Mr. Babawole Coker
Mr. Babawole Coker is a veteran broadcaster with vast experience in Film and television production. An indigene of Abeokuta, Ogun State, South – West Nigeria.
‘Wole Coker’ as he is fondly called by friends and colleagues holds a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco in the United States of America where he majored in Film production. He also has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the Golden Gate University still in San Francisco, CA where he majored in Telecoms Management.
On his return to Nigeria in the early 80s after completing his studies, he began his illustrious career in television broadcasting in April, 1982 with the mandatory National Youth Service program (NYSC) where he was assigned to the Defense and Foreign Desk at the NTA Headquarters, Victoria Island, Lagos.
His outstanding performance during the mandatory one year national youth service led to his eventual absorption into the Nigerian Television Authority – NTA headquarters in Lagos in 1983. He was employed as a Cameraman, which according to him is his biggest passion; in his words, “to conquer a trade, you must learn the tool of the trade”.
As an astute Cameraman and production expert, his devotion, passion and experience ensured he was deployed in 1987 to the State House to cover the Head of State’s daily assignments as well as supervise the NTA State House Crew. A thoroughbred professional who rose to the position of Officer – in – Charge / Head of Camera Unit, NTA News Camera Section in 1994, Supervisor of Transmission and Head of Production Services, NTA Lagos in 1997.
The dexterity and resourcefulness of Mr. Babawole Coker on the job led to his appointment as the Special Assistant to the Director General of the National Orientation Agency – NOA in 2002. He later assumed same position (Special Assistant) to the Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority – NTA Headquarters in Abuja from 2003 – 2008.
While serving as the Special Assistant to the DG, NTA, Mr. Wole Coker also doubled as the General Manager of NTA Plus from 2003 – 2009. His tenure at the NTA Plus witnessed unprecedented achievement in terms of contents development and production, staff training and empowerment, among others.
In 2009, he was posted as General Manager to NTA Educational Television Centre in Tejuosho, Lagos where he undertook some outstanding initiatives and productions that still remain viewers’ delight, some of these include YOUNG INVENTORS, HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW, OUR HISTORY, among others. He also organized three (3) annual National Children’s Exhibition of Arts, Science & Technology projects at the NTA Headquarters in Abuja in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
The impressive records of achievements of Mr. Coker led to his appointment as Director, NTA Multichannel in 2012 and later Zonal Director, NTA Lagos Network Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos from 2014 – 2016.
His appointment as the Executive Director Programmes of the NTA in March, 2017 has been greeted with excitement and optimism considering his records of achievements and antecedent. Mr. Babawole Coker brings to the table his wealth of experience, top – class desire and passion for quality programming and professionalism.