The first Ebonyi private commercial radio and television station, Legacy 95.1 FM, Abakaliki has commenced broadcasting and other commercial operations.
The radio and television station was inaugurated by the governor of Ebonyi, Mr Francis Nwofuru on Tuesday in Abakaliki.
Nwifuru, in a speech, thanked the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the broadcasting outfit, Sen. Obinna Ogba for his foresight, and vision and promised that government would provide light and road infrastructure to the area.
He said that the state government under his control would always provide an enabling environment for private businesses to thrive.
He, therefore, called on wealthy individuals and investors to take advantage of the friendly government economic policies to invest in the state assuring that government would at all times protect and secure the business environment.
He said: “I am delighted to be here not because Obinna Ogba is opening the Legacy FM; I am delighted because he deemed it necessary to bring it back to our land – Izzi land, Ebonyi state.
” There are many senators who made more money than Ogba, but they have nothing to show for it in the state and non of them deemed it necessary to invest in this state.
“It gives me joy that Ogba believes in this state and has brought a lot of investment in Ebonyi and Izzi land in particular.
“We made a law in this state in 2017 and that law ‘Investment Concession Law’ has been in operation and the law stipulated a lot of things in favour of the investor.
” As Ogba has invested here, if the state gives Ogba a tax that is above what he is supposed to pay and he closes this place, the state is under obligation to pay him back all that he spent in building this place.
“So, I’m also inviting most of our stakeholders who have that opportunity of making money, who are exposed and have what it takes, to come and develop our state.”
He urged the station to abide by the code of conduct stipulated by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to broadcast programmes and develop contents that would engender peace, progress and unity in the state.
He advised the station to avoid broadcasting fake and false news against the state government but to educate, inform and entertain the people.
Meanwhile, Ogba, the immediate past senator representing Ebonyi Central in a speech said that he was motivated to venture into the establishment of the media outfit due to his passion for job creation and helping people gain employment.
He also noted that the vision to establish the private radio and television station was inspired by the desire to provide the people with a media platform to express their views and opinions on a wide range of issues.
“I felt there is a need for me to establish this private broadcasting station because every time Ebonyi people will take the risk of boarding transportation to Enugu to air their views; you always hear them in most private radio stations in Enugu.
“And, I felt like what is there we cannot have here in Ebonyi, hence the establishment of Legacy 95.1 FM,” Ogba said.
Our correspondent reports that the radio and television station is located at 1 Legacy Crescent, off Arch. Nwoha Street by the Central Police Station, Abakaliki.
