Akiotu emerges clear favourite as BON elects new Chairman in Abuja

Akiotu emerges clear favourite as BON elects new Chairman in Abuja

All roads lead to Abuja as the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elects a new chairman on April 8 at Hawthorn Suites, Area 11, Garki.

But beyond the formalities of the gathering, attention has firmly settled on one man widely regarded as the preferred choice to lead the nation’s apex broadcast body, Tony Anegbe Akiotu.

With the theme, “The Management of the Airwaves: An Assessment of the 2026 Nigerian Electoral Act on Broadcast Media Coverage of the Elections,” the AGM will bring together key stakeholders across Nigeria’s broadcast landscape, with the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, billed as Special Guest of Honour.

The election marks the end of a two-year tenure by outgoing chairman, Salihu Abdullahi Dembos, whose leadership followed BON’s tradition of rotating the chairmanship between public and private sectors.

With the baton now set to return to the private sector, Akiotu’s emergence appears not only timely but widely endorsed.

Industry consultations and sentiment tracking among broadcast executives over the past month point overwhelmingly in Akiotu’s favour.

His lone challenger, Raymond Dokpesi Jr., faces an uphill task against a candidate whose credentials span nearly four decades of impactful service.

Akiotu’s deep-rooted relationship with the broadcast media, cultivated over the years has become a defining strength in his candidacy.

From his early days in the newsroom of Radio Nigeria to his influential years in the boardroom of Daar Communications Plc, where he served as Group Managing Director for 15 years, his journey reflects both experience and resilience.

A multiple national award–winning journalist and consummate professional, Akiotu has also played pivotal roles within the Nigerian Guild of Editors, serving for over a decade in various capacities up to Deputy President.

Within BON itself, he has spent more than 10 years in the executive council and successfully led the organisation’s Sports Committee, further cementing his reputation as a steady and results-driven administrator.

Currently, as Chairman/CEO of M4STV Communications Ltd, Akiotu is at the forefront of innovation in Nigeria’s evolving media space.

The platform has distinguished itself as a dynamic broadcast and digital streaming hub, seamlessly integrating traditional linear television with cutting-edge OTT services.

M4STV has also become the go-to station for live Nigeria Professional Football League matches and coverage involving the national teams, underscoring Akiotu’s enduring influence in sports broadcasting.

Colleagues and stakeholders alike point to his unmatched institutional knowledge and his ability to bridge generations of broadcasters as key reasons behind his broad and widespread support base.

His footprints, many say, are evident across virtually every layer of Nigeria’s broadcasting ecosystem, from policy formulation to content production.

When elected, Akiotu is expected to prioritise capacity building through training and retraining of broadcast professionals, while also driving the successful transition to digital broadcasting nationwide.

These focus areas align with the pressing needs of an industry navigating technological disruption and evolving regulatory frameworks.

With voters drawn from private, state, and federal radio and television stations across Nigeria, the stage is set for a defining moment in BON’s history.

Yet, as momentum builds, all indications suggest that Akiotu, a man whose life’s work has been intertwined with the growth of Nigerian broadcasting is poised to take the reins.

For many within the industry, the choice is not just about leadership, but about continuity, experience, and a proven commitment to the future of broadcasting in Nigeria.