The name, Peter Igho, is synonymous with television production in Nigeria. The regularity with which Peter’s name appears in end credits has made him somewhat of a legendary figure.

It is almost inevitable that Peter Igho should be what he is, being a product of a confluence of cultures. Born in Jos, Northern Nigeria, to Urhobo parents from Kokori in Delta State and married to a Yoruba woman, Dele Igho, from Ogun State, Peter had his early education at the St. Theresa’s Primary School in Jos, his secondary education, at St. John’s College, Kaduna, and his university education at the University of Ibadan in Oyo State. The Jos in which Peter grew up was a truly cosmopolitan city and had a multi-cultural ethnic identity.

Peter Igho began his working life as an Education Officer in the Nigerian Federal Public Service. His first posting was at the Bida Teachers College in the old North-Western State, where he taught English Language and Literature. He was also in charge of the dramatic society, and in this capacity, he began to exhibit his talents as a writer, producer and director. His play, Ogaga’s Heart, was chosen as the North-Western State’s entry into the 1974 All-Nigeria Festival of Arts and Culture. It was one of the three winning entries.

From Bida, Peter moved to Sokoto, as Education Officer Grade 1. His production talents inevitably drew him towards the television and he joined NTV Sokoto as a pioneer staff in 1975. He had the privilege of setting up and heading the station’s Drama Department and produced several plays in Hausa and English, including Bakandamiya, Fated From The Start, The Truth, The Whole Truth – Nothing But the Truth, A Matter of Conscience, Our Neighbours (a series of 26 episodes) and Moment of Truth which won first place at the NTA Drama Competition in 1978 and later URTNA Competition in Algiers in 1982.

One of Peter’s most successful productions, Cock Crow At Dawn, was designed to encourage rural farmers and promote General Obasanjo’s Operation Feed The Nation (OFN). The production was sponsored by the United Bank for Africa (UBA), making it the first television production in Nigeria to enjoy corporate sponsorship. While it lasted, the programme gripped the attention of the nation and became compulsory viewing for all. It succeeded monumentally in its objectives of getting and directing the attention of Nigerians to the importance of agriculture.

It is not surprising, therefore, that Cock Crow At Dawn received commendation from URTNA (Union of Radio and Television Organisation of Africa), the umbrella of television and radio body in Africa. Apart from the corporate commendation, Peter’s role in Cock Crow At Dawn was also recognized. He received a Rockefeller Foundation Grant and was invited to South Carolina, U.S.A. to exhibit and talk about the programme. Other seminal productions produced/supervised by Peter Igho include Mirror in the Sun, Things Fall Apart, New Masquerade, Behind the Clouds, New Samanja, A. M. Express, New Village Headmaster, Tales By Moonlight, Magana Jari ce, Adventures Of Waziri, Bala Miller Show and many others.

In the area of documentary, Peter’s virtuosity is by no means limited to drama production. He has also excelled in the documentary genre where he has to his credit such profound documentaries as Giant in the Sun, The Civil War Documentary (No Victor No Vanquished), Agenda for A Planet and Food Basket.

In addition to his creative talents, Peter has, over the years, also demonstrated that he is a skillful administrator and consummate manager of men and materials. He has been Acting General Manager, Assistant Director of Programmes, Deputy Director of Programmes and Executive Director at the NTA.

Apart from Peter’s routine administrative duties, he was involved in the management of several national and international events. He was Venue Manager at the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON) coverage of FESTAC 1977, he was Venue Manager in Enugu, during the Nigeria ’99 World Youth Soccer Competition, Venue Manager, during the visit of President Bill Clinton to Nigeria in 2002 and a member of the Planning Committees of COJA (2003) and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2004. Peter’s rise to the exalted position of Executive Director, Programmes was without doubt a fitting reward for decades of committed and creative service.

In this capacity, Peter continued to demonstrate his genius for innovativeness and excellence, as exemplified in the creation of the widely acclaimed and award-winning breakfast show, The A. M. Express. 

Peter has been the recipient of numerous awards and commendations. Some of them are:

• Best Producer and Best Director Award in 1984 at the NTA Silver Jubilee Awards;

• Judge for the Price Piece International Video and Film Competition, organized by the National Black Programming Consortium, Inc, Columbia, Ohio; USA;

• First African Shop Steward for inputs in 1985, in Marseilles, France.

At the 7^th Edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) 2020 he was honored with A Lifetime Industry Award. At this event he and his son, Tosin Igho,the brilliant multi-tallented movie maker, made history. It was the first time in the history of the Awards that father and son were winning awards on the same night  

The organizers described Peter Igho as:

• A pioneer of outstanding Television Production and premium homegrown storytelling;
• The brain behind most of the credible productions of the golden era of the Nigeria Television Authority.

PETER IGHO is a masterful stakeholder in the industry where he gave his all for 32 years. He spearheaded transition from the studio to outside locations in the industry.

