NTA 2 Channel 5 was pure gold for kids in the 90s

It was my gateway into cartoons, classic British sitcoms and African-American sitcoms. My siblings and I would stare at the TV staring and the colour bars till it was 4 pm. These were the days before 24-hour television in Nigeria.

When the colour bars disappeared and the coat of arms popped up on the screen with the National Anthem playing in the background, my brother, sister and I knew we were seconds away from the fun.

Back in the days NTA 2 Channel 5 was fun. It showed the best cartoons in the land. We are talking about Fraggle Rock, Teddie Ruxpin, Ovide and the Gang, Voltron, Terrahawks, G-Force, Silver Hawks, Muppet Babies, Thunder Sub, Danger Mouse, The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe, Inspector Gadget, Jumbo, Super Ted, Towser, Chuckle Hounds etc.

These were some of the cartoons NTA 2 Channel 5 flooded me with. As a young boy, imagine how I felt when watching these cartoons. The concept of good and evil were instilled in me by watching these cartoons.

It should be noted that these cartoons are considered classics. Voltron is still regarded as one of the best cartoons of all time. Remember Nigeria was deep in military rule and was a target of sanctions from the international community.

NTA 2 Channel 5 showed us the world when Nigeria was a pariah. The government owned station which started in a portacabin was different from other NTA stations. It was progressive and youth-oriented. The first rap TV jingle was by NTA 2 Channel 5 featuring the late Nollywood actor J.T Tom West and Paul Play Dairo.

NTA Channels were rigid and boring but NTA 2 Channel 5 was flexible and it reflected in its contemporary programming. NTA 2 Channel 5 showed more than dope cartoons, they also aired bad ass sitcoms and series.

Robin Hood, Allo Allo, Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em, Rent-A-Ghost, Faulty Towers, King Arthur and Dr Who were on NTA 2 Channel 5 also. These series were some of the best of British TV shows, classics in their own right.

When we watched these shows as kids, we didn't feel as if we were trapped in Nigeria but we thought we were global citizens. This was years before the Internet gave us access to many American TV series. NTA 2 Channel 5 made us Afropolitans.

Speaking of American TV series, NTA 2 Channel 5 caught the wave early. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martin, Cooper, Family Matters, Living Single and others ushered in the Hip Hop generation on TV and NTA 2 Channel 5 did not miss out on that.

British sitcoms taught us sarcasm and sharp with while American sitcoms gave us flavour. NTA 2 Channel 5 influenced and shaped the minds of millions of Nigerian youths.

It was a small TV station but it was the most influential of the NTA stations in terms of youth culture. No other TV station in Nigeria influenced young minds in Nigeria during the 80s and 90s more than NTA 2 Channel 5.

When private TV stations came on board, NTA 2 Channel 5 lost its position. Sadly most of the new stations couldn't attain the heights of Channel 5 because the program directors are more concerned with airing boring political rallies for money while neglecting programmes for kids and teenagers.

TV programming for kids and teenagers is so shambolic these days. All TV stations care about these days is money and air boring programmes in time slots meant for kids.

NTA 2 Channel 5 will remain dear in the hearts of millennials because it once had the best choice of programmes for young people. NTA of the 90s era will forever be in our hearts.