Veteran journalist, Ayinde Soaga retires from NTA

Veteran broadcast journalist, Alhaji Ayinde Soaga, has retired from NTA after 40 years in service.

A focused, detribalised broadcast journalist, Soaga started as announcer, presenter, Newsreader, Disk Jockey, Reporter, Editor, then moving on to become Head of Business Desk, Head of Political Desk, Head of Foreign News Desk, Manager News and Current Affairs, Assistant Director News in Charge of Training, Capacity Building and National Coordination, General Manager, Ogun State Television OGTV and General Manager, Nigerian Television Authority, NTA Katsina.

Born on March 2, 1961, at Idumagbo, Obun Eko, Lagos Island Council,. Soaga is a pioneer graduate of Mass Communication at the Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. He also attended the FRCN Training School, Lagos and the NTA TV College, Jos, where he later became a visiting lecturer.

Alhaji Ayinde Soaga is also a fellow of the Korean Pres Foundation and United States International Visitors Programme.
He has reported events from across the six continents of the world for NTA and facilitated NTA’s first ever live broadcast from outside Nigeria with an OB Van from Monrovia, Liberia at the inauguration of the first female president in Africa, Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2006.

He was distinguished Nigerian Media Personality among eight African top journalists that participated in a study your of Israel in 2008. As GM of OGTV between June 2011 and October 2015, he designed and changed the station’s logo from GTV to OGTV, rebranding jingles, montages, stinges and general programming. One month after his appointment as General Manager, he commenced 24 hours transmission by July 2011.

He placed OGTV on StarTimes Platform, on Social Media Platforms and started moves to place OGTV on DSTV, while he acquired Outside Broadcast Equipment as the station was streaming on the world wide web.

At OGTV he improved staff welfare including facilitating Federal Mortgage Bank loan for 60 staff to build houses.
It should be remembered that he facilitated the construction of a Juma’a Masjid for the OGTV Muslim Community and the adjoining Housing Estate.

As General Manager of NTA Katsina between October 2017 until he retired from service on his 60th birthday on 2nd March 2021, Alhaji Ayinde Soaga,, sustained transmission from 8 hours to 18 hours and later 24 hours.
He settled current and outstanding staff allowances, especially over N5m as first 28Days for staff on transfer.

He rebranded and upgraded NTA Katsina News and Programming, facilitated borehole water supply, solar security lights and solar power for ensuring 24 hours transmission.

In commemoration of his retirement, which also coincides with his 60 birthday, friends such as Senator Ita Enang, Otunba Gbenga Onayiga and other well wishers are organising a farewell and birthday gathering for him oday in Abuja.