The Senate on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to immortalize the founder of AIT/Raypower, High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, Ezomo of Weppa-Wanno Kingdom, Edo State.
The upper legislative chamber observed a minute silence in honour of the late Dokpesi and resolved to send a delegation to pay a condolence visit to the family.
Dokpesi died on May 29, 2023 after a brief illness.
Senate’s resolutions came after a motion titled Demise of High Chief Raymond Anthony Aleogho Dokpesi PhD, DSC, FNSE, OFR which was sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs, Tariff and Excise, Senator Francis Alimikhena, PDP, Edo North.
In his presentation, Senator Alimikhena who cited order 42 of the Senate Standing Orders, expressed shock over the demise of the media mogul, just as he called on the Upper Chamber to observe a minute silence in his favour, called on the federal government to immotalise him based on his immense contributions to national development.
Alimikhena said, “The Senate: Notes with grief the demise of High Chief Raymond Anthony Aleogho Dokpesi, founder/Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications on Monday 29” May, 2023 in Abuja at the age of 71years;
“Engr. Aleogho Dokpesi was born on the 25″” October 1951 in Ibadan, Oyo State. He hails from Agenebode in Etsako East Local Government of Edo State. He started his early education in Loyola College Ibadan and Immaculate Conception College Benin City.
“That in 1969 he proceeded to the University of Wyzsaza Gdynia in Poland for his Bachelor, Master and Doctorate Degree respectively. He graduated with a First Class Degree in Marine Transport Engineering and was the best graduating student in the University of Poland.”
According to him, “He is a Fellow of Nigeria Society of Engineers (2019) Chartered Institute of Transport (1991), Nigerian Institute of Management (1992), Nigeria Institute of Shipping (1989), the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (1988), and the Institute of Transport Administration UK (1985).
“That Dokpesi’s first Business, Africa Ocean Lines, was the first indigenous shipping line in Africa, and was established in the 1980s. Although the business did not last long, it contributed to the Nigerian Shipping Industry, as it helped to formulate the Nigerian Shipping Act Decree 1986, which stated the sharing formula 40:20:20 for cargo between developed and developing countries;
“Recalls that in the early 1990s when Nigerian Media was dominated by the government media onty, he entered the Nigerian mass media industry with his company DAAR Communications and established the first independent Radio Station — Ray Power FM in 1993 and the first global satellite Television StationAfrica Independent Television (AIT) in Nigeria in 1996.
“That on the 20” September 2003, Africa Independent Television launch its signals in the United States. Presently, AIT is received in America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe-wide on the Hot Bird Satellite as well as Countries within Africa;
He noted that Dokpesi also had his hands in politics. “One of his first political assignments was as a Political Campaign Manager to Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, which saw Tukur into the then Gongola State Government House as Governor. He was then appointed as Chief of Staff to the Governor in 1983. Dokpesi was one of the leaders of South South People Assembly (SSPA) an organization that seeks to promote the South-South Peoples interest in Nigeria. In 2017, Dokpesi Contested for the PDP National Chairmanship position but was not successful.
“Notes also that he holds the following chieftaincy titles/Awards:High Chief Ogierumia of Weppa Wanno (1986), Araba of Osooro Land (1987), Gbobaniyi of Ilawe-Ekiti, EZomo of Wanno Kingdom. Dr. Nkurumah Africa Leadership Award and Gold Medal for Excellence in Business Practice Award. A recipient of Institute of Directors Entrepreneurial Award.(loD) 2007
“Aware that he is an eminent and committed leader, a perfect gentleman, a media guru, a nationalist and a philanthropist. His contribution to democracy and good governance through his media outlets remains unparallel and will make his foot prints indelible in the sands of time; and
Regrets that his demise Is a great loss to his family, Daar Communications, good people of Uwanno Kingdom, government of Edo State and Nigeria in General.”
Senators Matthew Urhoghide, Edo South; Clifford Ordia, PDP, Edo Central; George Thompson Sekibo, PDP, Rivers South East; Enyinnaya Abaribe, APGA, Abia South; Biodun Olujimi, PDP, Ekiti South; Smart Adeyemi, APC, Kogi West and Ovie Omo-Agege, APC, Delta Central who presided over plenary took turns to pour encomiums on the late Dokpesi.
In his remarks, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe who described him as a trail blazer who pioneered private radio and television stations in the country, said, “For that, we must at all times always remember the late Dokpesi as the man that stood forward for Nigeria and gave us one of the key ingredient of democracy which is freedom of information.
“I say good night because good me are very rare. May God accept his soul.”
On her part, Senator Biodun Olujimi who noted that the late media mogul was a jinx breaker, said, “He broke the jinx when he brought the African Ocean Lines and also broke the jinx when he brought DAAR Communications
“He was a true democrat. He was a great believer in the ingenuity of human beings to recreate themselves.
“He wanted Nigeria to be a country where everybody will have first class in what he was doing.”
Olujimi who noted that the late Dokpesi was a backbone of so many individuals and governments, “Dokpesi was a very useful part of my party, the PDP where he played major roles in uniting the party.”
Senator Smart Adeyemi said that “AIT irrespective of how you look at it is a balancing force in the media.
“He was a man that this country will miss greatly. Dokpesi contributed in no small measure to the growth of broadcast journalism in Nigeria. The departure of Dokpesi is a great loss to the media.”