Unilag FM 103.1FM

 

The start of campus broadcasting in Nigeria goes far back to 1982. Professor Ralph A. Akinfeleye called for the establishment of an educational radio station for the University of Lagos. The then Head of Department of Mass communication, University of Lagos, late Professor Alfred Opubor took up the challenges and wrote to the Federal Ministry of Information and Communication for a Radio license.

The Head of News, Mr. Tayo Takuro, the University of Lagos informed that they did not get a Radio License until the eventual Media Deregulation Policy of 1992. The License he said was eventually granted in February 2002, twenty years after the University Applied for one. The frequency of 103.1FM was assigned to the University in July 2003 and the station was officially commissioned on the 14^th of December, 2004 by former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Unilag Radio station is located on the 7^th floor of the Senate building within the University of Lagos to service the University community and its environs by disseminating information and also entertaining its listeners. It is the First Campus station to receive a license and the first one to go on air in year 2004. It was said to be a campus radio but with the help of the air wave in which  the school was surrounded by water helped made use of the 100 watts transmitter to connect to the community. These efforts of establishing and receiving a license for a radio station at the University of Lagos; has set a stage for other Campus stations to receive their licenses too.

However, about 27 Institutions of higher learning in Nigeria have received licenses for campus radios and National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), the body that regulates the broadcast industry in Nigeria, stipulates that among other things, campus stations should be the broadcast laboratory for students of Mass Communication. To that note; they must remain professional and educational, and adhere strictly to the objective for which they are licensed.

Few people know that Unilag FM is a community radio. A community radio is a Radio service in a particular community to serve and protect its interest as it relate to media. A community station broadcast content that is popular and relevant to the community. The community owns, operates and influences the activities of the station.

They have in total 20 staffs in which 3 operates in the news unit, 3 in the program unit, 3 studio managers, 2 technical officers, 1 librarian, also included are 1 live studio and 1 production room. They have the head of news and 2nd in command to the coordinator- Mr. Tayo Takuro, the General Manager- Mrs. King Paul and the Production Manager of the station; who is also the producer of the program ‘Nigerian Proverbs’- Mr. Thomas Egwni. Others are students of Mass Communication of the campus and industrial trainees.

Mrs Bisi King-Paul (Acting Co-ordinator Unilag FM)

Mr Tayo Takuro (Head of News Unilag FM)

Most workers with Unilag Radio are experienced hands who ensure that quality programs are broadcast on the station. They also train students of the University and other tertiary institutions who come to the station for industrial attachment. Their ultimate interest of the station is to impact practical knowledge on the students they work with.

Unilag FM runs programs like other commercial radio stations. Their programs include news, sports, education, weather, finance and entertainment. The station runs from 5:10am - 12:00midnight on Sundays to Thursdays and 5:10am - 2:00am on Fridays and Saturdays. However, to generate revenue to service the running cost of the station, commercials - jingles, hypes; public service announcements and program sponsorship at different transmission time belt is open to individuals and organizations that wish to reach the individuals within the community. These commercials are controlled because being a community radio station, adverts from alcoholic drinks and cigarettes are prohibited. The station transmits World and Community news and anything that is news worthy. The station source for news anywhere in the world as long as it is of the interest of the community- University of Lagos.

The general language that is used in this station is purely English except on a program called Nigerian Proverbs which transmits every Tuesday from 11:15am; where Vernacular of different tribe is used in each episode with a Guest in the house who later translates it to English Language.

The radio station also receives funding from the University and assistance from donor agencies like UNESCO, UNDP, UNICEF and the World Bank. There is a World Bank step B project that helps fund the station going on now in the area of equipment.

DIFFERENT PROGRAMS

UNILAG 103.1 F.M works with a program schedule which is produced quarterly. It guides the production and proper management and running of the radio station.

They also have interesting programs they run that starts with the Morning train, Midday and Night train. During each trains there are interesting programs well packaged for their listeners. Some of these interesting programs are:-

Today in papers- This is where they review the major stories of the Newspapers every day of the week. It starts from 8am-8:15am.

Another one is Window on the world. It is where the listeners are informed about the current happenings all over the world. It starts from 9:30am and ends at 10am.

Community Brief  is another interesting program on this station where the news about the happenings of the campus are discussed, the students who are the possible target audience are briefed on the programs and activities of what is going on around the campus, get them informed about all the announcements from the school management. The program starts at 10:05am and ends at 11am.

Infotainment is another interesting program on information about entertainment world; updates on celebrities like the musicians, actors and designers it starts at 12:10pm and ends at 2:00pm.

Youth City is another interesting program with the youths as target audience. Here they talk about entertainment, life style, relationship, academics and many more. The only issue that is not discussed in this program is politics and religion. Tewle Akinmayowa is the presenter of this program; it starts at 6:30pm and ends at 7:00pm.

The station play different kinds of music; Classical Music, Rock Music, Blues, Jazz, Electronic, Folk, Country, R&B, Hip Hop, Ska & Reggae, Latino Music, World, New Age and many more. The station also does documentary once in a while on some people, places and things. A documentary about the Late Vice Chancellor produced and transmitted in this station.

Objectives of Unilag FM

1. Advancement in Knowledge and practice of Mass Communication in Higher Institutions of Learning in Nigeria.
2. To optimize instructional opportunities available to Nigerians in other to facilitate sustainable human development in Nigeria
3. To serve as an authoritative channel of instructional and educational program for tertiary level students and other adults seeking knowledge in other to improve themselves.
4. To provide opportunities for schools to engage in appropriate research that can advance the knowledge and practice of Radio Broadcasting and communication

It was an interesting and trilling visit to UNILAG 103.1 F.M. The station is doing really well with all their facilities in good working state and dedicated staff that are making every effort to meet the objectives for which the station was established. 

To this end, Unilag 103.1 FM is conscious of her responsibility towards her community which is, first her audience on campus and secondly the audience all over Lagos. There are other community radio stations in others universities across the country.