Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has proposed the establishment of a national media research centre to honour the memory of the late media mogul, Raymond Dokpesi.
The proposed facility is intended to function as a strategic hub for media-driven research, specifically investigating how journalism can be leveraged to drive economic growth and national development. The initiative suggests a shift in how the media’s role is perceived, moving beyond political reporting toward a data-driven understanding of its influence on the economy.
The governor made the proposal during a discussion regarding the legacy of Raymond Dokpesi, a central figure in the Nigerian broadcasting industry and the founder of AIT and DAAR Communications.
Researching the economic impact of journalism
The core objective of the suggested centre is to bridge the gap between media practices and economic policy. Uzodimma argued that the centre should provide insights into how the flow of information, media narratives, and journalistic integrity affect investment climates, market trends, and public confidence in economic institutions.
By naming the centre after Dokpesi, the proposal seeks to link his contribution to the expansion of private broadcasting in Nigeria with a new era of academic and strategic media study. Currently, much of the research into the Nigerian media landscape is conducted within general academic departments, often lacking the specialised focus required to address the intersection of information technology, journalism, and economic stability.
A dedicated national centre could provide policymakers with critical data on how media consumption patterns influence consumer behaviour and how digital information dissemination affects the transparency of business transactions. This is particularly relevant as Nigeria continues to navigate the complexities of a growing digital economy.
The implementation of the centre would likely require high-level coordination between the Imo State government, the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and various media industry stakeholders. At this stage, there is no confirmed timeline for the commencement of the project or a specific framework for its funding and operational management.
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