One year almost to the day, I received an SMS around midnight from my coz, Deji Balogun, that finally, Mr. Governor had approved his appointment as General Manager, Lagos Television, Nigeria's premier state owned station.
The message was received more with relief than elation. Due mainly to the fact that it was one of state's worst kept secrets , and a confirmation of a journey that began the day Saheed Adedeji Olusoji Balogun first stood in front of a camera as a youth corps member nearly thirty years ago.
In a profession notorious for its high turn over of quality personnel and blatant poaching of quality broadcasters, DB has remained faithful to LTV, and by doing so, became the living encyclopaedia of what the station was, is, and should be.
From News to Sports to Programmes to production to Senior !management and finally to the apex, DB represents the rare Nigerian, the one that takes substance of dazzle. And it paid off big time.
That is why when people ask me how he was able to achieve so much within a year as GM, I smile. Because the Balogun men are warriors, and it is not the day we enter battle that we start planning for victory. We start from the day we know that war is inevitable.
DB brought back Lagos Weekend Television to its former glory, raised the viewership profile of the station from 7th to 4th, modernise both the studio and the personnel, brought in state of the art equipment, and is by far, more than ready for the switchover from analogue to digital. A fact not lost on those who elected him as the South West face of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria. BON.
As I sat down with the man this morning, what was meant to be a whistle stop congratulatory look in turned into a strategy meeting. Mainly because the man is already looking beyond his first year in office, considering all those things he has achieved as mere building blocks towards redirecting the Nigerian viewer to wholesome, locally produced content as a percusor for national greatness, and a more interactive television culture.
In this he has the full backing of the Governor, Akinwunmi AMBODE, his supervising Commissioner, Steve Ayorinde, his permanent Secretary,Adeyemi Fola and the goodwill and support of the entire populace of Lagos, who now see LTV and LWT as the vehicle to take them to that place where education, information and entertainment merge to provide a wholesome family friendly service.
And based on his track record in the last three decades and his achievements in the last twelve months, DB is definitely on his way to fulfilling his destiny.
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