The first health radio station in Nigeria has been inaugurated in Lagos.
The station focusing purely on health-related issues and wellness is located in Omole Estate Phase 2 in Ikeja, transmitting on WASH 94.9 FM.
Inaugurating the station at a brief ceremony recently, the zonal director of National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Mr. Ralph Akpan, expressed happiness for the birth of the specialised radio station, acknowledging it as the first of its kind in the country.
According to him, establishment of WASH Radio station is a great initiative as it’s for the right course and at the right time.
“The station, he stressed, “is for everyone notwithstanding age, sex, ethnic, religion and social class.”
Akpan declared that since health is wealth, the contribution that the radio station will make on peoples’ health and wellness and the economy at large will be priceless.
He commended the founder, Prof Ronke Ogunmakin, particularly for her passion and resilience towards broadcast media on health-related issues which she has traversed over three decades.
He said NBC is proud of the initiative and would be glad to approve the use of any indigenous language to ensure all Nigerians are reached wherever they may be across the country.
He pointed out a specialised radio station such as WASH FM is only needed to ensure its contents cover up to at least 70 per cent of its focus subject.
Also speaking, the chairman of the occasion, Pastor Toba Akinboladun, also praised the founder and her team, noting that health and wellness is everyone business.
According to him, every sane person would want not only to be alive but also to be healthy and therefore will find WASH Radio as the right station to get right information and education to stay alive and be healthy.
Earlier, in her opening remarks, the founder and chairman of the board of trustees, Mrs. Ronke Ogunmakin, who is a Professor of Mass Communication, appreciated God and people who have supported the vision of more than 25 years to become a reality.
She explained that the station was borne out of her passion for community service to redefine health communication in Nigeria by offering a comprehensive array of contents designed to foster holistic well-being of Nigerians.
According to her, Wash FM is poised to bridge the knowledge gap for both local and global audiences, ensuring that health education and knowledge is accessible to all Nigerians and not a privileged few.
The don emphasised that the station is more than just a broadcasting outlet but represents a commitment to transforming health communication across diverse health issues and wellness in the country.
“So, the station is out to empower listeners with accurate, relevant information that address gaps in healthcare awareness in line with the global standards,” she stressed.
Mrs. Ogunmakin pointed out that achieving all the 17 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is largely rest on quality health and wellbeing of people, stressing that the radio station is aimed at promoting a healthier, and more informed society.
Therefore, the station’s vision extends beyond traditional health reporting, as it will also venture into areas like environmental health, the adoption of innovative health technologies, and advocacy for progressive health policies to influence positive behavioral changes and elevate the discourse around public health.
Mrs. Ogunmakin stated that even though, the air coverage of the station for now is Lagos and its environs, it will extend to other parts of the country and beyond soonest.
and then