History as NBC approves Nigeria's first women radio station

It has been in the rumour mills for some time, but we can authoritatively confirm that history is in the making as the first radio station for women and the family is set to hit the airwaves.

According to sources, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) recently issued broadcasting licence to St. Ives Communications as operator of a specialised radio station for women. By the time the radio station is launched and comes on air very soon, it will be the first of its kind in this part of the world.

According to findings, the initiative is the brainchild of Dr. Tunde Okewale, the Chief Medical Director at St. Ives Specialist Hospital, Lagos and veteran broadcast journalist, Toun Okewale Sonaiya, a Director of St. Ives Communications, owners of the radio station.

Dr. Wale, as he is fondly called, is said to have been inspired to conceive the idea of a radio station for women having worked and related closely with female clients in his career. This has made him to understand the plight of Nigerian women and their struggle to be heard. “He felt a need to fill an obvious gap in the Nigerian broadcast industry,” our source said.

Toun Okewale Sonaiya

He added that the brains behind the gender-sensitive radio station believe that the initiative will improve the lot of the Nigerian woman by the time the station comes on board.


As the radio station prepares to commence operations, it will provide a platform to engage on issues of local, national and international importance for Nigerian women. Its programming will be targeted towards the advancement and social wealth of Nigerian women and their families. Our source revealed that the radio station will provide the womenfolk access to a truly quality, informative and entertaining programming that will cut across business, politics, sports, news and entertainment from the woman’s perspective.

Our source also revealed that the radio station will not only focus on women, but will also cater for the interests of the male gender and the entire family, while highlighting issues that are very important to women.

As the radio station prepare to hit the airwaves with its test transmission, our source revealed that the station will hit the airwaves, broadcasting to Nigerian homes on 91.7 frequency modulation (FM) channel.