Night of honour for Sokoto TV producers in days of yore

The hall was packed and the atmosphere electrifying with sentimental tunes exuded by gigantic loud speakers. The aroma of continental foods whiffed by. Guests from far and near surrounded the tables in the hall, some talking, others straining their ears to listen. The sudden appearance of the Director-General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), […]

The hall was packed and the atmosphere electrifying with sentimental tunes exuded by gigantic loud speakers. The aroma of continental foods whiffed by. Guests from far and near surrounded the tables in the hall, some talking, others straining their ears to listen.

The sudden appearance of the Director-General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mr Peter Igho and the former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Malam Nasir Danladi Bako led to the commencement of the event, which was to have started an hour earlier.

Encomia

The gathering of TV veterans was relayed live on RTV Sokoto. In his welcome remarks, the Assistant Director Programmes, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Shekara explained the essence of the gathering, warmly welcomed the guests and promised them a good evening.

He described Igho as one whose footprints in broadcasting have made a remarkable difference. He recalled that he was inspired to go into broadcasting because he saw Igho’s drama works win awards at art festivals.

Describing Igho as a role model, Shekara enumerated Igho’s works like Moment of Truth, Cockcrow at Dawn (the first NTA’s network drama series with 78 episodes), and The Village Headmaster as few that really touched many viewers in Nigeria.

The General Manager of RTV, Alhaji Wafee Ahmadu Suka was invited to read a citation on Igho. Suka revealed that Igho started his television career in Sokoto in 1975 and had been dutiful, resourceful and successful. He said Igho was the first to work outside studio in Sokoto. For all this, he said, Igho would be presented a Life Time Achievement Award. He was given a commemorative plaque with the inscription “Life Achievement in Television Award”.

Responding to the award, Igho said his mind went back to the old days when he started by helping school children in Bida (Niger State) to enter a production that won laurels. He charged young people to look deep into wherever they find themselves and exploit the opportunities therein.

He recalled the challenges that accompanied production in those days. “There was no budget for drama — I picked bed sheets from my house to make curtains,” he told the crowd. He said his working outside the studio in Sokoto was a child of necessity which turned out to be an invention.

He recalled how he lost a colleague with whom they had worked all night in an auto crash. The colleague whose name he gave as Johnson was driving home in the early hours of the day when his car ran into a ditch. According to him, this incident inspired him to write Moment of Conscience because all NTA management could do for the late Johnson was to buy him a coffin. He charged those going into broadcasting not to look at the glamour alone but the pains that accompany the work.

He recalled that due to his long absence from home, his wife who was pregnant and bleeding, drove herself to hospital because there was no one to help her. She lost the baby due to the long journey. He therefore dedicated his award to all his colleagues in Sokoto who were not present.

Bako was giving the same award. He too was a pioneer staff of RTV Sokoto. Bako, who holds the traditional title of Kogunan Sokoto, started the NTA programme called Morning Ride. He aroused much empathy in the guests when he narrated his ordeal.

He recalled that he had a car accident at about 3:00am after production and almost bled to death because there was no one to rescue him immediately. He said broadcasters of his time spoke excellent English and the inspiration was in the quality of  people in the industry.

Malama Hussaina Attahiru Kamba, who came on a wheel chair, received a similar award. She started as First Announcer. Suka said she had proved that disability is no hindrance to service to humanity. She recently retired from RTV Sokoto.

In a short response, she expressed gratitude to the Sokoto State Government for allowing her to contribute her quota in the service of the state.

After giving plaques to all the award recipients, Suka urged the Sokoto State Government to review upward the pay of television workers in what he termed “new salary structure”. But Bako, who represented the Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Magatakarta Wamakko countered the demand saying when he started work in television, his salary was N308 so staff should be grateful with what they earn. He challenged young broadcasters to rise up to challenges in their profession.

Both Igho and Bako have won national honours. Igho is Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) while Bako is Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

Earlier that evening, Igho had paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Argungu, Kebbi State, HRH Alhaji Ismaila Mohammad Mera. Igho said he was in Argungu to thank the emir for sending a delegation to condole him when he was bereaved over the death of his mother in February.

Igho was honoured with the traditional title of “Dan jikan Kebbi” five years ago by the Argungu emirate when he was in the employ of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Sokoto. He also told the Emir that he was in Sokoto for a ceremony and therefore, wanted the Emir to be part of it. The Emir promised to send a delegation to accompany him, describing Igho’s visit as an honour.

The Emir recalled that during his high school days, he used to watch Igho’s works on TV, saying they were informative and educative because they highlighted government’s activities.

After leaving the palace, Igho together with his team comprising associates and directors of NLRC, went on sightseeing at the famous Argungu Fishing festival river.

Igho, who worked in NTA for many years, became a producer and manager. He retired in 2008 and was appointed Director-General NLRC in April 2009. He is popular with many TV productions (both in English and Hausa) like Samanja, Moment of Truth, New Masquerade, Magana Jari Ce, Bakandamiya and numerous others.