From News Editor
The Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has assured the media owners and practitioners operating in the state, as well as, government own media outfits of unfettered freedom without any hindrance in the discharge of their duties.
Oyebanji who stressed the importance of the media to information dissemination, recalled how the maiden broadcast by the then Military Administrator of Ekiti in 1997, lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Bawa was aired outside Ekiti state, saying it was aired on Broadcasting Service of Osogbo in Osun State.
“We had to tune in to Oshogbo to hear what was happening in Ekiti because there was no radio or television station in Ekiti,” he said.
The Governor stated this yesterday while commissioning one of the media outfits, Radio Adamimogo 107.7FM at Ido-Ekiti, established by Prophet Sam Olu Alo the Planter of Christ Apostolic Church Adamimogo Grace of Mercy Prayer Mountain Worldwide his country home in Ekiti State.
Oyebanji who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr Olusesan Alabi said, “We don’t meddle in the affairs or control even the stations owned by the government, not to talk of the ones owned by private individuals. We give the media unfettered freedom to do their job in Ekiti without any hindrance. I recalled that the first broadcast by the then military governor of Ekiti state, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Bawa, was aired outside Ekiti state; it was aired on Broadcasting Service of Osogbo in Osun State.
“The one (Radio) inherited at Ifaki Ekiti was no longer functioning as at then. But today if the same address is to be aired by the governor, we have at least 10 stations that will tune in for the broadcast. We are aware that communication is important and we receive both the news that are palatable and the ones that are not palatable. The ones that are palatable encourage us and the unpalatable news challenge us to do more.”
In his welcome address, Prophet Sam Olu-Alo expressed concern by increasing number of unemployed youths roaming the streets, even as vowed to ensure that a good number of unemployed Nigerian youths are brought into farming as he has resolved to engage in Oil Palm, Piggery, Rice, Cassava and Maize Farming.
The Cleric said he decided to embark on the 300 hectares multi-million naira agricultural project that would be cited in three communities in Ekiti State with a view to further making his own contribution towards reducing the upsurge of youth’s unemployment in Nigeria.
According to him, “Nigerian Youths are suffering, government at all levels has a role to play in this regard but they can’t solve all their problems and the individuals also have a role to play by gearing more concerted efforts at making them employable.”
He, however, gave an assurance that “everything God gives him in life” would be deployed towards uplifting the youths in the society and stressed that the Radio Station he established in his homestead was part of his determination to engage the youths meaningfully.
The Clergyman lamented that many rich Nigerians have failed the country due to what he described as their “selfish attitude” being allegedly displayed towards youths emancipation in the society adding that, had it been that they (the rich) had used their resources being kept elsewhere abroad to establish industries at home that Nigeria would have been better in term of employment by now.
End.
