Date Published: 09/02/09
GUEST COLUMNIST
Why Distract AKUNYILI?
By Tonnie Iredia, Ph.D, OON
The numerous attacks on Prof. Dora Akunyili, the Minister of Information and Communications are not unexpected considering that persons in top public positions especially in this part of the world are now and again subjects of attacks. For me therefore, I have never seen the need to join issues with such critics. I can however not take the same stand in the current issue of the renewal of NTA projects for the under 17 world cup.
The hues and cries over the approval of funds by the Federal Government for the project have come from diverse sources. While some have openly questioned government’s decision to upgrade the facilities of its national television, others narrowed down their attacks on the role of the Minister, Prof Dora Akunyili in the award of the contract for the project. Some quarrel over the cost, as well as who got what and how in the project. However, none of the publications questioned the urgent need of the NTA for a life-line in the areas of equipment, facilities and manpower development capable of meeting international standards.
For those who may not have been familiar with this issue, the process to upgrade NTA facilities and prepare NTA for the under 17 FIFA football competition started two years ago. NTA needed to upgrade its equipment and explore prudent options to re-position its operations to meet global challenges. This involves upgrading and refurbishment of outside broadcast vans from standard definition to high definition, refurbishment of International Broadcast Centre fr
