It was yet another exciting day at God’s own University as her Campus Radio Station entertained her guests with a display of music and laughter when they presented to the university community their award of the Best Campus Radio in Nigeria for the year 2016.

One could say that the Vice Chancellor and Director of the Radio Station Rev. Prof. Dr. Christian Anieke was at his best mood on the 16th of March 2016 when he expressed his delight over the deserved achievement of the GO Uni. 106.9 FM Radio Station.

The ceremony began with the traditional devotion of the university around 12 noon; principal officers of the University present at the occasion were the Vice Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Prof. Dr. Christian Anieke; the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Edwin Onyeneje; the Registrar, Dr Nnamdi Ene; the University Librarian, Mrs. Ellen Chijioke and the University Bursar, Mrs. M. Egiyi.

Other key officers present at the occasion were, The Chairman Senate Ceremonies Committee, Prof. Adinna; the Coordinator Mass Communications Department, Dr. Acholonu; the Station Manager of the Campus Radio, Mrs. Virginia Ani; Deans and Directors of the University as well as other dignitaries from outside the university such as the Zonal Director National Broadcasting Cooperation, Mrs. Susan Obi; Registrar Emeritus from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Barr. Chris Igbokwe; the Registrar from Federal Polytechnic Okoh, Dr.Albert Nkwonta; Justice Cordelia Chukwurah; Mr. Aeron Offordile, CEO Aeron places; Chief Elias Igwesi and many other important personalities.

In an opening speech the Vice Chancellor said that the importance of the occasion was the attention the award attracts to the university, he pointed out that a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden, he also stated that the occasion serves as a platform for the university community to see the staff of the campus radio.

The Vice Chancellor advised the other departments of the university to emulate the campus radio station and also project the university as the right place to be. He encouraged the campus radio to keep up with the good work and prayed for God’s blessing for them.

A staff of the Radio station, Greg Ademu presented a brief history of the campus radio as follows:

How It All Began- An Address Presented By Ademu, Enemona Greg On The

Occasion of the Celebration of Godfrey Okoye University Radio 106.9 FM

as the Best Campus Radio in Nigeria, At The Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Convocation Arena of the University, This Day 16 March 2016

“Coming together is the beginning

Keeping together is progress

Working together is success….”

– Henry Ford

It is a great privilege for me to give this address today because it gives me the opportunity to express in person, the great pride and satisfaction in all of us seated here today in honour of the newly crowned Best Campus Radio in Nigeria, Gouni Radio 106.9 FM. As such, the duty which has been conferred on me at this point in time is to tell you, “How It All Began” for Godfrey Okoye University Radio, being privileged to be one of the very few people present at the onset of the establishment of our beloved campus radio. Every story has a beginning. So without further ado, let me set the ball rolling….

In August 2014, Godfrey Okoye University played host to a special team of broadcasters from the United Kingdom in the person of Mr. Charles Aniagolu, former BBC correspondent and now Arise News Anchor and Mrs. Pauline Brandt, also a former BBC news anchor, currently a Voice Instructor and freelance journalist. This was indeed made possible through the hardwork, selfless

determination and commitment of our Vice Chancellor, the Director of GOUNI Radio who wanted so passionately to make his dream of Godfrey Okoye University radio a reality. He didn’t just want any campus radio station but the best this part of the world could offer. And so they would go on to spend the next three months here in Enugu to audition, carefully select and train students and professionals alike for the Herculean job ahead alongside a prominent On-Air personality in the South- East, Tobe Nneji. And of course, I auditioned. After a rigorous training exercise for all selected personnel, GOUNI Radio officially went on air on the 27th day of October 2015 and would later that same month get her grand official commissioning by the Director of Special Duties of National Broadcasting Commission, Professor Armstrong Idachaba at the former station complex. Now armed with a vast array of professionals with a tremendous wealth of experience in broadcasting in the persons of Mrs. Virginia Ani, our amiable Station Manager, Miss Tobe Nneji, our then Deputy Station Manager and Mr. Godwin Umeh, our present Head of Operations as well as students alike who were ready to test their mettle, we set ourselves the primary objective to broadcast quality programmes with sound values geared at educating, empowering, mobilizing and uplifting the social, economic and spiritual lives of individuals, families and communities. The result of that objective is what we celebrate today. It’s taken hours of practice, countless sacrifices, but it’s all worth it. This team was built from ground-zero, and I am proud to be a part of that journey. I don’t think I could have deliberately chosen a better team to work with. Yes, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There were obstacles, but we carried on. At times, the challenges sought to dampen our spirits and cause us to despair but the knowledge of the distance already covered inspired us to continue. The knowledge that each step we took brought us closer to our goal continued to spur us on. After all, they say: “The Bigger the Dream, the Bigger the Struggle” because if the race was easy, the price won’t be worth it.

So, with little over a year of our existence as a campus radio, we have been recognized by the Nigeria Merit Broadcasters Award as the best Campus Radio in Nigeria.

Today, GOUNI Radio 106.9 FM broadcasts news, current affairs and educational programmes, talk shows, music, sports programmes and lots more. Our signature programme, the Round Table with Alex Ogbodo has now become a nationwide sensation. In order to extend the services we offer to our viewers, our online presence at www.1069gouniradio.com provides an easy way for them to connect with us from any part of the world. As God’s Own University, today marks another important milestone in the history of one of the fastest growing universities in the world. May I therefore use this opportunity on behalf of the entire GOUNI Radio Team to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Honourable members of the Board of Trustees chaired by Professor Bartho Okolo, the members of the Governing Council chaired by Professor Christian Nwachukwu Okeke and the members of the University Senate headed by our beloved and amiable Vice Chancellor, Professor Christian Anieke for your untiring efforts to make Godfrey Okoye University the best in Nigeria and indeed the world. Ladies and Gentlemen, the success story has just begun. This is only the beginning. Once again, congratulations to the best campus radio team in Nigeria from the news room, to the presentation unit, engineering, production and administrative. Thank you and May God bless you all…..

___________________________________________________

Ademu, Enemona Greg (Mr.)

Scientist, Academic and Broadcaster

Godfrey Okoye University

Enugu State Nigeria.

In her goodwill message The Zonal Coordinator of the National Broadcasting Corporation Mrs. Susan obi congratulated the Go Uni. Radio for bringing the award to the Eastern Region. She said that it is always delightful when excellence is appreciated, she thanked the Vice Chancellor for providing the enabling environment for success, and congratulated the Coordinator of Mass Communication as well as the Station Manager of the campus radio on their success. She went further to note that with the performances displayed by the staff of the radio she was confident that their success can be maintained.

Nkiruka Nwobodo a staff of the campus radio in a vote of thanks congratulated her fellow colleagues on the well-deserved award. She expressed their gratitude to the Vice Chancellor and Director of the radio station for his support and encouragements.

Other highlights of the occasion were presentation of some of the radio presenters and their programmes as well as a drone camera coverage presentation etc.

Date
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 – 16:50