Toun Okewale Sonaiya

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Toun Okewale Sonaiya
Born
Toun Okewale

Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Other namesToun Okewale Sonaiya
Alma mater
Occupations
Years active2002–present
OrganizationWomen FM
Known forEstablishing first indigenous West Africa women radio.
Websitewfm.org

Toun Okewale Sonaiya is a Nigerian radio broadcaster. In 2015, she launched WFM 91.7, the first radio station for women in Nigeria.[1] Sonaiya is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of WFM 91.7 .[2]

Biography[edit]

Sonaiya previously worked for Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, Ray Power and Choice FM.[3] She has also worked with Housing for Women,[3] and been the Executive Director at St. Ives Communications.[4] Toun Okewale Sonaiya is a media entrepreneur and broadcaster who has practiced in Nigeria and London.[5]

In an interview she was asked at what point did she decide she wanted to start a specialized radio station for women ? Sonaiya replied "Precisely 2010 when 2 of my directors and I decided to activate our vision for a female - centric radio station , something different to complement existing radio stations . We applied to NBC under St . Ives Communications Ltd . In June 2016 we got a license and to the Glory of God within 6 months on 18th of December 2016 – we launched." [5]

Career[edit]

One of the success stories of Women Radio under. Toun's leadership comes from "TheWomenAgenda" – a programme aimed at mainstreaming women and girls as drivers of the anti-corruption and accountability campaign in Nigeria. This intervention has student and women led #genderandaccountability clubs that lead campaigns at local levels to ensure allocated resources are effectively utilized. This initiative is currently active in Lagos and Ogun state with plans to expand nationwide.

She was the first African female voice of BBC's "One for all" educational campaign in Africa, the first voice on Ogun Radio FM and the first African female presenter and producer at Choice 107.1 FM (now Capital Extra , London , UK ). She has interviewed personalities including the late Miriam Makeba, Ladysmith Black Mambazo from South Africa , Cameroonian Manu Dibango , Malian Oumou Sangare , Professor Remi Sonaiya , Nigeria's only female presidential candidate in the 2015 and Internationally acclaimed Feminist, Erelu Bisi Fayemi amongst others. She moderates and comperes conferences and seminars on the national and International sphere.

Okewale Sonaiya is a board member, director and trustee of several organizations including Centre for Women's Health and Information, Transformative Leadership and Sustainable Initiative, Maami (an NGO empowering disadvantaged Women & Girls), Ives Medicare, member Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission's (NERC) Review Code Panel and founding member of Nigerian Women in Diaspora Leadership Forum, UK.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Alfred, Kayode (19 September 2015). "Toun Okewale-Sonaiya Set to Launch First Women Radio Station". The Nation. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  2. ^ "WFM 91.7 Makes its Debut in Lagos". The Nation. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Nigeria's First Ever Women's Radio Station WFM to Start Test Transmissions on October 1". Nigerian Watch. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Nigeria: WFM 91.7 Has No Competitor - Broadcast Expert". All Africa. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Toun Okewale Sonaiya: Voice of women". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2016-12-03. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  6. ^ "Mrs Toun Sonaiya". Broadcasting and media.
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