THE Association of Nigerian Broadcasters (ANBROAD) on Sunday inaugurated members of its executive committee and unveiled its N500 million national secretariat project.
At the event held in Ibadan, Oyo State, the association presented awards to some media organisation proprietors and other prominent Nigerians for their service to the broadcast profession and the society at large.
The president of the association and founder of TNM Media Academy, AbdurRasaq AbdulGaneey, in his address, urged media practitioners and the government to broaden the honour of professional broadcasting and media practice in the country.
AbdulGaneey expressed ANBROAD’s commitment to the development of the Nigerian media industry, saying the association will lobby the government to ensure that the interests of its members are protected, their rights upheld, and their contributions celebrated.
He revealed that the association now has a unique professional number (UPN) system to control poaching in the broadcast space.
AbdulGaneey, emphasising that media practitioners owe the public a duty of professional reportage on government policies and activities, said, Let us embrace the power of ANBROAD. Let us march forward together with the conviction that our collective efforts will yield a brighter future for all.
On the associations proposed N500 million national secretariat building, the ANBROAD president said, This task is enormous. We cannot do it alone, but with your unwavering support, we can move mountains. With your support, we can touch the sky.
Earlier, the chairman of the planning committee and National Vice President I of the association, Akinyemi Olatoye, said ANBROAD aims to provide one umbrella for beginner and veteran broadcasters and content providers to coexist and share ideas in professional ways.
Olatoye spoke about the inauguration of the associations new national executive council, board of trustees, council of elders, and patrons. He also spoke about the prototype of the associations proposed national secretariat building.
The chairman of ANBROAD’s Board of Trustees, Sulaiman Adegbenro, revealed that members of the association had existed for more than 20 years under the name Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN).
Adegbenro said that under the old name, they were losing members due to individual breakthroughs and professional accomplishments.
So, we floated a new association (ANBROAD) with a new name that will enable more media practitioners of diverse creative sectors to join the new movement, he said.
Some of the 24 prominent Nigerians honoured with awards of excellence for their service to the broadcast industry and society were Prince Babatunde Balogun, chairman of Prince FM Ibadan; Oriyomi Hamzat, chairman of Agidigbo FM Ibadan; Dr Yinka Ayefele, chairman of Fresh FM Ibadan; and the late Dr L.O. Salami, former Accountant General of Oyo State (posthumous).
Prominent politicians such as Senator Sharafadeen Alli (Oyo South) snd Senator Yunus Akintunde (Oyo Central), who were represented, attended the event alongside other dignitaries that included media professionals.
They commended the work ANBROAD is doing in the broadcasting and media space and charged the association to always discharge its duties with diligence and professionalism.
They also made donations towards the building of the associations proposed national secretariat.
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