How October 31 1959 and the Birth of Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) Literally Changed the Face of Media in Africa — Setting a Blueprint for Nigeria’s Broadcast Revolution

On October 31, 1959, history was made in Ibadan, Nigeria — the moment that the Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) station went live, marking the first television service station in Nigeria, and widely regarded as the first television station in Africa. This landmark event became a turning point not only for media and culture in Nigeria, but for the African continent’s entry into the television age.

The Vision Behind WNTV

The station’s establishment did not happen by coincidence. It was part of a deliberate strategy by the then-Western Region Government under Premier Obafemi Awolowo, in partnership with technical and commercial interests. According to available sources, the Western Region House of Assembly passed the Broadcasting Law in September 1959, paving the way for the creation of the television service. The constitutional change that removed broadcasting from being an exclusive federal item to a concurrent item empowered regional governments like the Western Region to venture into broadcast services. 

What motivated the move? Awolowo and his Information Minister, Anthony Enahoro, envisioned television not merely as a tool for entertainment, but as an instrument of mass education, culture promotion and information dissemination. An editorial in Vanguard notes how WNTV was launched to act “as an educational tool for the masses” and to beam local culture, foreign news and the region’s developmental agenda into homes. In effect, the birth of WNTV was about more than signal and screens—it represented a future-oriented philosophy of media as civic infrastructure.

The Launch and Early Days

At its inaugural broadcast on 31 October 1959 in Ibadan (with transmitters at Ibadan and Abafon), WNTV adopted the slogan “First in Africa.” Though controversy exists on whether it was technically first across the continent, the station’s role and legacy remain widely celebrated. At its start, the station reportedly operated for limited hours, and early viewing was challenged by cost of sets and outreach logistics. One initiative that stands out: the station purchased TV sets powered by generators for rural community centres (the “Omi-Adio Lalupon TV viewing project”) to extend access beyond urban elites. 

Programmatically, WNTV blended imported drama series with educational, cultural and informational content. During its early years (1959–1964) imported shows such as The Adventures of Robin Hood, Cisco Kid and Hop Along Cassidy were popular among children, even as the station increasingly broadcast Yoruba cultural productions and news-current affairs. 

The Legacy and the Broad Impact

WNTV’s establishment had profound implications for Nigeria’s media landscape and beyond:

Media Industry Birthplace: It became a training ground for generations of Nigerian broadcasters, technicians and entertainers. News editors, programme producers and actors cut their teeth there. 

Cultural Platform: It provided a vehicle for Yoruba-language theatre and regional culture to reach home audiences—thereby promoting indigenous creative forms alongside imported content. 

Catalyst for Other Stations: Following WNTV, the Eastern Region launched ENTV in 1960, and the Northern Region launched RKTV (Radio Television Kaduna) in 1962. 

Nationalisation and Evolution: In 1977, under a Decree the Federal Military Government absorbed regional stations, including WNTV, into a national network via Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). 

Educational & Social Role: The station exemplified the notion that broadcasting could serve public interest, education and development—not only entertainment.

Why This Still Matters Today

As someone creating blog content, this story has many angles that boost SEO, engagement and relevance:

Historical Anchor with Contemporary Resonance: Even as online streaming and digital media explode, the roots in broadcast still carry weight. Many of Nigeria’s media challenges (access, infrastructure, local content) relate back to structures set up in the early television era.

Regional Pride & Relevance: The story is rooted in Ibadan and Oyo State, aligning with your location in Ibadan. That gives local relevance and anchoring.

The story of the Western Nigeria Television station’s launch on 31 October 1959 is more than a footnote in broadcast history. It encapsulates ambition, regional leadership, media innovation and cultural identity. As Nigeria, and indeed Africa, navigates the rise of streaming, digital platforms and global media competition, it helps to remember where it all began—in a studio in Ibadan, with a handful of transmitters and a mission to educate, inform and uplift.