By Samson Adeyan
Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has approved the appointment of Rev. Fr Dr. Patrick Alumunku, OON, as Chairman of the Board of the Benue Television Corporation.
Alumunku, a renowned media professional, brings decades of experience in broadcasting and communications to the position. He holds a Doctorate Degree in Mass Communication and previously worked for 12 years with Vatican Radio.
He also served for 21 years as Director of Communications at the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja and is currently the Executive Director of Catholic Television of Nigeria.
His appointment is part of a broader board constitution approved by Governor Alia to strengthen the operations of the state-owned broadcasting corporation.
Other members of the board include Dr. Thaddeus Hanmakyugh as Secretary, Mrs. Jennifer Ejembi, Dr. Barnabas Gbam, and Engr. Sunday Iji.
Hanmakyugh holds a doctorate in Film Production and Media Arts from the University of Abuja and retired from the National Film Institute.
Ejembi is a former Executive Director of the Nigerian Television Authority in Ibadan, while Gbam previously served as Rector of the NTA College Jos. Engr. Iji is a former Director of Engineering Services at Radio Benue.
According to a statement issued by the governor’s Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Chief Solomon Iorpev, the appointments take immediate effect.
Governor Alia charged the new board to deploy their wealth of experience toward improving broadcasting standards in Benue State and promoting the state’s cultural heritage through quality programming.