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WFM 91.7 has no competitor – Broadcast expert

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An American radio technology expert, Engineer Dean Gay has said that the niche radio station, WFM 91.7, which hit the broadcast waves with its test transmission recently has no competitor in Nigeria.

Gay who is resident in Abuja stated this while officially switching on the state of the art broadcast equipment of the radio station to mark the commencement of the station’s test transmissions prelude to the official launch of WFM 91.7 next month.

The radio technology specialist who supervised the installation of the ultra-modern studios and broadcast equipment of the history-making radio station (WFM 91.7 is the first radio station for women and the family in Nigeria, perhaps, Africa) stated that the station is different from what obtains in the industry in all ramifications. According to him, WFM 91.7 is different from other stations in content, character and focus.

“I’m not sure if WFM has any competitor in the market. They are completely different in all ramifications. It’s not your normal run-off-the-mill radio station. They have unique programming, unique target audience and a defined market,” he said.

Gay added that the station is also unique in terms of the quality and standards of the braodcast technology installed in the station. “It is the very latest in broadcast technology today. From the microphone to transmitters, to consoles, servers, even mast, everything you have here are the very latest in radio broadcast technology and they are all of very high quality. They are the most sought-after equipment in radio broadcast industry today,” he said.

Dean explained that the station’s broadcast equipment were procured from Clyde Broadcast, a Glasgow, Scotland-based world renowned radio broadcast equipment manufacturer. He said the equipment are all high-end broadcast systems. “They are the very latest technology from Clyde Broadcast. There are very many stations that are barely hanging-on on air because they use very low-end systems. They (St. Ives Communications) spent a lot of money here to get the very best and the very latest in broadcast technology from Clyde Broadcast. That’s what it takes to be a good, reliable radio station,” he said.

Clyde Broadcast, the technology providers is renowned across the world as the “The Radio People” due to the quality of the company’s products. With the completion of its studio installation powered by Clyde Broadcast, WFM 91.7 joined the rich list of Clyde Broadcast’s clients which includes world renowned radio stations like BBC Radio, Radio Gold, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Forth 1, Virgin Radio (UK), SkyNews Radio, and our very own Lagos Traffic FM among others.

 

With the commencement of the on-going test transmission by WFM 91.7, Nigeria made history as the first country to own a first radio station for women and the family in Africa.

It will be recalled that the innovative radio station targeted at a niche market came into being when the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) issued licence to St. Ives Communications (owners and operators of the radio station) to operate a specialised radio station for women and the family in Ogun State and parts of Lagos environs.

The gender sensitive radio communication initiative is the brainchild of Dr. Tunde Okewale, Chief Medical Director at St. Ives Specialist Hospital, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos and veteran broadcast journalist, Toun Okewale Sonaiya, Executive Director at St. Ives Communications and Managing Director of the broadcasting outfit.

The on-air-personalities (OAPs) that will run the station’s transmission operations include: Abisola Grace Aiyeola, a Nigerian British born broadcaster, budding actress and singer, Funmi Jinadu, who cut her teeth in radio broadcasting at BBC Bristol, UK , she’s also an active member of the National Union of Journalists, United Kingdom; and Bolatito Bez Idakula, a former banker.

The unique, women and family-focused radio station is poised to deliver on its unique operations targeted at a niche segment of the society – women, the men in their lives and the family.

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Oando Clean Energy, Cross River State, Sign MoU on Renewable Energy Infrastructure

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Oando Clean Energy (OCEL),  the renewable energy business subsidiary of Oando Energy Resources and the Cross River State Government have  signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the rollout of electric vehicles for mass transportation within the state at the ongoing 28th edition Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The move in setting up an electric vehicle (EV) assembly plant, is expected to create jobs for local indigenes as well as build a 100MW wind plant for power generation.

Representing the Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu at the MoU signing was the state’s Commissioner for Special Duties, Oden Ewa, saying the landmark agreement marked a significant step forward in the state’s journey toward a cleaner and more sustainable future. He said: “The MoU paves the way for the transitioning of our mass transit system to cleaner and less expensive fuels while also allowing for the use of our natural resource, wind, to provide electrification for our people.

