Raymond Dokpesi – Daar Communications, AIT's Story

Born on 25th October 1951 at Ibadan, Oyo State, to the Dokpesi family from Agenebode in Edo State he attended Ebenezer African Church School, Ekotedo, Ibadan; Loyola College, Ibadan; Wyzsza Szkota Morska Gdynia, Poland; and University of Gdansk Sopot, Poland. Born without a silver spoon, Dokpesi started early in life when he had to help his mother sell rice and dodo at the age of 16.

As a pioneer student of the present University of Benin, then Midwest Institute of Technology (MIT), it was difficult to raise the initial 10 pounds loan to deposit as tuition fees. The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, gave him a scholarship to a Polish university.

With a first class Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering, a Master of Science degree in Marine Transport Engineering and a Doctor of Economic Science degree in Marine Transport Engineering Chief (Dr) Raymond Anthony Aleogho Dokpesi worked as an Assistant Lecturer at University of Gdansk Poland and had the dream of becoming a professor before he met Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who invited him back home in 1978. He then joined the Federal Ministry of Transport.

In 1984, he set up the African Ocean Lines with Chief M. K. O Abiola, General Shehu Musa Yar A’dua and Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. In 1989 he resigned from the company to go solo. His venture into broadcasting when he discovered a gap in information dissemination in the process of his tour of local governments during a political campaign.

And so on on August 16, 1994, Ray Power 100.5 FM was born. In April 1999 a second channel, Ray Power 2, 106.5 FM commenced operation, before then African Independent Television was already on air. AIT on 20th September 2004 launched it’s satellite television network United States of America.

A pioneer, Raymond Dokpesi, chairman of Daar Communications is the first Nigerian to start a private shipping company and the first individual to own television station. The initial funding came from Daar Investment Holding Company, the founder, Chief Dokpesi and a consortium of banks led by Union Bank Plc.

It was not an easy for the communication house, as it has to wait for six years after incorporation to start operating. Also the Sani Abacha regime closed the station down almost immediately after it opened it doors. Then in 2000 the consortium of banks decided to withdraw from its original agreement of financing the station. In 2003 its Abuja office was also gutted by a mysterious fire.

AIT is now viewed across many states of the federation. AIT International transmits throughout the continent of Africa, throughout the Mediterranean, the Americas as a whole, the Caribbean and Europe. AIT is listed in the Nigerian Stock market.