Mike Okwoche is a Nigerian journalist, TV news anchor, and human rights advocate. He is best known for his work at TVC News, where he hosted the TVC Breakfast Show and won several awards for his professionalism and excellence. He is also a proud member of the Tiv community and a recipient of a traditional title for his contributions to humanity. In this blog post, we will explore his life, career, achievements, and challenges.

Early Life and Education

Mike Okwoche was born on October 15, 19**, in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. He hails from the Tiv ethnic group, one of the largest in Nigeria. He grew up in a humble family and developed a passion for reading and writing from an early age. He attended St. Joseph’s Primary School and Mount Saint Gabriel’s Secondary School in Makurdi, where he excelled academically and participated in various extracurricular activities.

He proceeded to study Mass Communication at the Benue State University, graduating in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He then enrolled in the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Lagos, where he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism in 2002. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos, which he completed in 2010.

Career and Achievements

Mike Okwoche started his career as a reporter and presenter at Radio Benue in 1999, where he covered various news stories and events. He moved to Lagos in 2002 and joined Silverbird Television as a news anchor and producer. He worked there for six years, during which he gained more exposure and experience in the broadcast media industry.

In 2008, he joined TVC News, a 24-hour pan-African news channel based in Lagos. He became one of the most prominent faces of the station, anchoring the TVC Breakfast Show, a flagship program that features interviews, analysis, and discussions on topical issues affecting Nigeria and Africa. He also hosted other programs such as Journalists Hangout, The Big Issue, and Diaspora Live.

He distinguished himself as a professional and versatile journalist, covering various beats such as politics, business, sports, entertainment, health, and education. He reported on major events such as the 2011 and 2015 general elections in Nigeria, the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the 2015 Paris attacks, the 2016 US presidential election, the 2017 Kenya election crisis, and the 2018 Zimbabwe coup.

He also interviewed several prominent personalities such as former Nigerian presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, former Ghanaian president John Mahama, former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former South African president Thabo Mbeki, former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote, musician Femi Kuti, actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, among others.

He won several awards and recognitions for his outstanding performance and contribution to the media industry. Some of them include:

In 2019, Okwoche won the Nigeria Media Merit Award for newscaster of the year.

He came tops to beat Gimba Umar of Channels TV.

In December 2022, Okwoche and his wife Emem Ime were honoured with traditional titles by the Tiv community in Lagos.

The journalist was conferred with the title of Zege Kwaghfan U. Shagbaor while his wife, the producer of TVC talk show, Your View, was conferred with Kuhe Kwaghfan U. Shagbaor.

He also received commendations from various organizations and institutions such as the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigerian Customs Service, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), among others.

Mike Okwoche exits channel after 11 years

Mike Okwoche has announced his departure from the broadcast station after 11 years.

Mr Okwoche broke the news of his exit on Friday on-air while TVC Breakfast show was ongoing.

“I must say this is going to be my last day on TVC after 11 years. I must thank TVC for giving me these 11 years of opportunity on air. Today being the last day on air in TVC is really amazing,” he said.

The station shared a clip of his announcement on Instagram, thanking him for his services.

“On TVC Breakfast today, TVC News award-winning Senior anchor, Mike Okwoche officially announces his departure from TVC after 11 years of stewardship.

“@okwoche1, thank you for the amazing 11 years of service,” the post read.

Mike Okwoche is a seasoned broadcaster and human rights advocate who has made a remarkable impact on the media industry and society at large. He is a role model and inspiration to many aspiring and practising journalists in Nigeria and Africa. He is also a loving husband, father, and community leader who values his family, culture, and faith. He is indeed a great knowledge and a bone of wisdom.