Nigeria’s first radio station to focus on issues surrounding women only, WFM 91.7, has started its test transmission, a statement by the firm’s management has said. The niche radio station came into being after the National Broadcasting Commission issued licence to owners of the station, St. Ives Communications, to operate a specialised radio station focused on women and family in Ogun and Lagos states.
The brains behind the gender-sensitive station, who is also the Chief Medical Director of St. Ives Specialist Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Tunde Okewale; and the Managing Director of WFM 91.7, a veteran broadcast journalist, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, said the women-focused radio station was poised to deliver on its objectives as helping women be the best in the society.
An American radio technology expert, Dean Gay, has described the niche radio station as one of the best in the world in terms of the broadcast equipment installed at the station. He said:
“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.
“It is the very latest in broadcast technology today. From the microphone to transmitters, to consoles, servers, 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.”
The statement added that the station would start full transmission in December 2015.