When the regional states were merged to form the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in 1977, it became necessary to train the workforce to meet the immediate challenges. This led to the establishment of NTA Television College in September 1980. At the inception, the emphasis was on proficiency/short courses, and later, Diploma Certificate in Television Journalism, Television Production, Television Design and Television Engineering. Not contented with this, the Central Management of NTA set up a committee in 2003 to upgrade the College into a degree-awarding institution.
An initial effort at affiliation was made with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi in 2005. This however was botched because ATBU does not offer Mass Communication
as a course of study. Not ready to truncate the idea of enhanced academic profile, the NTA Management, in 2006, approached Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria which inherited and actualized what was started with ATBU, Bauchi.
The College is now affiliated to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello Unversity (ABU), Zaria. This arrangement has now qualified the College to award the degree of B.Sc. Mass Communication (Television). One of the objectives of the College is to fill the needs of the broadcast industry in Nigeria and beyond.
To become one of the leading Television Training Institutions in the world, pervasive in influence and indispensable in all aspects: information, educational, cultural and entertainment endeavors, whose world view will consistently promote high values and objectivity in accordance with public interest and decency.
The College is committed to providing high quality professional and specialized education in Television Production and Journalism, as a means of fostering and promoting the best practices of the profession to enrich the standard of Television services not only in Nigeria but all over Africa and the world at large.