Comish Ekiye: The Broadcaster Who Helped Shape Nigerian Television
By Doutimiye Erizia, TTB features desk –Â For decades, his voice, creativity and vision echoed through television screens, radio studios and cultural stages across Nigeria.
Late Comish Etubogbo Ekiye was not just a broadcaster. He was a storyteller, dramatist, producer, administrator and mentor whose influence stretched across generations of media practitioners.
Born on January 9, 1946, in Adagbabiri, in present-day Bayelsa State, Comish Ekiye’s journey from a quiet riverine community to the pinnacle of Nigerian broadcasting would become one marked by talent, discipline and extraordinary professional achievement.
His early years took him from Burutu in present-day Delta State to Lagos, where he completed his education and began working as a secretary with several companies, including the Nigerian Tobacco Company Limited.
But behind the office desk was a young man drawn irresistibly to the world of performance and storytelling.
Inspired by international screen legends and the growing possibilities of Nigerian television, he pursued acting with determination. That ambition would soon place him on one of the country’s most influential television productions — The Village Headmaster.
There, Comish Ekiye became known for his role as Chief Odunuga, while also contributing as a scriptwriter and editor to the iconic series that captivated audiences across Nigeria.
Yet acting alone was not enough.
Believing strongly in professional training and self-development, he enrolled at the School of Drama, University of Ibadan, in 1970, refining the artistic and technical skills that would later define his career.
By 1974, he joined the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA Port Harcourt, as one of its pioneer producers.
What followed was a rise so rapid it became the subject of admiration within broadcasting circles.
Within a few years, he moved from Producer to Senior Producer, Executive Producer, Principal Producer, Controller of Programmes and later Manager of Programmes — a progression many considered unprecedented in Nigeria’s civil service system.
Colleagues often described him as relentless in pursuit of excellence.
That commitment also took him abroad for further professional training at S.F.B Television Studios in Berlin, Germany, and later at BBC Television in London.
Then came the defining moment.
In December 1983, at the NTA Star Performance Awards held at the National Theatre in Lagos, Comish Ekiye achieved what remains one of the most remarkable feats in Nigerian television history.
In a single night, he won four major awards:
Best Scriptwriter.
Best TV/FilmEditor.
Best TV/Film Producer. And Best TV/Film Director.
The record remains unbroken.
But perhaps his greatest achievement was not simply the awards he won, but the stories he helped tell.
Through productions such as Inside Out, The Hermit, Eezeedor, Deadline, Sarah’s Dream, Finest Hour, and Obigbo Connection, he helped shape television drama in Nigeria during a formative era for the industry.
Away from television production, Comish Ekiye also became an influential administrator.
He served as Director of the Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture and later as the pioneer General General of Rivers State Television, helping lay the foundation for the station’s growth and identity.
Years later, another pioneering role awaited him.
In 2000, he became the first Director-General of the Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation, Glory FM, where he was tasked with building a new broadcasting institution for a young state finding its voice.
Those who worked with him remember a leader who valued professionalism, discipline and mentorship.
They describe a man who demanded high standards, but also inspired younger broadcasters to believe in the power of creativity and integrity.
Beyond broadcasting, he remained deeply committed to culture, literature and the performing arts.
He organized major cultural events, led documentation teams for national festivals, and continued writing and producing creative works well into later life.
The Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, Bayelsa State Chapter, recognized him as a patron in honour of his immense contributions to literature, drama and broadcasting.
Friends and associates say Comish Ekiye believed strongly in justice, fairness and respect for human dignity.
For many, that may be the lasting memory: a man whose creativity was matched by his humanity.
Late Comish Etubogbo Ekiye is survived by his children — Amatare, Amaebi and Tokoni — as well as a large extended family, colleagues, protégés and admirers across Nigeria’s media and cultural landscape.
His story is, in many ways, the story of Nigerian broadcasting itself: a story of pioneering ambition, artistic passion and unwavering dedication to excellence.
And though the curtain has now fallen, the legacy of Comish Ekiye continues to play on.