He was the driving force that discovered, launched, enhanced the careers of many notable Producers, Directors, Musicians, Actors, Designers, Cameramen and etc., including Zeb Ejiro (OON), Kasimu Yero, Matt Dadze (Behind The Clouds), Alhaji Yusuf Mohammed, Ene Oloja, Sadiq Daba, Zainab Bitrus (Cock Crow At Dawn), Bala Miller Show, Olu Jacobs & Joke Silva (Second Chance), Mofe Damijo, Pete Edochie (MFR), Justus Esiri (Village Headmaster), the list is endless.

It is no surprise that various groups of the TV and Movie industries have honored him with many Lifetime and Industry Awards.

POST NTA – THE LOTTERY COMMISSION

Peter Igho’s service did not end with his retirement from NTA in 2008. The very next year he was called back to service when the President, Shehu Musa Ya’radua submitted his name to the National Assembly for screening and confirmation as Director General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission. The contributions by various Senators during the confirmation hearing indicated clearly how widely acclaimed Peter Igho is and how greatly his stock continued to rise.

SENATOR EKWEREMADU: – I can say on very good authority that Peter Igho is one of the greatest minds we have ever seen in the Nigerian media. We recall the program called Cock Crow at Dawn that ran through 80s and beyond. That program is the product of the ingenuity of the man Peter Igho. So, I therefore believe that he will take this ingenuity and creativity to his new assignment in the Lottery Commission.

SENATOR NUHU ALIYU: – I know that Peter Igho is very capable of handling any situation because he is very very hard-working.

SENATOR CHRIS ANYANWU: – Mr. president you know I have worked for a long time at NTA and I have known Peter Igho as my colleague and I can testify to the fact that he is someone that you can count on all the time …… He has great sense of responsibility and ability to deliver at all times. I totally support the recommendation of the committee that he be confirmed for this job, He is very good for it.

AS DIRECTOR GENERAL NATIONAL LOTTERY REGULATORY COMMISSION (2009-2013)

Having been confirmed and taken the mantle of Leadership at the little know parastatal in the Presidency, Peter Igho exceeded all expectations.

HON. SAMSON OSAGIE: – With the appointment of Peter Igho in 2009, there was a dramatic positive change in the fortunes of the National Lottery Commission. With his sagacity in public life as a retiree from NTA, he succeeded in expanding activities of the Lottery Commission and brought it to the knowledge of many Nigerians, both the Government and the governed.

PROF DORA AKUNYILI: – Mr. Peter Igho has shown us in this country and not just in Nigeria but the sub-region that no agency is small, no agency is useless, no agency is unproductive, it is the individual, the leader, the Director-General, Mr. Peter Igho who has taken Lottery Commission from nowhere to the highest level. He not only expanded the offices from two rooms office to two floors in Merit house, he also moved to the new national headquarters of National Lottery Commission. He has opened 10 offices across the country and has employed young people empowering them and above all getting our people for the first time to appreciate that lottery can be done in such a structured way, monitored, and regulated to generate funds for the Government and for the common good.

In the four years during which Peter Igho led the parastatal, not only did he establish and strengthen the regulatory framework, he also expanded the scope of opportunities of the industry, and widened gainful employment and generated new revenue streams for Government (over 3.2 billion Naira).

Peter Igho has been a man of many parts and also a man of many gifts. He has served his country with great commitment and achieved huge successes.…… However these public interest contributions have been made sometimes at great personal cost. He has imposed the burden of long absences on his family. On one occasion travelling with his pregnant wife from station to station while mobilizing for Cock Crow At Dawn, the bleeding wife lost her baby in the process. In the end he left his grieving but understanding wife in the hospital to report to camp. Production went on successfully but a baby was lost.

Peter Igho’s birth, growth and work has exposed him to a vision which is intolerant of discrimination. His father planted a seed in his home, attracting wives from the North and South. Peter himself married Dele, a Yoruba, while his eldest daughter is married to a Muslim Nupe, from Niger State.

There is no doubt that Peter is a truly pan-Nigerian personality which is also reflected in his multi-lingualism. He speaks Urhobo, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and English, while he is proficient in other several Nigerian languages.

His impact and appreciation transcend tribal and religious boundaries:

He is the Okabaro of Uvwie kingdom (Delta State)

He is the Dan Jikan Kabi (Kebbi State)

He is the Kakakin Daular Usumaniya (Sokoto Calyphate)

He is the President of Urhobo Leadership Fourn Abuja (a group comprising Traditional rulers, retired and serving military officers, Ambassadors and others from various works of life).     

Peter has over the years demonstrated an innovative spirit and an unmatchable flair and commitment in every service he has rendered and continue to render to his country Nigeria and Nigerians. He finds a home in every home with an accommodating heart that is needed in these trying times.

Peter Igho is indeed a National Hero, A living Legend worth celebrating.

Dele Olowu

Journalist/Historian.