Ekiti Broadcasting Service at 20

On February 14, 2017, the Broadcasting service of Ekiti State marked 20 years of journalism practice. The outfit was established on February 14, 1997, to complement the creation of Ekiti State which had earlier come to fore on October 1, 1996.

As a public broadcasting corporation, the BSES was supposed to be a sole megaphone and propaganda machinery of the state government. But with adherence to strict journalism practice, the station has been a veritable weapon for all shades of opinion, including members of any opposition party in the state. This had helped in shoring up the credibility and sobriety of the station and made it a darling of all strata of the Ekiti populace and beyond.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the BSES has become a credible voice in the South-West, but the station cannot be said to be immune from some of the challenges expected in a developing nation as manifested in Nigeria’s economy, political, and social spheres. However, as daunting as the challenges of procurement of modern equipment, training and retraining of staff, good allowances for staff and others have been, the Ekiti state government, particularly the government of Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has not done badly in giving the station a facelift, so that it can be a force to be reckoned with in the country’s broadcasting circle.

Governor Fayose, not oblivious of the enormous roles that news dissemination at the grass roots plays in governance, invested heavily in the station in 2005 during his first coming. Besides, he allowed for a full-fledged independence of the station, with the opposition also having their voices heard to enhance true journalism practice in the station. This was made possible by the lofty contributions of some former heads of the station like Mr. Erinle, Chief. Deji Ayelabowo, Laniyan Jegede, Chief. Kunle Olasope and the present Director General, Mr. Lere Olayinka.

Taking cognizance of its impressive and innovative actions, in February 2017, the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the regulatory agency for all broadcasting services in Nigeria, branded the BSES as a through-bred professional broadcasting service in Nigeria, with special accolades to his DG, Mr. Lere Olayinka, for moving away from the era of parochialism, where only news that had to do with state government were being broadcast on the station.

Under the present administration, the BSES has appreciably raised  the bar of intellectualism in the broadcasting station. The public confidence in BSES, in terms of objective and credible reportage have been fortified. Without mincing words, the station has also done creditably well in research, culture promotion, commercial broadcasting, youth and education programmes, strengthening of ethnic bonds among Nigerians, business promotion and other pivotal  sectors that can contribute to economic development.

Dalimore Aluko

Ikere-Ekiti,

Ekiti State.