Business, Entertainment

Behold the Voices and Faces of Nigeria’s First Women Radio Station – WFM 91.7

HaykynsTouch-355Dateline September 9, 2015, Lagos, Nigeria, St. Ives Communications, owners of WFM 91.7, Nigeria’s 1st Radio station for WOMEN and their families presented the voices and faces that will be its core on-air-personalities to a select cream of media practitioners.

In what’s akin to a scene from an episode of ShowTime, the quartet of ABISOLA GRACE AIYEOLA, Nigerian British born currently studying Business management at National Open University of Nigeria and  Nigeria’s budding actress and singer,  FUNMI JINADU, who cut her teeth in radio broadcasting at BBC Bristol, UK  and an active member of the National Union of Journalists, United Kingdom, BOLATITO BEZ IDAKULA, a former banker with a B.Sc. in Politics and International Studies from the University of Warwick, England and an MSc. in Management from Imperial College London and CHINEDU FAITH NWAGHA, a public speaker, customer service consultant and an advocate of personal development were presented to the media as the leading voices and faces that will run things at WFM 91.7 as the station’s core on-air-personalities – OAPs.

Presenting the young and talented broadcasters at the event which took place inside the cozy environs of Protea Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya stated that the quartet were selected from over 5,000 applicants that showed interest in working for WFM 91.7. “The selection process was thorough and painstakingly executed. We were lucky to have veteran broadcasters like Femi Sowoolu, Seun Olagunju, Sydney Ufeli of Spik Rait, Saund Rait, etc. on the selection panel. So, what we are serving the listening public are the best of our bests,” she said.

Toun, herself a broadcaster of many years’ experience whose career traverse Nigeria and United Kingdom added that “One of the amazing qualities of these on-air-personalities is that each of them can function in any arm of the station’s operations. They are all undergoing training that will see them performing creditably well on any programme,” she enthused.

According to Toun, though WFM 91.7 prides itself as an ‘unapologetically for women’ radio station, she reiterated that “it is not just about women or straight-jacketed tailored for women; it is a radio station for women, the men in their lives and for the whole family. The station will cover and discuss every aspect of our lives, be it sports, business, politics, governance, economy, health, family, relationship issues, youth etc. However, all these issues will be presented from the women perspective. How we (women) see it.

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“Though we are licensed for women, WFM 91.7 will also cater for the men and the family by engaging on issues of local, national and international importance for all. It will operate 24 hours of talk and less music. The station will address everyday issues for women and their families. It will be a reliable, leading and trusted source for all related news, information and matters of interests for women and their families,” she enthused.

Present at the unveiling ceremony were top officials and directors of St. Ives Communications, the holding company that runs WFM 91.7 radio station. They include: Dr. Babatunde Okewale, Executive Chairman of St. Ives Communications, Kiki Wale Okewale, Executive Director at St. Ives Communications, Olayinka Lawal, Head of Sales & Marketing at WFM 91.7 and other staff of WFM 91.7 radio.

 In what has been described as an epoch-making event, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) recently issued licence to St. Ives Communications to operate the specialised and gender sensitive radio communication initiative, which has been credited to be the brainchild of Dr. Babatunde Okewale who is also the Chief Medical Director at St. Ives Specialist Hospital, Lagos, Toun Okewale Sonaiya and Kiki Wale Okewale, both Executive Directors of St. Ives Communications.

Profile of WFM 91.7 On-Air-Personalities OAPS

ABISOLA GRACE AIYEOLA

The British born talent is currently studying Business management at National Open University of Nigeria is one of Nigeria’s budding Nollywood’s finest.  Featured in over 15 movies including  “Forever with us”, “President for a day”, “The patient”, “The outlaws”, “Diary of a Nigerian couple” etc.

A singer whose talent has brought her to one of the biggest stages of musical talents competition in Africa; MTN project Fame west Africa 2008, season 1, where she held her own into the last stage of the competition as one of the last five. She is a voice over artist, one time TV host of Billboard Nigeria which aired on silver bird television from 2011-2013.

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Her enthusiasm and vast knowledge of the entertainment industry, her connection to her environment and being in-tuned to daily happenings around her would be appreciated by her audience.

She believes that “just because women don’t have as much physical strength as men doesn’t mean they cannot take on as much responsibility”.

She is a mother driven with everyday passion to make the world a better place for her daughter, for every girl child and for every child. Her motto is to be happy always and live each day like it’s the last. She is ecstatic to be part of the WFM91.7 movement.

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FUNMI JINADU

The media is a powerful tool that can bring the change we need in our society. One woman at a time, we will as a station affect families and in the end influence our continent positively” Those are the words of the next Voice & face of WFM 91.7.

A woman with a passion for radio broadcasting. She obtained a Masters degree in Broadcast Journalism at the University of the West of England, United Kingdom after graduating a broadcast major in Mass Communication from Babcock University, Nigeria.

An active member of the National Union of Journalists, United Kingdom.  With a profound interest in radio broadcasting, she cut her teeth in International journalism as volunteer presenter and part of production team on BBC Radio Bristol. She was a presenter on Ujima Radio Bristol UK and worked on various projects on BBC Point West, a radio presenter on Hub Radio in Bristol UK and a writer and content provider for University of West Of England newspaper. She was also a guest on BBC Radio and spoke on the Chibok kidnapped girls.  Her journalism skills include reporting, interviewing, sub-editing, research & creating programme content

She believes that Radio is the most impactful of all media. With a keen interest in women affairs, she is looking forward to making a difference in helping the self confidence and esteem of all women not just in Nigeria but Africa at large through WFM 91.7.

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BOLATITO BEZ IDAKULA

A uniquely curious spirit with keen interest in people, cultures & food. Her inquisitive nature has drawn her to interesting places as close as the karaoke bar in her neighbourhood and as far out as Colombia, where she worked for a non-governmental organisation and learnt Spanish for a year.  A former banker with a BSc. in Politics and International Studies from the University of Warwick, England and an MSc. in Management from Imperial College London.

A writer who loves to speak and share is a founding member of Ignite; a movement for young Christians. She hopes that as she shares her own non-conventional yet seemingly common experiences, they will provide an avenue for others to confront their own struggles, help them heal and eventually create a strong communal bond among women to help build a world where hurt young girls do not become broken.

In her words “WFM 91.7 represents the ideal avenue for women to speak honestly and openly about the woman’s plight. Through this platform and my unique gift of connecting with other women, I hope to continue fostering and empowering the often-suppressed female voice in Nigeria”.

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CHINEDU FAITH NWAGHA

An alumni of the University of Lagos, where she obtained a B.Sc. I Political Science and an M.Sc. in International Law and Diplomacy.

A public speaker. Customer service consultant and an advocate for personal development. She holds a CCSA from prestigious Service Quality Institute of America and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship Management from the Pan African University (LBS).

She has been a guest speaker at Rotary International Youth Seminars and Women Reinvention Luncheon. An avid reader with a bias for African poetry, she distributes books and other educational materials to disadvantaged children to encourage reading.

In her words, “WFM 91.7 family is a wonderful opportunity for me to be part of as we revolutionise broadcasting, not only to empower women, but positively impact the society as a whole. I am indescribably excited to be part of this family.

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