…as Glow FM begins operations in Akure

• Joshua Oluwadare

The founder and chief executive officer of the Glow 99.1 FM, Dr Ezekiel Akande, has said that the essence of establishing the new radio station in Akure is to give a voice to the voiceless.

Dr Akande, who made this disclosure at the grand launching ceremony of the radio station held at Ijapo, Akure, on Wednesday, said that it was never part of his ambition to establish a radio station, but that he received the inspiration from God at a critical time of his life to establish a radio station and a hospital.

According to him, when the inspiration first came, he thought it was just his imaginative thought and waved it aside, saying that he could no longer resist it when it persistently came to him that God wanted him to establish a radio station to help the teeming population of the youth in the country to be able to add their voices to the issues of national development, as well as provide entertainment and up-to-date information for the people.

“This establishment came through inspiration. I made it my ministry to empower young people because young people are 70% of this country population. Some of them cannot even get a job while some are hopeless, and rejected. They do not know what to do with their lives.

“ I want to be the voice of the voiceless, I am from Akoko North West where the majority do not have a voice. It is not Akoko alone; it’s all over the country. People do not have a voice. Our people are ignorant. We want to enlighten them,’ he noted.

The medical practitioner of international repute who noted that he didn’t establish the radio station as a business venture, said that the radio station was his ministry given to him by God through which he would serve humanity for the pleasure of God.

Speaking on ‘Sustaining Radio Broadcasting in the Present Economic Hardship,’ Dr Gbenga Abimbola, who is the current HOD of Mass Communication Department, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, and astute journalist, in his keynote address, saluted the courage of Dr Akande for embarking on the life-impacting project.

Dr Abimbola, who opined that the radio business is a saturated market already, posisted that Glow 99.1 FM would really thrive among its numerous competitors if the management and staff of the radio station would make it the people’s radio by meeting the needs of the people in terms of professionalism, up-to-date information and unbiased news reportage.

‘There should be an editorial independence. Allow your audience to own decisions. You have to be the voice of the people,” he said.

In his remarks at the event, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, ably represented by Oba Adekunle Adebowale, who congratuled Dr Akande on the successful completion of the project, lauded the initiative, saying that it was a step forward towards having a better Nigeria.

In his goodwill message at the event, the Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, the Odundun II, lauded the initiative, saying that it was a good development for the growth of Akure and its environs.

In his remarks, Oba Dr. Simbo Akinladejo, the Osemawe of Ondo kingdom also lauded the initiative just as he prayed for continuous existence and expansion of the radio station, urged Dr. Akande to remember to site his hospital in Ondo town.

Major highlights of the event was the grand commissioning of the radio station with prayers led by the General Overseer of Prayer Centre Church of God, Prophet/Evangelist Samson Oluwamodede.

While addressing journalists at the event, Prophet Samson Oluwamodede, who commended the station in terms of set-up and equipment pointed out that the development would move Ondo state forward.

“This development is a fantastic one. It would bring success to the state. I have been to many radio stations, but this is unique.

“My advice to the staff is for them to take this project as theirs. As they do that, the company would move forward,’ he said.

While promising his unalloyed support and patronage to the radio station, he said that if permitted he would like to be the first person to run an advert on the radio station.

Other dignitaries also in attendance at the epoch-making event were the Chief Imam of Akure, Shiek Yayi Akorede who led the opening prayer; a former Ondo State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Akin Adaramola; and a former House of Representatives member, Hon. Ganiyu Dauda; among others.

The new radio station, Glow 99.1 FM, is located at Glow FM Station House, No. 1, Effon Alaye Street (Former Gani Fawehinmi building), Ijapo Estate, Akure, Ondo State.