THE JOURNEY OF UNILAG RADIO 103.1FM

Journey of campus broadcasting in Nigeria dates back 1982, when 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.

According to the informant; the Head of News, Mr. Tayo Takuro, the University of Lagos 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.

In pursuance of its mission and vision as the center of media excellence in Africa, in the year 2002, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) granted a Radio License to the University to operate an FM station – Radio Unilag 103.1FM. The Broadcast students of the Department received their practical work at the Radio Unilag 103.1FM. The Department plans to go back to its original status of a School/Faculty of Journalism/Mass Communication within the next few years.

OBJECTIVE

The Objective of Unilag Radio is three (3) and is stated below:-

1.       To optimize instructional opportunities available to Nigerians in other to facilitate sustainable human development in Nigeria.

2.       To serve as an authoritative channel of instructional and educational programmes for tertiary level students and other adults seeking knowledge in other to improve themselves.

3.       To provide opportunities for schools to engage in appropriate research that can advance the knowledge and practice of Radio Broadcasting and communication.

Most workers with Unilag Radio are experienced hands who ensure that quality programmes 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. They run the station from Monday to Sunday; every day of the week from 6:00am-12mid-night.

LANGUAGE

The general language that is used in this station is purely English except on a programme 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.

PROGRAAMES

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

They also have interesting programmes they run that starts with the Morning train, Midday and Night train. In all these trains; there are interesting programmes well packaged for the listeners. Some of these interesting programmes 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 programmed 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 programmes and activities of what is going on around the campus, get them informed about all the announcements from the school management. The programme starts at 10:05am and ends at 11am.

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

Youth City is another interesting programme 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 programme is politics and religion. Tewle Akinmayowa is the presenter of this programme; it starts at 6:30pm and ends at 7:00pm.

DOCUMENTARY

The station also do documentary once in a while on some people, places and things. A documentary about the Late Vice Chancellor produced and transmitted in this station.

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.