General Manager Wave 91.7Fm Port Harcourt exclusive media interaction with Journalists + full text

Some stakeholders in the media have tasked the Federal and State governments to give more attention to journalists and media houses in the country by strengthening their operations with media-friendly policies.

The General Manager of Wave 91.7 FM REX IGIRI made this appeal while addressing journalists at our 30 Forces Avenue studios in Port Harcourt during an interaction on the dynamics of media practice in the coronavirus pandemic.

IGIRI expressed concern that government across-the-board appeared to have left out the media in their plans to ease suffering of the citizens in most sectors of the society.

IGIRI further explained why Wave FM Port Harcourt has remained one of the top stations on the Media Planning Services (MPS) rating and attributed it to rich programming and content delivery.

The Wave FM boss also called on newsmen and managers of media organizations to costructively criticize one another but cooperate with each other to achieve unity of purpose and give prestige to the profession.

Our correspondent reports that participants at the interaction were drawn from print and electronic media organizations in the South-South region.

1. Gentlemen of the press, I welcome you all on behalf of the management and staff of your everything on play station Wave 91.7 FM Port Harcourt.
2. Wave 91.7 FM Port Harcourt formerly Radio Port Harcourt started operations on the 1st of September 2011 with the aim of putting everything on play to educate, inform, entertain and create room for interactions here in Rivers State and beyond.
3. In October 2015, it became imperative to rebrand the station to Wave 91.7 FM and by the grace of God and dedication of our committed management and staff we have been able to consistently remain in the top 3 bracket on the MPS rating of radio stations this year.
4. We are poised to get to number 1 spot soonest as we evolve better ways of reaching out to our audience beyond regular programming.
5. Like you would have noticed, since December 2019 when the ravaging coronavirus pandemic was first noticed in Wuhan, China, we have deployed a good part of our schedule to air relevant information on the pandemic with the aim of keeping our audience abreast with the reality of the disease.
6. Unfortunately, the virus has had an adverse effect on operations of most, if not all, media houses in Nigeria. Similarly, print and electronic media houses in Rivers State had to cut down on their operational hours, while others had to lay off staff.
7. For example, even with Wave FM’s top three ranking in the MPS rating of radio channels in Rivers State and by extension the Niger Delta, blue chip commercials dried up as business activities were shut down because of the pandemic.
8. While the government at all levels had devoted time and resources to ease the pains of other sectors of the society, it appears the media has been left to fend for itself. To this end, I believe it will not be out of place for the government to give the media a package to soften the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
9. As a form of reciprocity, the media houses can repay this package through airing or publication of government jingle on COVID-19 advisory, like some of them have been doing on Pro Bono basis.
10. I make bold to say Wave FM was the first radio station in Rivers State to start running a regular advisory on the coronavirus protocols to curb the spread of COVID-19.
11. And later when Nigeria eventually had its index case, we stepped up our enlightenment on the issue and today we have dedicated shows for discussing COVID-19. In fact, we have a rule here that ensures daily updates from data we obtain from the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).
12. The role of the media in fighting public health crisis such as COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis etc cannot be over emphasized and we reassure you that we will continue to do even more.
13. We are equally committed to leverage on our wide reach to 5 States in and around the Niger Delta region to do even more not forgetting our online live streaming platform, wave917fm.caster.fm.
14. Just like it is said that “A tree can’t make a forest” we have been partnering with sister media Organizations and other corporate entities to ensure that we build resources across board; peer-review our activities; innovate; exchange ideas and strategies to better serve our audience who our esteemed customers.
15. We commit once again that we are ready for partnership with sister media organizations to ensure that we enhance our services to our people.
16. As a deliberate policy, we have been partnering with security agencies across different military and paramilitary formations such as the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Security and Civil D…

17. The essence of the Walk for Safety Campaign is to drum up support and assistance to security agencies in the state, raise security consciousness while keeping our audience fit.
18. We also organize a welcome concert for fresh National Youth Service Corps Members at the Permanent Orientation Camp, Nonwa-Gbam in Tai LGA to showcase the abundant opportunities inherent in the State and dedicate one of our shows (Corpers’ Lounge) to NYSC members to discuss issues affecting them in the state.
19. Also, we package an annual Children Day event on May 27th to celebrate our kids and give them awesome prizes which also feature exhibitions and talent hunt.
20. All these and many more are targeted at given back to a society that has accepted us, patronize us and is willing to continue to give us adequate support to serve them better and we dare say that we will not relent in doing even more.
21. As we discuss on sundry issues here today, I charge you to continue to observe all preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19 in our state and homes.
22. As we’re indebted to you for your valued presence. Once more thanks for coming, let’s rub minds as partners in progress.

Mr. Rex Igiri
GM, Wave 91.7 FM