Dembos, Ali to remain in charge of NTA and NAN until 2029

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has renewed the appointments of the heads of Nigeria’s national television broadcaster and government-owned news agency.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority, Abdulhamid Salihu Dembos, and the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Ali Mohammed Ali, will each serve another three-year term.

Their new tenure begins on October 20, according to the Presidency.

Tinubu appointed both executives to their current positions in October 2023.

The latest decision allows them to remain in charge of NTA and NAN as their first terms come to an end.

The announcement was made by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Dembos is a veteran broadcaster whose career at NTA stretches back to 1989.

After joining the Kaduna station as an announcer, he moved through several positions within the organisation.

He subsequently served as General Manager at NTA Lokoja and NTA Kano and later became Acting Zonal Director of the Kaduna Network Centre.

He retired from NTA in 2017 but later returned to serve as Executive Director of Marketing.

Dembos has also held a leadership position within the union representing workers in the radio, television, theatre and arts sectors.

Ali’s career has largely been in journalism and media administration.

The NAN managing director has more than 30 years of experience in the industry and has academic qualifications in English, International Affairs and Mass Communication.

The Presidency said Tinubu expects both officials to continue working to advance the mandates of their agencies.

The President’s decision comes at a period when traditional media organisations are facing significant changes in the way audiences consume news.