What has been flying around as rumour will soon become a reality as we can authoritatively confirm that the first radio station for women and the family in Nigeria (perhaps Africa) is set to hit the airwaves. In what analysts have described as history in the making, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) recently issued a licence to St. Ives Communications to operate a specialised radio station for women and the family. The station which is coming with the name WFM is licensed to broadcast on 91.7 frequency modulation dial.
The gender-sensitive radio initiative is the brainchild of Dr. Wale Okewale, Chief Medical Director at St. Ives Specialist Hospital, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos and veteran broadcast journalist, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, a Director of St. Ives Communications, owners of the radio station. As the unique women and family-focused radio station WFM 91.7 formally commences operations in preparation for its test transmission, the station management revealed that it has been going through a painstaking process of talent discovery to deliver on the unique operations target – women, the men in their lives and the family.
The selection and talent discovery process reached an advanced stage recently with the shortlisting of possible voices and faces that will drive the station’s broadcast operations. According to the station’s management, the voices and faces of the station will be unveiled formally within the next couple of weeks. A source quoting one of the brains behind the organization revealed that the rigorous selection process has produced some “unbelievable talents and brilliant individuals” that would make the station the delight of the listening public. The talent discovery exercise, which is part of the build up to the female gender and family-oriented radio station’s launch, involved rigorous interview sessions with over 1,500 applicants jostling for positions as on-air-personalities, presenters, reporters editors, producers, and other support staff. According to one of the brains behind WFM 91.7, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, the interview exercise was painstakingly thorough and arduous. “When we sent out call for applications, the response was overwhelming. We received over 5,000 applications initially. We trimmed the applications down to less than two thousand after the initial chat with the applicants. And from the over 1,500 applicants interviewed, the judges shortlisted 15 for auditioning. The selected talents that will be voices and faces of the station will be unveiled soon,” she explained. Judges at the audition include media veterans, Femi Sowoolu, Seun Olagunju, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya and radio trainer of many years, Sydney Ufeli of Spik Rait, Saund Rait.
“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 to 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 added. Dr. Wale was said to have been inspired to conceive the idea of a radio station for women and their family having worked and related closely with female clients as a specialist gynaecologist and having come to understand the plight of Nigerian women and their struggle to be heard. “He felt a need to fill an obvious gap in the Nigerian broadcast industry,” a source said.