The Midas Touch of Governor Adeleke On OSBC, By Oluwaseyi Adeniyi

“This is our Pride. The neglect of this agency by the past government is condemnable and reprehensible.”

“I see urgent needs for new broadcasting equipment, action is ongoing on that line.”

“For the 66 freelancers waiting to be absorbed, your day of joy is near. This visit is an eye opener; I understand the urgency. Be assured of accelerated actions.”

These were part of his words when Governor Ademola Adeleke visited the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) last year. He registered his displeasure over the deplorable condition of the Corporation’s equipment and facilities, and he promised to resuscitate the stations.

Recall that the Government of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola that took over from Chief Akande, upgraded OSBC to a conglomerate with OSBC Radio Orisun 89.5 FM basically transmitting only in Yoruba language while the Television in Ibokun channel 22 UHF became New Dawn TV for Education and Agriculture.

The Radio and Television in Osogbo, the headquarters became Living-Spring FM 104.5 FM and Channel 32 UHF Television in Osogbo.

The government of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola also in 2006 started work on resuscitating the long abandoned Iwo Broadcasting Village which later gave birth to Reality RadioVision Iwo in January 2008. Before then the administration had changed the headship of the broadcast outfit from that of General Manager to Director General to make it commensurate with the organization’s conglomerate status.

On the 29th of May 2023, Osun State Governor, Asiwaju Ademola Adeleke approved the status of the Director General to a Permanent Secretary. This is unprecedented in the history of the Corporation.

This is a Corporation that was abandoned by the previous administrations in the state, thereby reducing a one time “Voice Of The West” to just a community media outfit. This and many other reasons spurred Governor Adeleke to revamping the Corporation.

Shortly after his working visit to lle Awiye Headquarters last year, His Excellency directed his Special Adviser on OSBC Matters, Dr. Femi Adefila to begin process on how to get digital transmitters for the stations, OSBC Ile-Awiye, Orisun FM and RealityRadioVision, Iwo. When the news broke out, some members of the opposition in the state said it is impossible, perhaps because this has been their song for many years “It’s impossible”.

On 22nd May, 2024, the new digital equipment and transmitters were commissioned by Governor Ademola Adeleke in the presence of people who gathered in their number to witness the event.

While delivering his goodwill message, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, former OSBC Board Chairman and a doyen of Media Management in Nigeria, took Governor Adeleke down the memory lane on how his elder brother, the first Executive Governor of Osun State, Late Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke set up a committee which was chaired by Dr. Yemi Farounbi, to give his government a roadmap on how to properly set up the media house. The same legacy Governor Ademola Adeleke is following today as he is rejuvenating the Corporation back to life.

The new six (6) transmitters and studio digital equipment cost the state government over N1.2bn, but because of the love the Governor has towards the media, he frontally approved it. OSBC Ile-Awiye studio is now digitalised; Orisun Fm in Ile-Ife is now digitalised; Reality RadioVision in Iwo is now digitalised.

To climax the love he has towards people, the Asiwaju of Ede land put an end to the agony of the 66 freelancers in the corporation who have been on the queue waiting to be permanent for over 15 years. The moment Mr Governor announced the approval of these set of individuals, the venue was thrown into a wild jubilation and tears dropped from my eyes, because they are my colleagues. I was once a freelance staff, years back.

This approval alone has made people of the state to be convinced that truly the previous government of Gboyega Oyetola lacked human face, if not, what stopped him from converting these people into full-fledged staff of the Corporation while he held sawy sway as the Governor of the state for four years?

To the glory of God and with the support of the people’s Governor, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) is back to life and now on a new transmitters with digital studios.

Kudos to Omo Balogun.

Oluwaseyi Adeniyi is the Special Assistant to the Governor on Broadcast Media