Former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Dr Nasir Danladi Bako, OON, has congratulated Comrade Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos on his reappointment as Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the development as a reaffirmation of the administration’s confidence in Nigeria’s broadcast media.
Bako, Kogunan Sokoto, said Dembos had recorded notable improvements in the NTA’s technical and programme output since assuming leadership of the organisation, citing better sound, cleaner pictures and improved quality of news and programmes.
“It’s not yet Uhuru but NTA has moved numerous steps ahead of where it was five years ago,” Bako said in a statement congratulating Dembos on his second tenure.
The former NBC Director-General, who is also a former operational staff of the NTA, said his professional experience placed him in a good position to assess the performance of media professionals and chief executives in the broadcasting industry.
Bako recalled that his professional relationship with Dembos dated back to 1991, when Dembos was a member of his production crew at the NTA Kaduna studios during the production of a musical documentary.
He said Dembos’ work ethic and performance-driven approach reminded him of the rigorous professional culture that characterised broadcasting in the 1970s and 1980s.
Bako thanked President Tinubu for the reappointment, saying it reflected continued confidence in the capacity of the NTA to contribute to the development of Nigeria’s broadcast industry.
The commendation by Bako came as the NTA itself celebrated his 69th birthday, with Dembos describing the former NBC Director-General’s career as a significant contribution to broadcasting and national development.
In a congratulatory letter dated September 1, 2026, Dembos, on behalf of the NTA management and staff, extended warm felicitations to Bako on the occasion of his 69th birthday.
Dembos said the milestone provided an opportunity not only to celebrate Bako’s life but also to acknowledge his “distinguished career of public service” and contributions to broadcasting and national development.
He described Bako’s years of service, particularly his tenure as Director-General of the NBC, as an important part of the history and development of Nigeria’s broadcasting industry.
According to him, Bako’s leadership, experience and commitment contributed to the growth of an industry that remains crucial to information, education, national integration and democratic development.
“Beyond the offices you have occupied and the responsibilities you have shouldered, your journey represents decades of dedication to your country and profession,” Dembos said.
He also described Bako’s national honour as an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) as a fitting recognition of a life devoted to service and contribution to the nation.
Dembos prayed for continued good health, peace, happiness and prosperity for Bako, and expressed the hope that he would continue to share his experience and wisdom with the broadcasting industry and the country.
The messages from the two senior broadcasters underscore a professional relationship spanning decades, with each acknowledging the other’s contribution to Nigeria’s broadcasting sector.
Bako’s message was signed as Dr Nasir Danladi Bako, OON, Kogunan Sokoto, while Dembos’ birthday message was signed in his capacity as Director-General/CEO of the NTA.
