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Toun Okewale Sonaiya: Meet the Lady That Runs Nigeria’s First Female-Oriented Radio Station
Credit: LinkedIn
Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, a renowned broadcaster, is the co-founder and CEO of Women Radio WFM, a gender sensitive and specialized radio station.
WFM 91.7MHz, based in Arepo, Ogun State, close to Lagos, was licensed by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to broadcast programs for women and their families.
The station is Sub-Saharan Africa’s first female-oriented radio station. It focuses on sports, business, politics, governance, economy, health, family, relationship issues, and youth from a female perspective.
Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, the station’s CEO, is a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience. She has previously worked for Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC), African Independent Television (AIT), and Choice FM (United Kingdom). The Ogun State University English graduate is a United Nations advocate on women’s issues as well as a philanthropist.
Okewale-Sonaiya serves on the boards of directors and trustees of several companies. Ives Medicare, St. Ives Communications, Maami, and the Voice of Women Foundation are among them.
She is the Vice Chair of the Nigeria Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) media and publicity committee, a member of the NERC committee, a member of NAWORG, and a member and secretary of “Issues of the Heart,” a UK group that empowers women through training, development, counselling, and mentoring. She is also a founding member of the Nigerian Women in Diaspora Leadership Forum and a member of the CEWHIN Board of Directors.
L-R: Co-founders, WFM: Toun Okewale Sonaiya (CEO, WFM), Dr. Babatunde Okewale (Executive Chairman, WFM) Credit: Google
Toun Okewale-Sonaiya co-founded WFM together with renowned medical practitioner, Dr. Babatunde Okewale, in 2015. The organization is operated by Ive’s communication.
The station was launched on December 18, 2015, with Aisha Buhari, Folorunsho Alakija, Dele Momodu, and other dignitaries in attendance.
Sonaiya revealed in an interview that the decision to launch a specialized radio station was made in 2010. According to her, she and two of her directors decided to put their vision for a female-centric radio station, something unique to complement existing radio stations, into action.
Credit: Google
“If you are a woman, mother, sister, or a girl, WFM is the best station for you to listen to learn a lot and also to share your opinion about women issues,” the Ogun state-born broadcaster said of WFM.
The station’s test transmission began on October 29, 2015. In the same vein, the station’s first program was broadcast to Nigerians on November 16, 2015.
The station’s first on-air personalities (OAP) are Abisola Grace Aiyeola, Funmi Jinadu, and Bolatito Bez Idakula.