Award-winning journalist, publisher, politician, founder and editor-in-chief of Arise News Channel and This Day Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, who is also a Duke of Owa Kingdom, has been described by several teams of journalism critics as a giant in the media industry for his immense contributions to the growth and development of journalism in Nigeria and beyond.
Turning 62 years of age a few months back, we take a look at the role Obaigbena has played in Nigerian journalism and other sectors of the nation including legacies made over the years.
In the beginning…
Born on the 14th of July, 1959, to the royal family if Owa Kingdom in Delta State, Nedu Obaigbena is a real-life designated duke. However, despite his nobility of birth, he had an early fondness for knowledge and stopped at nothing in his quest to amass much of it. Little wonder why he has an opulent educational background.
Obaigbena got his first go honors in the Arts at the University of Benin, after which he proceeded to the School of Business at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He equally underwent an Advanced Management Programme at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
He is a serial national representative of journalism
Nduka Obaigbena’s representation of Nigeria along the trajectory of the media is quite legendary. He has a resume that packs a punch, and it goes without saying that this is an important reference point for young Nigerian students of journalism.
In the 80’s, Obaigbena had a number of appointments including Nigeria Representative for Time Magazine, New York and News Week Magazine, New York; Consultant (Nigerian Section), Michael Jarvis and Partners, St James, London; and also Africa Regional Representative, Time Magazine, New York; and African Representative, Time & Fortune Magazine.
He has also occupied the position of chairman/chief executive officer/editor-in-chief for a number of leading international media groups including Leaders & Company Limited, This Week Limited, Answers Associates International Limited, amongst several others.
How he founded ThisDay Newspaper
Obaigbena, with a number of years of experience in journalism while working with renowned media groups around the world, became a newspaper proprietor in 1995 when he solely founded a daily broadsheet newspaper known as ThisDay with its first publication on 22nd January, 1995.
ThisDay Newspaper became a contender in the Nigerian media market over the years following its early introduction of colored printing (and is one of the pioneers of colored printing in newspaper publication), making it stand out amongst its contemporaries that were mostly in black and white back then.
Following the form ThisDay Newspaper was taking in the market, Nduka Obaigbena further proved the depth of his business acumen with an introduction of an annual This Day Awards in 2000. The awards was aimed at recognizing Nigerians who have made remarkable contributions in politics, education, international business, etc. And it soon became a much sought-after award.
According to numerous reports, ThisDay Newspapers in circulation across the nation is a little over 100,000 on a daily basis and the outlet has a turnover of about 35 million USD per annum. The paper has publishing houses in all the 36 states of Nigeria.
Even Music and Fashion
Obaigbena sure has an eye for making additions to his growing list of legacies, setting up a number of platforms that will outlive him. He founded This Day Music and Fashion Festival in 2006, and the fest is reputed for having featured some of the frontline local and international musical acts and models including the likes of John Legend, Jay Z, Beyonce, Rihanna, 50 Cent, Usher, Snoop Dogg, Black Eyed Peas, Alec Wek, Missy Elliot, Naomi Campbell and so on.
He launched an international TV news channel
Obaigbena made a break into television broadcasting in 2013 with the initiative of Arise News, a channel with a focus on African lifestyle. To get Arise News a worldwide reach, Obaigbena signed a deal with Globecast for satellite transmission on Astra 2G for broadcast in the UK, and for cable transmission in London, New York, Johannesburg, and Lagos, Hot Bird was contracted.
…Arise Fashion Week
In 2008, Obaigbena announced his intention to begin magazine publication and on the 14th October of the same year, during This Day Music & Fashion Festival at Royal Albert Hall, London, the first Arise magazine publication was launched which was followed by Arise (Africa) Fashion Week that began in Johannesburg, and Cape Town, South Africa before returning to Lagos, Nigeria. The Arise Fashion Week has also featured a few years at The New York and Paris Fashion Week.
It is sufficient to say that Nduka Obaigbena has a number of initiatives to his name that are making a change on the fronts that matter in the Nigerian society, Africa and the world at large.
Written by Johnson Onyedika
Connect with us on LinkedIn
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.