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Briefly tell us about Capital TV?
Capital TV is a cutting edge digital content TV channel operating from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Our plan with capital TV is simply to tell the African story, shutter the nearly impenetrable glass ceiling within the walls of the global media and shape the message about Africa by providing a narrative of hope against the many who have for decades driven stereotypical narratives about the African continent. Capital TV will often constantly look at Africa in a more positive light, building a new image, projecting, promoting and reinforcing the confidence of its young and vibrant population through the narrative of the Nigerian lens.
But our broader picture is beyond just Capital TV. From our new corporate headquarters here, we will drive five main multi billion naira brands including Capital TV, our national, continental and global news brand and other media ventures.
When exactly was Capital TV established?
Capital TV was established in 2019.
What inspired you to establish the broadcast station?
I started capital TV because I wanted to provide a platform that tells the African story from the African perspective, not just in news, but also in real life contents that are human interest focused. I became quite irked by the too much comfort story pattern in the Nigerian media and thought of the need to create a narrative disruption. I think we are getting there.
How did you start your journalism career?
I began my journalism career while pursuing a journalism degree in Ghana years ago. After my studies, I set up a newspaper company known as Nigerian Times Ghana with the aim of providing a publication to focus on Nigerian activities in Ghana. I eventually moved to visual media and set up IFN TV, an online TV channel in Ghana, which was an offshoot from my TV show on eTV Ghana called International Focus on Nigeria where I travelled from country to country within West Africa to interview and document Nigerians making impacts on the continent. I eventually got a TV licence in 2017 from the government of Ghana for IFN TV but eventually moved back to Nigeria due to some circumstances that affected my business there.
What are the challenges you are facing in the sector here?
The main challenge here is funding. We have a very robust media idea that is viable and self-sustainable. But you know,the media, especially the area of our focus, is capital intensive. And our plan is not just broadcasting. We have a plan to run other media ventures like cinema, an A-list film production and a movie creatives village, which we are just about to kick off; and a content production house called Metro Studios.
So, how have you been able to weather the storm?
Focus and determination. For someone as young as I am to get to where I am now in Nigeria without any support, you know it must have been only through focus. I think being in the broadcasting business for me is a calling. It is something I can wake up at any moment and deliver effortlessly.
Do you have any awards?
Yes. I am the winner of the 2017 Nelson Mandela Washington Fellow Nigeria Alumni Award in Media. In 2018, I was a Finalist of the BBC Komla Dumor Award and just recently a fellow of the Bill Gates Storify Africa Fellowship by Africa No Filters.
What are your other areas of interest?
I am a seasoned documentarian, writer and investigative journalist. I think these have formed a key part of my embodiment as a journalist and media entrepreneur. I am leading a disruptive revolution in the broadcast business in Africa and I think gradually with Capital TV we are getting there.
How do you think the government can mitigate the challenges you are facing in the sector?
As a new player in the industry, the main challenge is finance. As I said earlier, broadcasting is a highly capital intensive business. It is not something you can just wake up today and start doing. The least equipment costs alot of money. So, for someone like me, access to credit is a major challenge.
Again, if you look around Nigeria, most of the big players in the industry are either top government people or people with strong tentacles within the corridors of power. So, you can imagine what that means for a young chap like me trying to bulldoze my way through from the very scratch.
But the thing is that I know my ounce. I know what the market wants. I know where the lapses are and that is where Capital TV comes in. I just want to focus on filling those gaps and eventually everything will fall in place.
But again, I think the government should provide a level playing field in the industry where people like us can have access to credit.
Then there is the issue of licencing. The procedure is quite tedious and somehow expensive for people like us who have all the expertise and experience but don’t have all the money required. So, this is an area that the government can look into too.
How do you intend to generate income with Capital TV?
Media is a very lucrative business. Currently we run documentaries for big corporate firms across Africa, not just in Nigeria. We do commercials, cover big events and help top organisations with media strategies for brand visibility. We are also into broadcast equipment consulting and installations. We also run one of the most credible media training schools. So, the money is coming. But again, all these are put back into the business to grow.
Are you on DSTV?
We are not on DSTV yet. Most of our activities for now are online. We don’t just want to be on DSTV and broadcast mediocrity. I am a lover of excellence and so in the last two years we have been into aggressive content building.
I’ve hired alot of young people who are working here and together we are travelling round the country doing stories in line with our vision of telling the African story. We want the world to see the other side of the continent through our stories, not just stories of war, famine, coups, internet fraud and all that. But that does not also stop us from focusing on key issues around governance, leadership and politics generally.
In your view, what is the solution to Nigeria’s power sector challenges, which is affecting many businesses, including yours?
I think that Nigeria’s power problem is something that is not insurmountable. I believe that the current government knows what to do. I mean, I’ve been to many countries around Africa and it is a shame that Nigeria is still where it is with its power generation.
All that is needed is the will power and I hope the current government can be a bit more deliberate in its approach because we have nothing to show for all the billions of dollars spent on power as a country since 1999.
The solution is to embrace technology and innovation in our approach to power generation and then improve our approach torenewable energy because that is the way forward. Our country’s location in the tropics gives us an all year round solar radiation and its long coastline provides potential for wind power generation. We have to make use of what we have.
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