A new private radio station, Glow 99.1FM, has commenced operation in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The station is located at Ijapo Estate, Akure.

Unveiling the Radio Station to the public on Wednesday, the Chairman of the station, Dr Ezekiel Akande, said the station was established to provide excellent and professional broadcasting in terms of information, education and entertainment.

 Akande also expressed the readiness of the management to always employ professionals to dish out interesting programmes as the station hits  the airwaves.

He particularly appreciated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, for his assistance during the challenges faced to get the Radio Station licensed.

“I had the fortune of meeting many people who made this project possible, some of whom are President Buhari as well as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja the second and I am greatly indebted to both of them.

“When it was getting more difficult to get the license, it was the Ooni of Ife that came to my rescue and that singular effort of the first class king made my dream come true.

“The reasons for this radio station is to give voice to disenfranchised people of Ondo state, especially people from where I hailed from and to create for them a seat at the table where their welfare is being discussed, and by extension the disenfranchised young people of Nigeria who make over 70 percent of Nigeria’s population and have never been empowered.

“I was inspired by God while in the US (this may sound cliche), to come home to Nigeria to establish this radio station and a first class hospital which should begin after this project is accomplished by the grace of God,”he said.

Eminent personalities at the event were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II represented by Oba Adekunle Adebowale, Agbolu of Agbaje Ife; Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo, Founder of Prayer Center Church of God, Prophet  Samson Oluwamodede; Chief Imam of Akure, Sheikh AbdulHakeem Akorede; Head of Mass Communication Department, AAUA, Dr Gbenga Abimbola, among other dignitaries

The guest speaker, Dr Gbenga Abimbola, an associate professor and Head of Mass Communication Department, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, stressed the need for the station to employ competent and experienced hands if it wanted to thrive

 Abimbola also urged the management of the station to allow the staff discharge their duties professionally without unnecessary interference and censorship.

“The state has the potential to be great as long as it is given a free hand to operate as an independent body,” he stressed.

The station is headed by ace Broadcaster and former Director of Programmes, Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC), Alhaji Ismail Akinkunmi Ishaq.

As the festivities came to a close, the future looks bright for Glow 99.1 FM. With a stellar lineup of guests and a dedicated team, the radio station is, no doubt, poised to become a beacon of light in the city’s media landscape.