By Fred Iwenjora

Integrated Broadcast 

Solution and Technologies IBST is a Nigerian wholly owned media organisation set up 25 years ago and severally adjudged to  have been providing excellent broadcast solutions in both content and tech to the world ever since. 

So many awards have endorsed this excellence in audio visual content delivery.

With a clientele in daily multiplication internationally, IBST founded by Aderemi Ogunpitan has risen to become a most sought after company when the matter is the critical delivery of high octane visual content at the nearest possible time and in hi-tech quality.

Listing detail of clients who continue to rely on IBST may be an over stretching effort.

Profile

Before setting up IBST, Ogunpitan had bestrode the entire Nigerian audio visual arena for nearly twenty years. 

It may be really interesting to retrace the footsteps of the man whom many agree was part of those instrumental in stopping capital flight from Nigeria to south Africa because of production of commercials. 

After studying Film and TV production at Leeds University years ago, his patriotism and love for Nigeria won’t let him stay on in Europe where he had most of his education and seemingly all goodies well laid out.

Since returning to Nigeria, he immersed himself into the then fledgling industry full time and started a steady rise through the ranks.

At a time when most audio visual companies in Nigeria depended on foreign interests for production of audio visual products, Ogunpitan by sheer determination, resilience and doggedness projected otherwise.

He found himself working for USIS as audio visual productions officer, then to working for DBN set up by Osa Adun  whom he sees as his Boss of all Bosses.

Next port of call was being invited to join then famous Swift studios set up by three Americans; Ernest Dunkly, Tony Cunningham and Lloyd Weaver.

Years later, in partnership with  two others,  he worked for Scharf Waisberg studios before setting up then very famous Solar Productions with two cousins.

It was at Solar that Ogunpitan seemed to have the most  influence in producing the best audio visual contents including music videos from Nigeria like the then famous Tina Onwudiwe musical video from the album Black on Black. This video turned out to be the first Nigerian wholly produced musical video to air on MTV. Not long after,  he produced, directed and featured in the also unforgettable MKO Abiola tvc used in his later botched election.

Aside from these huge successes, Ogunpitan got involved in the supply of audio visual content and tech and equipment delivering broadcast solutions to many states in Nigeria.

Ebonyi, Ekiti etc owe there super stations to his technical expertise.

However in  2001, he set up Integrated Broadcast Solution and Technologies through which he deployed all his expertise in many successful projects, one being the deployment, directing and control of all broadcast materials in the All Africa Games of 2003 (COJA).

About three years after in 2006, Ogunpitan set up STORM VISION with Obi Asika who now is DG of National Council for Arts and culture through which they produced the first Big Brother Nigeria reality show in 2006.

It was the first time an internationally renowned reality TV show would be wholly produced in Nigeria and successfully too. Many agree that that became the precursor to all that is happening internationally for Nigerian music because the show presented Nigeria’s music, fashion and culture across Africa in optimum light.

Ogunpitan was relentless in rejecting every insinuations that Nigeria and Nigerians couldn’t procure state of the art equipment to produce such a renowned format.

STORM VISION pushed forward to produce other world reality show formats like Apprentice Africa, Dragons Den.

Before these, he had been involved in many other TV series like Doctors Quarters.

Today IBST has grown to be the strategic audio visual partner for many multinational organisations including CNN, CANAL, MTN,  AIRTEL,BBC, ESPN and a host of others all depending on it for broadcast deliverables.

As you read this,  IBST production crews fully equipped with state of the art broadcast units are scattered all over Africa delivering quality productions.

Interestingly, many Nigerians  in the broadcast solution industry owe their growth and career development to the tutelage of Ogunpitan and IBST who is also one of the biggest African agents of LiveU, a compact gadget that provides live video streaming and broadcast solutions for improved broadcasting and transmission of content on the go. FRED IWENJORA probes him on: What it feels to have run a hitech audio visual organisation in the past 25 years in a country as Nigeria where uncountable issues notably power, high cost of equipment following fluctuating value of the naira among others clog the wheel of progress.

Ogunpitan gushes with  pride hinting that “it feels good to realise that we are already 25 years in business in Nigeria. 

“We are a Nigerian company run and managed by Nigerians. I think it is the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian that keeps us going since we set out. I also believe that you do not stay in business for 24 years without believing that it is possible to make things happen in Nigeria. I am one of the few people who do not feel shy to discuss our challenges, our problems and the difficulties that we face. But if you believe in your country, then you know you are ready to face the challenges, talk about them and find solution to them. The challenges will never stop. But the thing is that we do not have any other country and the opportunities for success and to contribute, grow and develop the country far exceed any other commitment to any other thing.

“ We are a very patriotic company. We are happy that a lot of Nigerian companies continue to support our vision and dreams and continue to give us business. Otherwise we wouldn’t be here for 25 years

What stands out about the company is simple. We believe in training and investing in our staff. 

Everybody in business faces issues of power, we all deal with foreign exchange issues especially when it comes to purchasing of equipment.

“ However, I strongly believe that there’s not a dearth of skilled Nigerians.  I think what we have is a dearth of opportunities for them.

Strong hope in Nigerian young people

Young people in Nigeria are so dynamic, so smart and I think it’s important that companies like us continue to invest in them and continue to believe that we have contributed to our country in so doing.

We have raised a lot of people in our industry. They are all over the place,  working in different parts of the industry. It is interesting because I have staff that have worked with me for 24 years, 17 years or more. My security man has been with me for 36 years now. So it is important that we also understand that there are Nigerians that are loyal. It only depends on the values and beliefs we pass across to them.

Leadership in Nigeria

One of the things that is important is the saying ‘do unto others as you wish for them to do unto you’. And if one runs a company with high moral values, staff will always be loyal.

I feel so happy about how far IBST has come and look forward to the 25th anniversary and hope that there may more stories to tell.