By Timothy Nwobodo

The chief executive officer, Afia TV, Mr Emeka Mbah on Thursday paid tribute to his Alma mater, the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT for giving him a quality background which has contributed to his success in the media industry.

Speaking to ESUT Monitor at the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival (ENIFF) on Thursday, Mbah said he’s product of ESUT and graduated from the Department of Mass Communication 33 years ago.

“ESUT is a foundation for me because it gave me an opportunity to learn and to build a career at that time in the 80s. I had some of the fantastic teachers and mentors. Obviously at that time ESBS was thriving, Daily Star – the State newspaper – was doing quite well. It gave us the opportunity to interact and learn from editors and producers at ESBS then. In all, I’m still grateful for the opportunity to have been a student and graduated from that institution, I’m proud to be an Esutite,” Mbah said.

He also disclosed his intentions and what informed his decision to situate the TV station in Enugu. “I think that South East is not well represented in the Nigerian Media Space, especially in the digital platforms and the traditional linear media. So my motivation was how do we begin to tell stories that come from the South East, about the South East and for us” he added.

the former Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) noted that in order to sustain and promote the South-East cultural heritage, the young people must be carried along, hence his decision for hiring majority of young people in his media outlet.

“Working with young people is very strategic for us in Afia, because we’re looking at not today, but tomorrow. I believe the future is for the young people. If I’m talking about the future, should I be looking at Old people like myself? I’ll go with the young people because they’re the future,” he concluded