The cause of death of the chairman, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has been confirmed by the Communications management. Dokpesi, the 71-year-old creator of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower died on Monday.
According to DAAR Communications Group Managing Director Tony Akiotu, Dokpesi died after falling off his treadmill during his usual gym activity.
He explained that he had been ill for a few weeks and was on his road to complete recovery.
“He had been ill in the last few weeks but was on his way to full recovery,” according to the statement. During a typical gym workout, he fell off his treadmill.
“The family will make further announcements regarding burial arrangements.”
Dokpesi was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, on October 25, 1951. His parents are from Agenebode, Edo state, and come from a family of six sisters and brothers.
With his company DAAR Communications, he entered the Nigerian mass media industry and founded the Nigerian television network Africa Independent Television (AIT).
In 2015, he was the chairman of the organizing committee for the Peoples Democratic Party’s national conference.
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He was still on trial on corruption charges as of March 2020. Dokpesi became a COVID-19 survivor in May 2020. He died on May 29, 2023, after suffering a stroke shortly after the 2023 Ramadan fast.
The government dominated Nigerian media in the early 1990s as a result of the historic National Broadcasting Commission edict. Only government-owned broadcasting companies could provide information.
However, the then-President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Babangida, signed another decree allowing private broadcasting in Nigeria.
Following this ruling, Africa Independent Television (AIT) was established as Nigeria’s first private television network. Dokpesi pioneered AIT, which was Africa’s first satellite television channel.
