By Adamu Yusuf
The Kanwan Katsina and District Head of Ketare, Alhaji Usman Bello Kankara has congratulated the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) on its 75th anniversary, describing the milestone as a testament to resilience and excellence in public broadcasting.
This was contained in a statement signed by his Media Aide and Sarkin Labarun Kanwan Katsina, Jamilu Hashimu Gora, and made available to journalists in Katsina.
According to the statement, the traditional ruler granted an exclusive interview to FRCN, during which he reflected on his early career with the corporation in Kaduna.
Kankara, who worked with FRCN Kaduna in 1976 as a newsroom roving correspondent shortly after completing his secondary education, later proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He recalled working under his then News Manager, Abdulaziz Oladimeji, noting that the experience provided a strong foundation for his future career, particularly during his service as a Public Relations Officer in the Nigeria Customs Service.
In his goodwill message, the monarch commended the management and staff of FRCN for their longstanding commitment to informing, educating, and entertaining the public, stressing that the station has remained a vital source of information for millions of Nigerians.
He also reflected on the analogue era of broadcasting, highlighting the challenges of news gathering and transmission at the time, and contrasted them with the efficiency of modern digital broadcasting.
Kankara further applauded the establishment of FRCN’s New Media Directorate, noting that it would enhance public access to government policies and programmes.
However, he expressed concern over persistent power challenges affecting FRCN Kaduna, which sometimes result in prolonged outages.
He advised the management to explore solar energy solutions to ensure uninterrupted transmission, describing the situation as unfortunate for such a critical national station.
The monarch emphasized that a large population in Northern Nigeria relies on FRCN for news and information, urging sustained efforts to improve service delivery.
He also called on the Director of New Media, Henritta Ibrahim, to ensure the regular upload of key programmes and news content on social media platforms to broaden audience reach.
Kankara reaffirmed his confidence in FRCN’s ability to continue evolving in line with global best practices while maintaining its legacy as a trusted voice in Nigeria’s media landscape.
