Sola POPOOLA
It was encomiums galore for the foremost private Radio ,Newcruse 92.7 FM Ikere in Ekiti as the management rolled out drums to celebrate 3rd anniversary of versatility and professional broadcasting to its teeming listeners .
Top government functionaries, media executives, traditional ruler as well as friends and well wishers of the station joined the management led by Joshua Adegbite to mark the historic occasion. The eminent Personalities felicitated with the Founder, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, CFR.
In his opening remark, the Head of Station, New Cruse FM, Joshua Adegbite, thanked chief Olanipekun for his continued effort at ensuring that the station remains one of the best in terms of good content and quality service delivery.
Adegbite disclosed that Chief Olanipekun’s desire to develop the community and create employment opportunities informed the setting up of the station.
He added that the legal icon had donated a number of edifices to the community in addition to his annual Empowerment and scholarship scheme where hundreds of Ekiti people have benefitted.
In her remarks the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye lauded New Cruse FM for what she described as excellent broadcasting in the last 3 years, charging it to continue to do more.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Deputy Governor, Bayo Opeyemi, Afuye said the station remains the first port of call for radio listeners in Ekiti and environs.
In marking the 3rd anniversary on April 14, 2023, the Station known as the Intellectual Hub of the Media Industry, organized Public Lectures targeted at deepening discourse around topical socio-political issues.
Delivering the first lecture titled; “2023 election; Nexus between the political class, judiciary and the citizens in Nigeria’s developing democracy”, the guest speaker who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association Ikere Branch, Dr. Michael Afolayan, pointed out that the major challenge facing Nigeria is lack of good governance.
Dr Afolayan explained that effectiveness of the chapter two of the constitution of Nigeria would go a long way in addressing the worries of majority of Nigerians who have for ages been denied good governance.
ThevVice Chancellor, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Professor Abayomi Fasina, who delivered a lecture titled; “Upholding agribusiness as panacea to Nigeria’s economic woes”, advocated creation of enabling environment for agriculture to thrive.
Represented by the Director, Institute for Food Security and Commercial Agriculture, FUOYE, Professor Bamidele Fakayode, Professor Fasina noted that for Nigeria to make headway in its fight against economy downturn, poverty and decline of its foreign reserve, it must allocate a bunch of its resources to the growth of farming.
The traditional ruler of the host community, Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, His Royal Majesty Oba Adejimi Adu-Alagbado, said the topics of the lectures were apt in view of the current dwindling economy and political challenges of the nation, describing New Cruse FM as a pacesetter of broadcasting in Ekiti State.
The monarch also hailed founder of New Cruse FM, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, CFR, for conceptualizing the idea of the media outfit and opening Ikere to the world the more.
A day earlier, New Cruse FM commenced the anniversary celebrations with a novelty match it played against sister station, Voice FM, Ado Ekiti, with 1-1 score line.
The celebration continued with a ‘fans appreciation event’, which provided the audience an opportunity to rejoice with the staff and also went hom with lots of gifts ranging from DSTV, GOTV, MP3 player, cash gifts, airtime among others.
On the last day of the celebration, April 16, a praise concert was held to show gratitude to God for the successes of the station in the last 3 years.
The praise concert featured; Cruse Voices, Akoko Lori Gan, Ola Praise, Tolu Sax, Golden Voice, and Simple Praise among others.