ENGR. RAYMOND ANTHONY ALEOGHO DOKPESI,
A Pioneer
A Marine Transport Engineer was born in Ibadan, Oyo State on the 25th of October 1951. He hails from Agenebode in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria.
He attended Ebenezer Church School, Ekotedo, Loyola College, Ibadan, all in Oyo State and Immaculate Conception College, Benin City, Edo State. He worked briefly with the Nigerian Ports Authority as Marine Office Cadet in 1969 before proceeding to Poland for further studies between 1970 to 1977. He attended Wyzsza Szkota Morska Gdynia and University of Gdansk Sopot for his Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate Degrees.
He graduated with a First Class Degree, had Distinction in his Masters Degree and was also the Best graduating student in Marine Transport Engineering in fifty years in the University
A Mentor
After graduating with such an exceptional academic performance, Dokpesi was engaged as an Assistant Lecturer in Marine Transport Economics from 1975 to 1977 before returning to Nigeria on the invitation of the then Nigerian Head of State (Gen Olusegun Obasanjo) who was on a State visit to Poland. Ironically, Dokpesi was part of the Polish Government delegation that received the Nigerian Head of State and his entourage.
While at the University in Poland, he held the following positions: President, the Nigerian Students Union Poland (1972-1975), President, African Students Union, Poland (1974/76), President, International Students Association, Poland (1974/76), President, Nigerian Students, Eastern Europe (1975/76).
Upon his return to the country, he worked with the Federal Ministry of Transport as the Head of Water Transport Division on Secondment from Nigerian Ports Plc. (NTCC) between 1978-82. He was appointed the Chief of Staff to the old Gongola State Governor; a position that he held from October 1983 and was truncated same year due to the military coup that oust the civilian government in Nigeria.
A Pioneer
In 1984, he joined some eminent Nigerians to establish the first indigenous shipping African Ocean line and was the pioneer Managing Director from 1984 to 1988. In Feb 1989, he established his own shipping company – Baldok Shipping Line and was the Executive Chairman until the time of his death . He also ventured into some other businesses and was the: Executive Chairman – DAAR Investment & Holding Company Citation HIGH CHIEF RAYMOND ALEOGHO Limited, Rimat Properties Limited and DAAR Communications (Ltd) now PLC.
Upon the deregulation of the broadcast sector in 1993, he amongst other Nigerians applied for broadcast licence which was granted in the same year. He pioneered Independent Broadcasting with the establishment of RayPower FM in Alagbado, Lagos. He also pioneered global satellite broadcasting with the establishment of Africa Independent Television (AIT) which debut transmission from the Communications Village in Alagbdo, Lagos in October 1996. To his credit also was the establishment of RayPower 2 FM which was a joint broadcast collaborative initiative with the BBC World Service in 1999. The station metamorphosed into a fully indigenous FM station for the predominantly Yoruba speaking people of the South Western part of Nigeria with the call sign – Faaji FM in 2013.
High Chief Aleogho Dokpesi’s remarkable role in broadcasting in the Federal Republic of Nigeria apart from pioneering private radio and global satellite broadcasting, he also revolutionized the sector through the introduction of the 24 hours broadcasting right from the inception both RayPower FM and Africa Independent Television (AIT) in 1993 and 1996 respectively. The introduction of cyber and chroma technology virtual sets for television broadcasting and digitalized audio and video signals on both radio and television. Through his efforts Africa Independent Television (AIT) became the first African broadcast station to transmit into and from the United States of America (USA) in 2003. The commissioning of the epoch event was done by the then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
– Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in the United State of America in 2003
National Honor
Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR)
2008
Academic Achievements
Doctorate Degree (PhD) Economics Science Marine Transportation Engineering
University of Gdansk Sopot, Poland
1977
Master of Science (MSc) Marine Transportation Engineering (Excellent)
University of Gdansk Sopot, Poland
1975
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) 1st Class
Wyzsza Szkola Morska Gdynia, Poland • Best Graduating Student in 50 Years
