President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major leadership shake-up at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), appointing veteran media executive Rotimi Richard Pedro as the organisation’s new Director-General.
The appointments also include Karimah Bello as Executive Director of Marketing, Stella Din as Executive Director of News, and Sophia Essahmed as Managing Director of NTA Enterprises Limited.
Rotimi Richard Pedro, a native of Lagos, brings nearly three decades of experience in media leadership, broadcasting, sports rights management, and marketing communications across Africa, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East. He is widely recognised as a seasoned media entrepreneur and consultant, combining legal expertise with business acumen to transform media platforms.
A trained entertainment and intellectual property lawyer, Pedro also holds a Master of Science degree in Investment Management & Finance from City University Business School in London. His career achievements include founding Optima Sports Management International (OSMI) in 1995, which emerged as one of Africa’s premier sports content providers.
Under his leadership, OSMI distributed major sporting events—including the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, and CAF competitions—to audiences spanning more than 40 countries.
Pedro has held senior positions at Bloomberg Television Africa and Rapid Blue Format, and he has provided consultancy services to global and continental organisations such as FIFA, UEFA, Fremantle Media, and the African Union of Broadcasters (AUB).
Notably, he played a pivotal role in helping the AUB secure exclusive pan-African free-to-air media rights for all CAF competitions, a move widely credited with expanding the visibility and commercial potential of African football.
Industry analysts highlight Pedro’s ability to build commercially sustainable broadcasting platforms, increase sponsorship revenues, and deliver world-class content tailored to African audiences.
His appointment is considered one of the most significant leadership changes at NTA in recent years and reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising and repositioning the national broadcaster amid a rapidly evolving media landscape.
With Pedro at the helm, the NTA is expected to pursue innovative strategies that enhance content quality, attract broader audiences, and strengthen the organisation’s role as a key player in Nigeria’s dynamic media sector.
