SAMUEL ORTOM: THE VISIONARY WHO SAW TOMORROW BEFORE IT ARRIVED
By Barnabas Agashua
The announcement by the Federal Government of Nigeria that it is set to launch a new digital television platform offering Nigerians access to 100 free-to-air television channels marks another significant milestone in the country’s journey towards full digital broadcasting.
While many are celebrating this national initiative as a bold step into the future, the people of Benue State can proudly say that they have already experienced the benefits of digital television years ago, thanks to the foresight and visionary leadership of the immediate past Governor of the state, Chief Samuel Ortom.
Long before digital broadcasting became a renewed national priority, Chief Ortom recognized the transformative power of technology and modern communication. In 2020, while serving as Governor of Benue State, Ortom conceived and executed the establishment of Benue Television (BenueTV), a fully digital television station, built first as an Internet Protocol (IP) television and later expanded for comprehensive transmission on popular networks such as Startimes, DSTV, GOtv etc.
At a time when many states were struggling to sustain existing media infrastructure, Governor Ortom took the bold decision to invest in a modern broadcasting platform capable of competing in the digital age. His vision was not merely to establish another television station, but to create a platform that would inform, educate, entertain, preserve the cultural heritage of Benue people, and provide opportunities for young professionals in the media industry.
It is important to recall that before Chief Samuel Ortom initiated the Benue Television project, the state’s analogue television infrastructure had fallen into disrepair. The existing equipment beside Radio Benue in Makurdi had become obsolete, ineffective, and largely abandoned after years of neglect. Faced with the choice of merely managing a failing system or building a new one fit for the future, Governor Ortom chose the latter. He conceived and established a modern digital television station from scratch, laying the foundation for a broadcasting platform that today serves millions of viewers, promotes the state’s image, and provides employment opportunities for young professionals.
Today, Benue Television stands as one of the enduring legacies of the Ortom administration. The station has become a reliable source of information for millions of viewers within and outside the state. It has amplified the voices of ordinary people, showcased the rich cultural identity of Benue, promoted local talent, and created employment opportunities for numerous young people who might otherwise have remained unemployed.
The success of Benue Television is yet another example of Samuel Ortom’s ability to identify future opportunities and act decisively long before others recognize their significance.
Indeed, the story of Ortom’s administration is replete with examples of visionary initiatives that were initially misunderstood but later proved to be ahead of their time. His government pioneered bold policies and investments in security, agriculture, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and digital communication, many of which continue to benefit the people years after his tenure.
Perhaps nowhere was this foresight more evident than in his commitment to protecting Benue’s agrarian economy through the enactment and implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law. At a time when many doubted the necessity of such legislation, Ortom stood firm in defence of the lives, livelihoods, and ancestral lands of Benue farmers. Today, the conversations around ranching and regulated livestock management across Nigeria have vindicated the position he championed years earlier.
Similarly, his administration invested heavily in healthcare infrastructure, educational development, rural roads, and institutional reforms designed to strengthen governance and improve service delivery. Many of these initiatives continue to serve as reference points in discussions about sustainable development in Benue State.
The establishment of Benue Television therefore fits perfectly into the broader narrative of a leader who consistently looked beyond immediate political gains and focused on building structures that would serve future generations.
As Nigeria prepares to unveil its nationwide digital television platform, the achievements of Benue Television remind us that true leadership is not merely about responding to present challenges. It is about anticipating future needs and taking bold action to address them before they become urgent.
Samuel Ortom demonstrated this quality repeatedly during his tenure as Governor of Benue State. His investment in digital broadcasting was not an accident. It was the product of a leader who understood that the future belongs to those who prepare for it today.
History often reserves special recognition for leaders who see possibilities where others see obstacles. In the case of Benue Television, Chief Ortom did not merely follow a trend; he anticipated it.
As the nation celebrates the dawn of a new era in digital broadcasting, Benue people can proudly point to their own experience and say that they have been beneficiaries of that future for years: because Samuel Ortom saw tomorrow before it arrived.
