In a brief chat with our Publisher, Mr. Clement Ige, BON Executive Secretary, Dr. Oluyemisi Bamgbose, shares the secret behind the success of the awards…
Question: The BON maiden awards was a huge success. What are the lessons from the event to be used as platforms of improvement?
Answer: The Nigeria Broadcasting Awards was conceived with the primary objective of promoting excellence among serving Broadcasters.
It has been on the drawing board for many years. Mr John Ugbe, the current Chairman of BON and Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, brought it up during his electoral campaign at the 74th General Assembly of BON held in Kano in 2021.
We saw the desired outcomes of the Awards where over five thousand entries were received and eventual winners in 18 categories emerged at the awards ceremony held at Eko Hotels and Suites on Wednesday 17th May, 2023.
There were challenges of submission of entries initially and our Consultant swiftly responded to it. We equally observed issues with public having difficulties in voting but all these were promptly and positively attended to.
Of course since it was our maiden edition, all noticeable and identified challenges will serve as guides in the subsequent editions.
Question: Critics think influential member stations of the BON Board got a good chunk of the awards. Any reason for such feelings?
Answer: Incidentally we didn’t get any accusations of any big stations buying the process. The only discordant tune was from someone in a station in the North who was shortlisted for local language production.
He was not happy that the winner was another sister station in the same North.
The selection of winners was so transparent to the applause of all practitioners both old and new.
I have not received a single condemnation from any individual or organisation apart from the one mentioned above. Although we take every opinion seriously based on merit.
Question: BON member stations are in hundreds, particularly the private stations. What are the plans for better inclusiveness in future events?
Answer: You will be surprised that a winner emerged from among the stations that have not been fully registered with BON in the just concluded Nigeria Broadcasting Awards.
That shows clearly that we brought everyone on board without discrimination of membership during submission of entries and selection of winners.
BON has been a rallying point for all stations irrespective of BON membership.
As the umbrella body coordinating the activities of all stations we have been extending invitations to all radio and TV stations that have not registered with BON and we have continued to receive them on regular basis.