Courtesies 

It gives me great pleasure to welcome all our esteemed guests and delegates to Kogi State on the occasion of the 50th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, BON, taking place in our beloved capital city, Lokoja.  I join you all to give thanks to the Almighty God for granting you journey mercies from your various destinations.   

To play host to this array of the top echelon of the vibrant broadcast industry of this great country, is indeed a landmark event for us in the state 

When news came to us that Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation had won the hosting right for this meeting, I was personally delighted, realising that it was great honour for us.   

But much more delighted was my boss, the media-friendly and hospitable Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris.  He gave us his approval with a fiat, and has earnestly looked forward to this day.  It is on his behalf and that of the government and the entire people of Kogi State that I say welcome to you all.  The Igalas are saying OLALE, the Ebiras are saying YANSE and the Okuns are saying EKABO.  

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, your coming to Kogi State at this auspicious time is uniquely significant to us in several dimensions.  In the first instance, it signifies an acknowledgement of the profound attention that our Governor has given to the development of the media, and particularly the broadcast media, in the recent time. 

In another light, your presence in Kogi State is an ample opportunity for us to showcase to you, and to the outside world through you, our very rich resources in the areas of cultural heritage, solid minerals, agriculture and tourism.  We believe that as you will see and read about these resources waiting to be tapped in the course of your visit, you will help us to herald them to the world. 

The theme of your conference, which is “celebrating broadcasting”, is quite instructive.  Indeed, broadcasting in Nigeria is worth celebrating.  From the days of the beginning of local radio broadcast by the Nigeria Broadcasting Service to the first television service in Africa, the WNTV Ibadan, broadcasting in Nigeria has grown in leaps and bounds in terms of content, sound and picture quality and hours of transmission.  Coupled with the fact that NTA and some other cable services now transmit to Europe and America, there are great reasons to celebrate. I commend all of you for your commitment which has translated into putting Nigeria on the world map through indigenous broadcasting.   

Let me close this brief welcome message by urging you to use this occasion to look into how the older stations in this association can assist the younger ones to grow and serve their audiences better through exchange of home-grown programmes and offering of subsidised training modules. 

Once again, I welcome you all to our Confluence State, the young and growing State of the future.  I urge you to bear with us if we cannot offer the elaborate lodging and catering services that you are used to.  Whatever you are missing in terms of amenities will certainly be compensated for in the warmth, show of love and accommodating spirit of our people, as well as our scenic confluence point and breath-taking Mount Patty which I understand you will be visiting. 

Thank you and have a wonderful stay.