NewsUltra360 Special Report
Three years after his passing, Nigeria continues to remember High Chief Dr. Raymond Anthony Aleogho Dokpesi, OFR, as a trailblazing broadcaster, businessman and patriot whose contributions helped redefine the country’s media and democratic landscape.
Dokpesi, founder of DAAR Communications Plc, owners of Raypower FM and Africa Independent Television (AIT), died on May 29, 2023, at the age of 71.
Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential media entrepreneurs, Dokpesi broke new ground in the broadcast industry after establishing Raypower FM, Nigeria’s pioneer private FM radio station, following the deregulation of broadcasting in the country. He later founded AIT, creating a major independent television platform that became an important voice in national affairs.
Before his entry into broadcasting, Dokpesi had distinguished himself in the maritime sector, drawing on his training as a marine engineer. However, it was in media that he built a legacy that continues to resonate across Nigeria.
At a time when public broadcasting was largely dominated by government-owned stations, Raypower and AIT expanded the space for independent news, public debate, entertainment and alternative perspectives.
During Nigeria’s years of military rule and the turbulent democratic struggles that followed, AIT and Raypower earned recognition for providing platforms for voices advocating civil liberties, accountability and democratic governance.
Dokpesi’s media organisations also played prominent roles during significant national moments. AIT’s live coverage of legislative proceedings during the controversial third-term debate in 2006 helped millions of Nigerians follow developments surrounding attempts to amend the Constitution to allow then-President Olusegun Obasanjo to seek another term in office.
Beyond politics and public affairs, Dokpesi’s platforms contributed to the visibility of Nigeria’s music and entertainment industries, giving airtime and exposure to emerging talents and locally produced content at a period when Nigerian entertainment was still seeking wider national and international recognition.
His intervention in sports broadcasting also remains a notable part of his legacy. Through DAAR Communications, Dokpesi invested in broadcast infrastructure connected with Nigeria’s hosting of the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, reinforcing the country’s capacity to deliver major international broadcast events.
For many Nigerians, Dokpesi was more than a media proprietor. He represented the courage to challenge established systems, the determination to widen access to information and the belief that broadcasting could serve the public interest.
His death on May 29, 2023, brought tributes from political leaders, media practitioners, associates and members of the public, many of whom described him as a pioneer whose impact on private broadcasting in Nigeria would endure.
Three years later, his legacy remains visible in the thriving independent broadcast industry, the plural voices on Nigeria’s airwaves and the continuing role of the media in defending democracy and holding power to account.
As Nigeria remembers High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the question of adequately honouring media pioneers who strengthened national discourse remains pertinent.
For a man who helped give Nigerians a stronger voice, history may yet reserve an even greater place of honour.
High Chief Dr. Raymond Anthony Aleogho Dokpesi, OFR: October 25, 1951 – May 29, 2023.
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