“I commend Oando Clean Energy for their innovative solutions that address the impact of climate change in Nigeria and her citizens.”

According to Oando , it said,  as  a company, it has committed to ensuring that this journey to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future is as seamless and as easy as possible.

“This is by putting our confidence in, not only the technology but the partnership and ensuring that the Cross River State government and her people reap the benefits of generating power from sustainable sources”. The statement read.

Oando’s Clean Energy’s scope spans the entire 35 states of the federation and the federal capital, promising to create a cleaner, more viable energy ecosystem for Nigeria and the  people of Cross River.

In attendance at the side event were amongst others, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Abubakar Momoh;  Minister of the Environment, Abbas Balarabe;  Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Kunle Salako; Commissioner for Special Duties, Cross River State, Mr. Oden Ewa, among others.

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House Of Representatives Issues Warrant Of Arrest On Central Bank Governor, Cardoso, Accountant-General, 17 Others

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The House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Petitions has asked for a warrant of arrest to be issued on the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, and 17 others over refusal to appear before it to answer questions on their operations.

It was gathered that the issuance of the arrest warrant was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Fred Agbedi, representing Ekeremo/Sagbama Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the committee’s hearing on Tuesday.

Agbedi, while moving the motion, said that the arrest warrant had become imperative following the attitude of the invitees, adding that the parliament worked with time and the CEOs had been invited four times but failed to respond to the invitations.

Agbedi said that the CBN Governor, the AGF and the rest of the invitees should be brought to appear before the committee by the Inspector General of Police through a warrant of arrest after due diligence by the House Speaker, Rep Tajudeen Abbas.

The Chairman of the Committee, Micheal Irom (APC-Cross River), in his ruling said that the Inspector-General of Police should ensure the invitees were brought before the committee on December 14.
It was gathered that the petitioner, Fidelis Uzowanem, had earlier said that the petition was anchored on the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) 2021 report.

Irom said, “We took up the challenge to examine the report and discovered that what NEITI put together as a report is only consolidation of fraud that has been going on in the oil and gas industry.

“It dates back to 2016 because we have been following and we put up a petition to this committee to examine what has happened.

“The 2024 budget of 27.5 trillion that has been proposed can be confidently funded from the recoverable amount that we identified in the NEITI report.

“It is basically a concealment of illegal transactions that took place in NNPCL; they have been in a sink with some oil companies where some companies that did not produce crude were paid cash core, an amount paid for crude oil production.”

 

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FCTA uncovers illegal oil refining warehouse in Abuja

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In continuation of the city cleaning exercise, Authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) with operatives of security personnel have uncovered an illegal oil refining warehouse in Mabushi, opposite Mobile filling station on Ahmadu Bello way in Abuja.

 

The Director, Department of Development Control, FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima after the operation on Thursday, said the illegal refining site was discovered during the continuation of the city cleaning exercise.

 

According to him, about three to four plot of lands designated for commercial purposes have been converted to an area where oil and diesel are being adulterated and circulated to other parts of the city.

 

Galadima explained that the city sanitation task force will look into the provision of the law and make necessary recommendations to the FCT Administration for further actions on the plots used for the activity.

 

He said there was no arrest but the items used in carrying out the illegal refining have been impounded.

 

Galadima said, “During the continuation of our city sanitation exercise in Mabushi opposite Mobile filling station on Ahmadu way, we discovered an illegal refining site where oil and diesel are being adulterated, we have done the needful by moving the items to Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

 

“From what we have seen so far, about three or four pilot of lands designated for commercial purposes have been converted to unapproved activities, which we believe the owners are fully aware, there will be consequences.

 

“We are going to look at the provision of the law and make necessary recommendations to the FCT Administration”

 

He said the administration will continue to go tough on activities being carried out without government approval,  especially revocation of the titles.

 

Collaborating, Head, operations FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Service (DRTS), Deborah Osho said the city management team during the exercise also discovered that most of the areas in the Nation’s capital have been converted to illegal car mart and motor parks.

 

She disclosed that fifteen vehicles have so far been impounded since the operation commenced about two days.

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