Cross River State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Agbe Odey, on Thursday, October 8, 2026, represented Governor Sen. (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu at the 82nd General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), held at Hogis Royale, Calabar, where he delivered the Governor’s remarks.
Below are the full remarks:
REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, SEN. (PRINCE) BASSEY EDET OTU, GOVERNOR OF CROSS RIVER STATE
Protocol:
I am overwhelmingly pleased to welcome all delegates to the 82nd General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) once again to the city of Calabar.
It is worthy of note that Cross River State previously hosted the organisation’s 60th General Assembly in 2014.
You are warmly welcome to Cross River State -home of the iconic “Golden Voice” of Nigeria’s broadcasting industry, the late Chief Okokon Ndem, who served at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Calabar, until his passing in 2003.
Among the many responsibilities of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, one of the most important is the promotion and enforcement of professional standards across both public and private radio and television stations. This imperative has become even more urgent in the face of the observable decline in professional standards among some operators.
The consequences are far-reaching. Broadcast content has enormous power to shape public opinion, influence values, and affect the thinking and conduct of our young people. When irresponsible, divisive, or poorly verified content is allowed to dominate the airwaves, it can deepen social polarisation and expose young minds to conflicting and harmful ideologies.
This 82nd General Assembly should, therefore, provide a veritable platform for BON to develop practical frameworks that strengthen ethical broadcasting, promote responsible editorial judgment, and ensure greater accountability for the content transmitted to the public through radio and television.
The present administration in Cross River State, which I have the privilege to lead, is media-friendly and committed to a free, responsible, and vibrant press across print, radio, television, and digital platforms.
Our liberal disposition extends beyond respect for press freedom; it is also reflected in our deliberate investment in robust communication infrastructure and in the strengthening of state-owned media institutions to effectively discharge their mandate.
Accordingly, we have undertaken significant upgrades across our radio and television services. These include:
- Installation of a 1-kilowatt terrestrial television transmitter.
- Installation of 10-kilowatt and 2-kilowatt radio transmitters.
- Installation of a 33kVA substation and a 200kVA transmitter power system.
- Procurement of modern transmission software for both television and radio operations.
- Upgrade of the newsroom into a paperless news environment, alongside the modernisation of the transmitter room in line with contemporary industry requirements.
- Sponsorship of staff for specialised training at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Training School in Lagos.
These investments have strengthened our capacity to reach diverse audiences through terrestrial and digital platforms.
Today, our media outlets are better positioned to provide timely and reliable information on government policies, programmes, and projects, while also sustaining an active feedback mechanism through which citizens can engage with government and contribute to our development process.
On this note, I wish you fruitful deliberations and progressive outcomes as I declare open this 82nd General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON).
Thank you.
Sen. (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu
Governor, Cross River State