The about N800 Million ABS Radio/Television Digital studio foundation laid in Awka

Governor Willie Obiano weekend performed the ground breaking and foundation stone for the new ABS Digital studios and administrative complex in keeping with his
administration’s vision to digitize Anambra Broadcasting Service and up its standard to that of CNN.

The digital studios project, includes the studio complex which will be sited at the ABS Headquarters in Awka and the transmitting station to be installed at Enugwu-Ukwu.
The administrative complex, a three storeyed building to house about sixty office rooms, which will also be sited at the ABS Awka premises  is designed to provide an aesthetic view from the Arroma Fylover.

Performing the foundation stone laying function, Governor Obiano said the projects were targeted to upgrade the ABS to a world class outfit with the necessary facilities to favourably compete with top Broadcast standards across the global.

Governor Obiano said the state government has paid for all the equipment required for the studios, noting that training and retraining of studio staff will soon commence to equip them with the necessary expertise to perform efficiently.

He revealed that on completion, the station will be affiliated with International Cable Service providers so that its programmes can be viewed globally and assured that his administration is committed to ensuring that the projects are delivered within the six month completion period.


Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Tony Onyima described the event as historic as it is coming days after the thirtieth Anniversary Celebration of the station, and commended the Governor for his interest to drive the project.

The Information Commissioner noted that with the  foundation stone laying ceremony, the ABS will become the first in the South-East to take proactive measures to meet the June 2015 deadline set by the National Broadcasting Commission for all Broadcast stations to go digital.

The Chairman, ABS Board of Directors, Mr. Emeka Maduegbuna observed that the gesture by Governor Obiano was a fulfillment of his earlier promise to adequately equip and support ABS to fulfill its mandate of adequately informing the citizenry and assured that the Board  is committed to making the ABS a broadcasting outfit to reckon with in the country.
  
The Managing Director of the contracting firm handling the Digital Studio projects, Mr. Hussein Faraz, said when completed the project will provide the station with digital equipment that will ensure wider coverage, adding that the building to house the transmitting station at Enugu Ukwu is about a week away from completion.

In their separate remarks, the member representing Aguata One Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Mr. Ikechukwu Umeh, the President South East market Women, Chief Ifeyinwa Ezenwa and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on political Matters, Chief Ralph Igwah lauded the  Governor’s vision to intervene in the poor condition of the state-owned Broadcast outfit describing him as God-sent.

In a vote of thanks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the ABS, Mr. Uche Nworah thanked the Governor  for his input so far in repositioning the ABS and expressed the willingness of the staff to drive the change he is introducing.