On November 9, 1980, Lagos Television commenced operations under the administration of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the first civilian governor of Lagos State. Forty-six years later, the station continues to reinvent itself, strengthening its position as the authentic voice of Lagos through quality broadcasting, improved infrastructure and an expanding digital presence. BUKOLA BAKARE writes.
Solape Lawrence is an avid reader and arts enthusiast who has lived in Lagos for more than four decades. An introvert who cherishes her close circle of friends and values her personal time, she enjoys keeping up with breaking news and watching wholesome entertainment on her favourite television stations, including Lagos Television (LTV).
With a broad smile and a nostalgic glint in her eyes, Lawrence recalls how she often hurried home in the late 1980s and early 1990s to tune in to Lagos Television. The familiar strains of Greek composer Vangelis’s Chariots of Fire would fill the airwaves, signalling that quality entertainment was about to begin.
For Lawrence and many other Lagos residents, LTV represents more than a television station. It evokes memories of an era when the station was a household name, providing news, entertainment and programmes that reflected the character and culture of Lagos.
Forty-six years after its establishment, Lagos Television continues to build on that legacy, navigating an increasingly competitive media environment while seeking to attract new audiences and strengthen its relevance.
In the beginning
Lagos Television is a state-owned television station located in the Agidingbi area of Ikeja, Lagos. Established in October 1980 under the administration of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the station commenced operations on November 9 of that year, with a mandate to inform and entertain the public, promote cultural values and provide quality television broadcasting.
LTV became the second television station established by a state government in Nigeria, after the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS). It also made history as the first television station in Nigeria to operate on both Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) bands.
Today, the station broadcasts on UHF Channel 35 and is available on pay-television platforms, including DStv Channel 256 and GOtv Channel 120, as well as StarTimes. Its evolving distribution strategy also reflects the need to reach audiences beyond traditional television platforms.
A trusted brand through the years
Over the decades, Lagos Television has maintained its place in Nigeria’s broadcasting landscape through news, public affairs, cultural programming and entertainment.
Its mission is to deliver high-quality, relevant and inclusive television and digital content across broadcast, mobile and online platforms to inform, educate and entertain, while promoting the values, development and diverse cultures of Lagos State and Nigeria.
Its vision is to become Nigeria’s leading state-owned multimedia broadcasting network, renowned for credible news, compelling content and innovative digital services that inform, educate, entertain and inspire, while showcasing the excellence and vibrancy of Lagos State to the world.
In pursuit of these objectives, LTV serves its diverse audiences through news bulletins and a broad range of programmes, including The Conversation, Tori Tori, Sports Splash, City Scene, Issues and Trends, Pendulum, Legends, Little Sparks, Breakfast in Bed, Idile Alaayo, Kaaro Ojiire, Ibile Update, State on Focus and Lagos Transportation Agenda.
The diversity of its programming underscores the station’s ambition to cater to audiences across different age groups, interests and communities.
Commending the station as it marks its 46th anniversary, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State and APC governorship candidate, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, congratulated its management and staff, led by the General Manager, Mr Kayode Oyekanmi, following his recent appearance on The Conversation.
Hamzat praised the condition of the station’s facilities and acknowledged the state government’s investment in sustaining the institution.
“I entered this place (LTV), and it’s beautiful, nice and well-maintained, which speaks to some of the things that government has done to sustain this institution. Therefore, we are happy that we are reaching Lagosians through Lagos Television,” he said.
He added: “We wish you well and pray that you continue to do what you are doing, which is informing Lagosians. By doing that, you are deepening our democratic credentials, letting people know what is happening in government. Sometimes, you are critical, which is good. This lets us know where we need to improve as a government.”
He concluded with a light-hearted remark, congratulating the station and asking its management to invite him again when it turns 50.
Beyond broadcasting: Valuable event and rental facilities
Beyond its core broadcasting responsibilities, Lagos Television also manages a portfolio of event facilities that contribute to its commercial activities and provide venues for public and private engagements.
These include six halls and event spaces: De-Blue Roof, Combo Hall, Hall 1, Hall 2, Arena A and B, and the BOS Hall. The facilities cater to a range of events and functions, supporting the station’s efforts to diversify its revenue streams beyond conventional broadcasting.
With the support of the Lagos State Government, the management continues to maintain and position these facilities to attract event organisers, corporate organisations and other stakeholders.
The facilities represent an important component of LTV’s broader commercial potential, particularly as public broadcasters explore sustainable ways to finance operations, modernise infrastructure and improve service delivery.
The General Manager speaks
Reflecting on the station’s 46-year journey, the General Manager, Mr Kayode Oyekanmi, described it as one marked by great expectations, significant achievements and challenging periods. Nevertheless, he said LTV remained a legacy broadcast institution with a continuing role in Lagos State’s media landscape.
Oyekanmi noted that the Lagos State Government, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had invested substantially in upgrading the station’s infrastructure and equipping it to compete more effectively with other television stations in Nigeria.
“It’s been a tough journey, particularly if you recognise that we now have intense competition among Television Broadcast Stations across Nigeria, particularly in Lagos State, coupled with some of the limitations you sometimes find in state-owned organisations,” he said.
