OSARO “DON” PEDRO OBASEKI (PROFILE)

Osaro Agbonifo Pedro Obaseki, (Born in December 31, 1967 in Benin City, Edo) popularly known as “Don Pedro”, is a Playwright, Poet, Screenwriter, Film Director, international Television content provider, seasoned lecturer and one of the pioneer founders of Nigeria's Nollywood Film industry. He served as Managing Director of DAAR Digital Services (DAARsat) and Executive Director of DAAR Communications Plc., and was President of The Filmmakers Cooperative of Nigeria (FCON). He is the Founder/CEO of ACC Broadcast Multimedia Ltd and is currently the flag bearer of the Accord Party, in the September 2016 Edo State Governorship Elections.

PERSONAL LIFE AND EDUCATION

Don P, as he is fondly called, is the first son of 5 children, and had his secondary education at the Unity School, Agbarho, in Warri, Delta State (1983), and tertiary education at the University of Benin, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Theatre/Theatre Arts Management (1983 – 1987). He holds a Masters’ degree in Business Administration and two Doctorate Degrees - a Doctorate degree in Performance Theory & Praxis and a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA).

He is the convener of the Edo Peoples’ Assembly, a socio-economic and cultural group (now a political sub party) with about 20,000 registered members and is married to Uchenna Obaseki. He uses Facebook and Twitter to interact with his followers.

CAREER

As a 10-year-old kid, Don Pedro presented “Children’s Time” for NTA Benin in 1977, wrote a story; “Days of Rage” which won the National Essay Competition in 1979, which later became a TV series, and was the smallest and youngest member of the crew during the shooting of “Things Fall Apart”.

An erudite scholar, visionary and speaker, Dr. Pedro worked as a Media Arts and Directing lecturer in the University of Benin for 6 years and 4 months (March 1989 – June 1995), as the General Manager, Programmes and Production at Degue Broadcasting Network (DBN TV) (1995 – 1997), as the Managing Director of DAAR Digital Services (DAARsat) and Executive Director of DAAR Communications Plc. (Owners of African Independent Television – AIT) (2011 – 2013), and Founder/CEO of ACC Broadcast Multimedia Ltd (Operators of WAWOO TV, ACCMOBILETV, PidginTV and the MTN-MobileTV Turnkey Project) (June 2010 – Present).

He is a Consultant to both the African Broadcast Network London, and the Kennedy Centre, Washington DC.

FILMOGRAPHY

He is a prolific writer of plays, and poetry and directed an international television documentary “Oshogbo and Adunni Olorisha Susanne Wenger” with Dr. Adama Ulrich for ORB Brandenburg, Berlin, and with Thorolf Lipp (a German documentary film maker) a documentary on “Adire Batik” in 1996. Other works for which he is known for include IGODO, EZIZA, OBASEKI, LOVE, WELCOME TO NOLLYWOOD, & AZAGIDI.

AWARDS

Dr. Obaseki is a 2-time recipient of the OBA Erediauwa Award for Excellence (in 2011 & 2013), and was awarded “Nollywood Distinguished Veteran” in 2013. He was also awarded an Honorary Award for “Service to Nigerian Broadcasting” at the National Innovation Awards, 2015.

POLITICS

On the 3^rd of December, 2015, Dr. Obaseki publicly declared his intention to seek nomination as the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the September 2016, Edo State Governorship Elections. However, on the 6^th of June, 2016, 48 hours after the leadership of the All Progressives Congress assured aspirants in Edo State of a level playing ground in its governorship primaries, he elected to withdraw his intention to contest the primaries of the APC, stating that “he had lost faith in the primary process, and would not be running for the election as an APC candidate anymore, but as an EDO candidate”. On the 4^th of July, 2016, Dr. Obaseki was unanimously adopted by over 300 delegates of the Accord Party as its flag bearer, at the party’s convention held in New Lagos Road, Benin City.