By Tejiri Ebikeme
The Executive Director (News & Current Affairs) of African Independent Television (AIT), Mr. Felix Akugha has emerged as the running mate to All progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.
The choice of Mr. Akugha was confirmed by the APC and Olorogun Emerhor in a statement by the Director of Media and Political Communication, OTEGA4GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe.
Oghenesivbe quoted Olorogun Emerhor as saying that the choice of the ace broadcaster was reached after a thorough appraisal of his pedigree and many years of active involvement in local, national and international political discuss. He further asserted that Akugha, apart from being a successful career journalist is also deeply involved in grassroots political mass mobilization in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Felix Emamode Akugha, an astute and seasoned journalist and, a quintessential administrator with experience spanning three decades is the Executive Director, News & Current Affairs, DAAR Communications PLC, Africa’s pioneer Private TV Station.
He is responsible for the news production from over 30 Stations and bureaus of AIT across the vast geographical location of Nigeria. Felix joined DAAR Communications PLC – Nigeria’s largest private Broadcast Network in February, 1997. Upon his entrance into DAAR Communications PLC, he created, produced and anchored one of AIT’s flagship programmes known as Kaakaki.
He had served at various managerial positions such as Head of Reportorial, Lagos. He was also Chief Correspondent, South-South Zone until recently when he served as the Director, Southern Operations where he successfully lead the transformation of a Station with 98+ staff struggling to stay afloat into a customer focused, commercially aware profit churning centre.
Prior to joining DAAR Communications PLC, Felix had very productive years with several print and electronic media organizations including Nigeria Observer Group (1985) where he cut his journalistic teeth; he moved on to Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) in 1992. Upon the advent of Private broadcasting in Nigeria in 1994, he moved to DBN where he created and introduced the concept of weekday morning television, through the programme“AM TV Live” which he also anchored – this pioneered the very first weekday morning live TV programme in Nigeria.
An accomplished and well-schooled administrator, Mr. Felix is an Alumnus of several Business Schools across the globe including the Harvard Business School, USA; Queens School of Business, Canada; McDough School of Business, Georgetown University, USA; the Manchester University Business School, UK; Cranfield School of Management, UK; University of Port Harcourt Business School, Nigeria amongst others.
Felix holds several degrees and diplomas from both national and international higher institutes of learning. A graduate of University of Port Harcourt, Felix has a Master of Science degree in Political and Administrative Studies (International Relations). He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Language with a major in French Language.
Also in his vast archive, is a Post Graduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism. Felix had earlier kicked off his academic pursuit with a National Diploma in Mass Communication. A Fellow of Institute of Corporate Administration, Felix is also a member of several professional bodies including: Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) and Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).
His reportorial adventure has been very daring as well as exciting. These have taken him round the globe where he covered assignments in the Vatican severally. He has also covered several World Cup matches, the United Nations General Assemblies, Africa Union General Assemblies, and the General Elections in the United States, South Africa, and Nigeria amongst others. He was also in the thick of action at the Sierra Leone and Liberia civil wars.
Married with children, Felix Emamode Akugha is a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ).
