV to package programmes aimed at promoting and preservingthe rich cultural heritage of the Izon people, and lauded the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, for appointing Mr. Tamarakuro Oweifiye, and expressed optimism that the General Manager, who was one of his studious students at the University of Port Harcourt, is a seasoned television personality,who has the capacity to take the station to an enviable height.
Responding, Mr. Oweifiye, said that he was delighted and honoured by the visit, recounting that Dr. Ayakoroma, as his former lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, has been a brother, friend, colleague and role model, and had proved himself by making the Izon nation proud in turning anInstitute that was relatively unknown to a world class organisation in the last few years.
Mr. Oweifiye promised to collaborate and support the Institute whenever the station is called upon to do so, adding that in spite of the challenges on ground, he has succeeded in carrying out full transmission, on assumption of office, noting that NDTV Gbanrantoru-Yenagoa, is the most watched station in and around the state, and management will maintain that lead.
Earlier, the ES had appeared onthe station’s“Bayelsa in Action,” a live programme anchored by Nelson Gabriel Agadi, where he discussed the potentials of “Culture and Tourism: Tools for Economic Development,” with special focus on how the abundant cultural resources of Bayelsa State could be har
nessed to boost the development of its tourism and hospitality industry.
Present with the ES during the visit were theNDTV Head of News and Current Affairs, Mr. Allen Suoteigha, SA to the ES, Hon. Ebi Campbell, the Media Asst. to the ES, Mr. James Gillowei, Head of Admin NICO SSZ, Mr. Ebi Asene, Head ICT, Mr. Austine Eberedeni, Mr. Uzefa Agoro, and Miss Orusoso Opokumo, among others.
Omorogbe Moses
NICO SSZ Yenagoa