“I will say that Lagos Television is doing creditably well and has done so over the last 46 years. It has been a journey of great impact. If you ask any of our ardent viewers, especially those within the communities in Lagos State, you will agree with me that the impact of Lagos Television continues to be felt all over the five divisions of Lagos State.
“Having said that, since my assumption of duty as the General Manager, we have committed ourselves to see how well we can reposition Lagos Television within the context of the intense competition in the electronic media sector to ensure that Lagos Television remains a force to reckon with.”
According to him, the management has introduced new operational priorities and is building on the foundations laid in previous years to create new programme contents, expand the station’s reach and improve free access to its content.
He explained that the state government had invested in the upgrade of the stations building infrastructure, new transformers and antenna installations to strengthen terrestrial transmission and enable more residents to access LTV without relying exclusively on paid streaming platforms.
“Under our leadership, we have been able to lay certain new ground rules, and we are trying to build on what we have laid in the past few months. We are trying to see how we can expand our reach to more viewers within and outside the state,” he said.
“The Lagos State Government has been very magnanimous in investing heavily in the upgrade of our building infrastructure, new transformers and the installation of new antennas that will give us leverage to broadcast on the free-to-air channel to every citizen in Lagos State.
“What that means is that we do not have to rely solely on paid streaming platforms before Lagosians can access information via the Lagos Television platform.”
The planned strengthening of its free-to-air presence is significant for a public broadcaster whose mandate includes ensuring that information and public-interest programming remain accessible to residents across the state.
Taking LTV into the digital future
Recognising the changing habits of media consumers, the station has also begun to reposition its digital operations to reach audiences who increasingly access news and entertainment through smartphones, computers and social media platforms.
Oyekanmi disclosed that LTV’s Social Media Department had been re-engineered and renamed Lagos Television Digital Service, reflecting the management’s intention to expand the station’s digital footprint and explore new opportunities for content distribution.
“Through this subsidiary of Lagos Television, we are now doing what other international broadcast stations do, such as streaming our content live on YouTube and other social media platforms,” he said.
The initiative represents an important step towards extending LTV’s reach beyond conventional broadcasting, particularly among younger audiences and Lagos residents living outside the state.
Digital distribution also offers opportunities to improve audience engagement, make archival content more accessible and develop new commercial possibilities. Sustaining this transition, however, will require consistent content delivery, effective audience engagement and a clear strategy for growing digital platforms.
Investing in the next generation
Beyond its efforts to improve broadcasting and digital services, LTV is also looking towards the future by investing in young talent.
Oyekanmi said the management has also established the Lagos Television Broadcast and Media Academy, a structured training platform for interns, corps members and the station’s staff.
The proposed academy is intended to provide structured practical training opportunities for students in mass communication, advertising, public relations and other related disciplines, helping them acquire the skills and experience required to thrive in Nigeria’s creative and media industries.
“In addition, we have realised that if we are to reposition Lagos Television for the future, we have to look back in time and engage with the younger generation within Lagos communities. That is why we established the Lagos Television Broadcast and Media Academy,” he said.
Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, he said the station had traditionally accommodated about 30 interns per internship season before his assumption of office. The number has since increased considerably.
“Right now, we have close to 250 of them who are going through rigorous training within the Lagos Television structure, and we hope to unleash this mass of young and creative minds into our creative space in Nigeria,” he said.
He added that the initiative would enable the station to contribute not only to public information and entertainment but also to the professional development of young Nigerians seeking careers in broadcasting and related fields.
If effectively developed and sustained, the academy could strengthen LTV’s contribution to media capacity-building while creating a pipeline of skilled talent for the wider creative industry.
A special anniversary gift to Lagosians
As part of the station’s anniversary plans, Oyekanmi identified the expansion of its terrestrial broadcasting presence as one of the major highlights of the celebration.
He said the initiative was intended to restore the level of accessibility that once made Lagos Television a first-choice station for many households across the state.
“[The initiative] will give unhindered access to all our teeming viewers and be our special gift to all Lagosians during our 46th anniversary celebrations,” he said.
The emphasis on accessibility speaks to the enduring responsibilities of a state-owned broadcaster. While competition for audiences has intensified with the proliferation of private television stations and digital platforms, LTV’s public-service mandate remains central to its identity.
Its ability to fulfil that mandate will depend not only on improved transmission and infrastructure but also on the quality, credibility and relevance of its programming, as well as its capacity to adapt to changing audience expectations.
Building on a lasting legacy
Forty-six years after it first went on air, Lagos Television stands at a significant point in its history. Its legacy is rooted in decades of broadcasting, public information, entertainment and cultural representation. Its future, however, will be shaped by how effectively it combines that heritage with innovation, digital expansion, professional development and sustainable revenue generation.
The investments in infrastructure, the drive to improve terrestrial access, the reorganisation of digital operations and plans for a broadcast academy point towards a broader effort to reposition the station for a changing media environment.
For LTV, the task is to preserve the trust and recognition built over generations while delivering content that speaks to contemporary audiences in Lagos and beyond.
As the station celebrates its 46th anniversary, sustaining its legacy will require continued investment, institutional commitment, creativity and a willingness to evolve. With these elements in place, Lagos Television can strengthen its role as a credible public broadcaster and continue to tell the stories of Lagos to the world.
Bukola Bakare is Personal Assistant to the General Manager, Lagos Television.
