A former Director at National Broadcasting Commission ,Edward Aina has expressed concern over the financial situation of most of the State-government owned radio stations in Nigeria, calling for more support for them to perform the media role effectively in the areas of information dissemination and quality programming in the country
Aina was speaking as the Managing Director of Sweet 107.1 FM, during the colourful celebration of a decade of quality broadcasting of the second private radio station established in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital
"I make bold to say that while President Tinubu has promised the Guild of Editors to assist the industry, state governments are not even looking in that direction. Sadly, many State-government owned radio stations are equally bleeding shutting their stations at 9 p.m – a period devoted to family belt because of the cost of diesel", he decried
The veteran journalist who appreciated the unlimited support of the founder of Sweet FM, Senator Gbenga Obadara, for ensuring smooth running of the radio station in the past ten years of quality broadcasting, warned of possible collateral damage to the public radio stations , if government failed to act urgently
"The collateral damage is better imagined—moral degeneracy, social dislocation, criminality resulting from unemployment, inability to mobilize and ensure adequate dissemination of critical information to the masses with many stations going off-air at will for no fault of theirs. The time to act is now and fast. Delay could be dangerous", he stated
Aina was quick to warn his fellow colleagues in broadcasting industry on the need to adhere more to the ethics of the profession in programming rules and anchoring of programmes on air in the quest to break even, especially political broadcasts, religion and tradomedics
"The greatest disservice one can do to the profession is to jettison ethics. Ethics is ramifying; it is totalizing and the ‘be-all-and-all of any profession’. To do otherwise is to send the profession to the gutter, risk human lives and endanger the nation’s corporate existence", he cautioned
He expressed sincere appreciation to
those eminent personalities, government officials, groups, associations and friends of the station who contributed to the successful celebration of the 10th anniversary of Sweet FM in the country
Similarly, the Sweet FM Head of News, Tobi Akinmade recalled the humble beginning of Nigeria's First Entrepreneurship and Leadership Radio station , established ten years ago which is now house-hold name in the broadcasting industry
Sweet 107.1FM according to him, has remained a shining voice of information, inspiration, entertainment, and community development.
"Through the airwaves, the station has touched lives, amplified voices, promoted talents, and kept listeners informed with credible news and engaging programmes"
"For years, Sweet 107.1FM has stood as more than a radio station—it is a platform of hope, leadership, entrepreneurship, and progress. It has consistently created opportunities for young minds to strive, empowered businesses, and strengthened the bond within communities across Ogun State and beyond", he summited with pride
The founder of Sweet FM Abeokuta, Senator Gbenga Obadara was full of appreciation for those who contributed greatly to the success story of the radio station, pledging more support for the radio station to sustain the quality of its news and programmes on air
The event was graced by top media executives including Acting General Manager of Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, Gbenga Omotunde , Chief Executive Officer of Pen-pushing Media, Prince Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji , Chief Executive Officer and Managing Editor of August 22nd Communication Links publisher of Edu-biznews, Abdulfatai Sobande, veteran broadcast journalist, Dele Ayodo, top members of Freelance Broadcasters of Nigeria, particularly the 2016 Ogun State Executive of the association, public affairs analysts and listeners amongst others
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