DG FRCN, Dr. Mansur Liman and Adeniyi Bakare after receiving the BON award as Reporter of the Year under the Radio Category.
The Maiden Edition of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON, Media Merit Awards has been held in Lagos, amidst glamour, colour and attractions, as the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, once again made an impressive outing with several awards and nominations.
While the Corporation bagged the Special Recognition Award for its outstanding contributions to the development of the Broadcast industry in the country, one of its correspondents on the Network service, Adeniyi Bakare emerged as Reporter of the Year under the Radio Category.
For FRCN, where it all started, the occasion was another opportunity of harvest as the corporation went home with several awards, honours and recognitions.
Impressed with the outcome, the Director-General of FRCN, Dr. Mansur Liman congratulated all those who made the corporation proud, just as he challenged other members of staff to put in their best in order to maintain the high standards which Radio Nigeria was known for.
“This award ceremony is very important and encouraging. It is one of the promises made by the current leadership of the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria to motivate people who are working hard in the industry”, he said.
“I am very much delighted that the industry has recognized the contribution of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria to Radio development in Nigeria. This is natural because if you look at most of the radio stations in this country, there is hardly any radio station without someone who was trained by the standard of Radio Nigeria either directly or indirectly. This is an award that I think we deserve”.
On his part, the Secretary Legal, FRCN, Dr. Andah David Angbazo, who also congratulated the award recipients , noted that the awards and recognitions did not come as a surprise, as Radio Nigeria remained the flagship of broadcasting in the country.
“Radio Nigeria has a standard of unbiased news reportage, as Nigerians wait for the 7am o’clock news daily because they have come to recognise Radio Nigeria as an authentic source of News”.
The Director National Broadcast Academy, NBA, Mr. Ike Okere commended BON for finally instituting the award but urged younger broadcasters to continuously train themselves for excellence in the industry.
“I won’t be surprised because Radio Nigeria is still a leader in this field”.
“It’s still one of the very few organisations that train and retrain their staff and has a platform for professionals to ply their trade”.
“The Corporation occupies a significant percentage of the broadcast market in Nigeria. we own at least one station and in some states multiple stations. And in total about 40 stations. So we actually do have a huge platform professionals can really showcase their professionalism.”
Also reacting, the Director FRCN, Lagos Operations, Mrs. Bolanle Owoyemi, expressed joy that the Corporation gave a good account of itself with several awards and nominations.
Mrs. Owoyemi pledged the commitment of management to staff training in order to preserve the tradition of broadcast excellence in the country.
“It is a good one for BON . It is a good starting point”.
“The event is well organized. What I have to say to FRCN members of staff is for them to be at their best”.
FRCN award recipient, Adeniyi Bakare who emerged as Reporter of the Year, Radio category said he was overjoyed to be so recognized and thanked his employer for giving him the platform to excel.
“It will spur me to do more and I think it is a reward for hard work, as well as a great feat for Radio Nigeria”.
The BON Chairman, Mr. John Ugbe described the occasion as an opportunity to showcase the great talents in the nation’s broadcast industry.
The colorful event was attended by dignitaries, including the representative of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and some other Directors of the FRCN
High point of the event was the Post Humous Award to a former Director General of FRCN, Modibo Dahiru, for his outstanding role in the broadcast industry in the country. .