尼日利亚电视发展.pdf

Africa Media Review Vol. 3 No. 2. 1989 © African Council on Communication EducationThe Advent and Growth of Television Broadcasting in Nigeria: Its Political and Educational Overtonesby Charles C. Umeh*AbstractThe history of television broadcasting in Nigeria revolves around the suitability of the medium for political propaganda and for educational broadcasting. This article examines political and educational motivation for the establishment of television in Nigeria from 1959 when the Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) was established to early 1962 when the Federal Government and the three existing regional governments each had a television station of its own. The creation of new states was accompanied by the proliferation of television stations until the establishment of the Nigerian Television Authority (N.T.A.) checked this proliferation and wastage of resources. The article assesses the performance of educational television broacasting in Nigeria and concludes that it has largely been successful.*Dr. Charles C. Umeh is dean, School of Applied Arts and Sciences, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Nigeria.54Avenement et croissance de la television au Nigeria: contenus politiques et educationnelsR6sum6L'histoire de la television au Nigeria tourne autour de son utilisation comme moyen de propagande politique et pour I'education. Cet article etudie les motivations politiques et educationnelles qui ont pousse a la creation de la television au Nigeria des 1959 avec la Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) au debut des annees 1962 lorsque le Gouvernement federal et les trois Gouvernements des regions d'alors avaient chacun sa propre station de television. La creation de nouveaux etats a vu la proliferation de stations de television avant que la NTA (Nigerian Television Authority) ne mette fin a cette tendance et au gaspillage de ressources qui lui etait inherent. L'article evalue les resultats de I'enseignement televisuel au Nigeria et conclut que dans une large mesure, ses resultats sont un succes.55IntroductionThe Early Years of Television in NigeriaTelevision development in Nigeria has been motivated by two factors: politics and education. The two are inextricably linked since education is always a vote catcher, and all governments are, to a degree, genuinely altruistic vis-a-vis education. It follows then that it is the educational factor that the leaders present to the people in order to secure their approval and support for the introduction or expansion of television. That television could, once established, be used for blatant propaganda must have motivated politicians, although the extent to which this is so can only be surmised. Tracing the history of the establishment of the first television station in Nigeria, Egbon (1982) writes thatTelevision transmission began in Western Nigeria on October 31, 1959. This service which was initiated by a Regional Government was not only the first in Nigeria, but remains today the oldest in the whole of the African continent. The birth could be termed purely accidental, because it was borne out of political dissension. ... Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his partymen had walked out of Parliament in protest against a constitutional debate at the eve of Nigeria's independence. This action was condemned by the ruling government over the Federal all-Nigeria Radio Broadcasting Service, but access was denied the opposition leader to reply to the accusations. Instead of establishing a Radio Station alone, to offer an unrepressed 'voice' in national affairs, the Western Region commenced television transmission. Thus while the aims of this expensive venture as delineated by the Government may not seriously be in dispute, yet the real motives may actually be more of 'regional pride' and 'prestige'. Perhaps the whole action was calculated to spite political opponents (p. 5-7).Doubtlessly, the people of Western Nigeria, at the time, had to be shown why Western Region had to embark upon what was described (by critics) as a 'wasteful' and 'prestigious' project. According to Faronbi (1979, p. ii) '. . . Ibadan Television was established as a missionary in a wilderness of unbelievers and critics. To many, it was a diversion of the scarce resources of the region to a prestigious project'. This kind of thinking at the time was strongly countered by the argument that television was being established to satisfy the educational aspirations of the people of the Western Region. The Daily Times (November 2, 1959) carried a front page report of the inauguration of the new Western Nigerian Television service in Ibadan. Chief Awolowo said in his speech that the venture was initiated because the Regional Government was convinced that it could play a major role in increasing both the pace and standard of education which was regarded as the key to progress in other fields. He said that it was the aim of his government to bring information about development in Nigeria and in the outside world56into the people's hom。