1973
Loyola College, Ibadan, Oyo State
1963-1967
West African School Certificate (Grade II)
Immaculate Conception College, Benin City, Edo State
1968
Primary School Leaving Certificate (Excellent)
Ebenezer Church School, Ekotedo, Ibadan, Oyo State
1962
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
• Fellow – Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) 2019
• Fellow – Automotive & Locomotive Engineer Institute 2019
• Fellow – Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) 2000
• Fellow – Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) 1992
• Fellow – Institute of Transportation Administration 1991
• Fellow – Chartered Institute of Transport (FCIT) 1991
• Fellow – Nigeria Institute of Shipping 1989
• Fellow – Institute of Transport Administration (FInstTA)(UK)1985
HONOURARY DOCTORATE DEGREES
- Doctor of Technology (DSc)
- Federal University of Technology, Yola 2009
- Doctor of Business Administration (DSc)
- American Heritage University of Southern California 2010
CAREER PROFILE
- Founder/Chairman Emeritus
DAAR COMMUNICATIONS Plc 2014 – Present
Proprietor/Operator – RayPower FM,
Africa Independent Television (AIT) & Faaji FM - Chairman
DAAR COMMUNICATIONS Plc 2008 – 2014
Proprietor/Operators of RayPower FM,
Africa Independent Television (AIT) & Daarsat - Executive Chairman
DAAR COMMUNICATIONS Ltd
Proprietor/Operator – RayPower FM,
Africa Independent Television (AIT) & Faaji FM 1993-2008 - Chairman /Chief Executive
DAAR Investments & Holding Co. Ltd 1998 – Present - Chairman /Chief Executive
Baldok Shipping Lines Ltd 1998 – 2023 - Managing Director
African Ocean Lines Ltd 1984 – 1988 - Chief of Staff
Gongola State Government 1983 - Head of Water Transport Division
(seconded from Nigerian Ports Plc) NTCC
Federal Ministry of Transport & Aviation 1978 – 1983 - Chief Planning Officer
Nigerian Ports Plc 1978 – 1983 - Assistant Lecturer (Marine Transport Economics)
University of Gdansk 1973-75 & 1977 - Marine Officer Cadet
Nigerian Ports Authority 1969
CHIEFTAINCY TITLES:
1. Zuoje of Liberia 2019
2. Otunba Akorede of The Source, Ile-Ife 2010
3. Ezomo of Weppa Uwanno Land 2003
4. Sardaunna of Kpaduma, Abuja 2002
5. Oganigwe Umu Orji Ako Nibo 1999
6. Gbobaniyi of Ilawe-Ekiti 1994
7. Osese of South Uneme 1990
8. Araba of Osooroland 1987
9. Ogieorumoa of Weppa Uwanno 1986
PUBLICATIONS:
1. Optimal size of Tankers for Nigerian International Trade 1974
2. West African Shipping Range 1975
3. Technological Changes in Shipping and its impact on Ports 1976
4. Consultation Machinery in Shipping – The West African Experience 1978
5. International Multi-modal Transport System
– Implication on Nigeria Economy 1980
6. Thoughts on Nigerian National Shipping Policy 1981
7. Fiscal and Financial Arrangements to Encourage Investment
in Shipping in Nigeria 1984
8. Problems of Line Shipping Policy and the review of the
United Nations Convention on a Code of Conduct Linear
Conferences – Present Status and Prospects 1984
9. Security in Cargo Handling – The Nigerian Experience 1985
10. Bulk Fleet Development 1986
11. The Role of Seaports in the structural Adjustment Programme 1986
12. The Issue of a Shipping Agent in the Maritime Industry 1987
13. The Role of Shipping Agents in Maritime Industry 1987
• The Issue of a Shipping Agent in the Maritime Industry 1987
• The Role of Shipping Agent in the Maritime Industry 1987
• Bulk Fleet Development 1986
• The Role of Seaports in the Structural Adjustment Programme 1986
• Security in Cargo Handling – The Nigerian Experience 1985
• Fiscal and Financial Arrangements to Encourage Investment
in Shipping in Nigeria 1984
• Problems of Line Shipping Policy and the Review of the
United Nations Convention on a Code of Conduct Linear
Conferences – Present Status and Prospects 1984
• Thoughts on Nigerian National Shipping Policy 1981
• International Multimodal Transport System
– Implication on Nigerian Economy 1980
• Consultation Machinery in Shipping – The West African Experience 1978
• Technological Changes in Shipping and its Impacts on Ports 1976
• West African Shipping Range 1975
• Optimal Size of Tankers for Nigerian International Trade 1974
NATIONAL ASSIGNMENT:
- Member, National Conference 2014
- Member, Committee on the Commercialization of Nigerian Ports, Plc 1987
- Member, Shipping Policy Implementation Committee 1985
- Member, Committee on Decentralization of Nigerian Ports, Plc 1983
- Member, Chief of Defense Staff Board of Borders and Harbour Security force 1982
- Member, Presidential Committee on Long Term Measure to solve Piracy
and Security/ Problems in Nigeria Sea Ports and Territorial Waters 1981