PRNigeria Fellows Tour Emirate FM, Gain Practical Insights into Digital Broadcasting
Participants in the ongoing PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship (YCF) have undertaken an institutional tour of Emirate FM 98.5 in Ilorin, Kwara State, gaining first-hand exposure to the technology, production processes and operational dynamics of contemporary radio broadcasting.
The visit, part of the fellowship’s practical learning programme, took the fellows beyond classroom instruction to observe how a modern radio station integrates traditional broadcasting with emerging digital platforms to expand audience reach.
The Chief Executive Officer of Emirate FM, Dr. Abdulazeez Arowona, led the participants through the station’s key facilities and explained the technical and editorial processes behind its daily operations.
At the transmitter room, Arowona introduced the fellows to the station’s 3.5-kilowatt transmitter, which he said was specially manufactured and configured in Milan, Italy.
“This transmitter was specially manufactured and configured for us in Milan, Italy, and our frequency could reach states like Oyo, Osun and Niger,” he said.
He explained, however, that the station’s signal coverage towards Ibadan was constrained by another station, Oluyole FM, operating on the same frequency in the city.
The fellows were also taken through the production studio, where jingles, recorded programmes and other broadcast materials are produced, edited and mixed before transmission.
Arowona explained that the facility doubles as a backup for the live studio, enabling the station to maintain broadcasting operations when necessary.
Speaking on the transformation of radio broadcasting, he said digital technology had significantly expanded the reach and possibilities of the medium, allowing stations to serve audiences beyond the geographical limitations of terrestrial transmission.
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According to him, Emirate FM has integrated social media and online streaming into its operations, making its programmes accessible through digital platforms, including YouTube and Facebook.
Arowona said the station had reached more than 100,000 people on Facebook within its first nine months of operation.
He also identified livestreaming as an important component of the station’s digital strategy, saying Emirate FM broadcasts its programmes live online alongside its conventional radio transmission.
“We are the only radio station in Kwara State that does full livestream of all programmes. No other radio station does that,” he said.
The media proprietor also spoke about the economics of radio broadcasting, highlighting the high cost of maintaining equipment and sustaining daily operations amid comparatively limited revenue.
Despite the challenges, Arowona described the station’s workforce as one of its major strengths, stressing that he regarded members of staff as colleagues whose contributions were critical to the growth and daily operations of the organisation.
The Emirate FM tour, led by the CEO of Image Merchants Promotion Limited, Mr. Yushau A. Shuaib followed an earlier visit by the fellows to the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, as part of the fellowship’s institutional engagements.
During the palace visit, the Emir commended the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship for investing in the training and mentorship of young communicators, describing the initiative as timely in grooming a new generation of professionals and leaders capable of promoting peace, stability and national cohesion.
The institutional tours form part of the annual PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship being conducted through PRNigeria Centres in Abuja, Kano and Ilorin.
The two-week programme combines classroom instruction, mentorship and institutional visits to expose participants to practical aspects of journalism, public relations, crisis communication, strategic communication and digital media.
Through the institutional visits, fellows interact directly with media professionals, public institutions and community leaders while observing how communication theories and professional practices are applied in real-world settings.
The Emirate FM visit provided participants with practical exposure to radio production, transmission technology, newsroom operations and the growing convergence between conventional broadcasting and digital communication.
