YTV Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary with a Bold Pledge to Modernize Broadcasting

The Yobe State Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to completely transform Yobe State Television (YTV) and the Yobe Broadcasting Corporation (YBC).

The announcement was made by the State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information, and Culture, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, during YTV’s 30th-anniversary celebration, which brought together past and present staff of the station.

Citing a "deep sense of obligation and duty," the Commissioner declared that the era of excuses is over, emphasizing a new commitment to "walk the talk" and bring the state-owned media in line with current international broadcasting standards.

Commissioner Bego revealed that Governor Mai Mala Buni has given his full backing to the initiative. He stressed that the Governor recently approved the immediate convening of a technical working group tasked with the transformation of both YTV and YBC.

"This instruction was given recently, underscoring the administration's urgency. We want to not just talk, but walk the talk. With the support of His Excellency, we will see what we can do to improve the services of YBC and YTV," said Bego.

In a significant move for staff welfare, the Commissioner also announced that the Governor has approved the conversion of additional casual and volunteer staff at both stations into full-time, permanent civil servants. This follows a previous exercise during the Commissioner's first tenure that saw about 40 staff regularized.

"So congratulations to all the men and ladies who will be beneficiaries," the Commissioner stated, drawing applause from the audience.

Earlier in his remarks, the General Manager of Yobe State Television (YTV), Comrade Yusuf Alhaji Isah, welcomed guests and recounted the station's history.

He noted that YTV began test transmission on October 26, 1995, with a mission to provide television services to the entire state and beyond.

"We are very proud of the individuals who began their careers at YTV," Isah said, highlighting that the current Commissioner for Information is himself a product of the station. "YTV, as an organization, has produced administrators, politicians, traditional leaders, and many who have excelled in various fields."

The GM also thanked Governor Mai Mala Buni for his commitment to the full digitization of YTV, a project expected to commence soon.

The event, which featured the presentation of awards to past General Managers and staff of the station, served as both a celebration of 30 years of broadcast excellence and a pivotal moment, signaling a new chapter of investment and modernization for Yobe State's public broadcasters, with a firm one-year deadline set for their transformation.