Former Ambassador Yemi Farounbi urges an independent review of BCOS, raises concerns over asset neglect, management failures and the station’s declining fortunes.
Former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines and veteran broadcaster, Yemi Farounbi, has expressed deep concern over the current state of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), urging the institution’s leadership and alumni to work together to restore the station’s former glory.
Farounbi made the appeal in a message addressed to the Chairperson of the BCOS Board, Chief (Mrs.) Dotun Olaitan, where he questioned the management and utilisation of resources at the state-owned broadcasting organisation.
In his remarks, the former diplomat said he had received information suggesting that the Oyo State Government had increased BCOS’ subvention by 100 per cent. He called for an independent fact-finding exercise to determine the true situation at the corporation.
According to him, a committee comprising members of the BCOS alumni association should be constituted to examine the challenges confronting the organisation, including possible shortcomings on the part of the government, the board and the management.
Farounbi argued that identifying the root causes of BCOS’ struggles would provide a clearer understanding of the institution’s problems and pave the way for practical solutions.
Reflecting on previous efforts to improve the corporation’s financial sustainability, he disclosed that several proposals had been made over the years to transform idle assets into revenue-generating ventures.
He recalled that many staff quarters, including residences meant for the chairman and the general manager, were lying vacant during one of his visits to the station several years ago.
To prevent the facilities from wasting away, he said he had suggested handing the properties over to professional estate managers for leasing or converting them into chalet-style accommodation capable of generating steady income for BCOS.
Farounbi also revealed that there were recommendations to develop parts of the corporation’s vast land into a film village through a partnership with private investors.
He further recalled that renowned media entrepreneur Adebisi Adesola had once proposed building a modern film production facility with four cinema viewing centres, alongside an exhibition complex within the BCOS premises.
According to him, members of the WNTV/WNBS Alumni Association equally volunteered to collaborate with BCOS in establishing an international-standard broadcasting training centre.
He explained that the alumni were instructed to prepare architectural designs for the proposed project and complied with the request, but lamented that the initiative was never pursued further.
The veteran broadcaster maintained that management should also accept responsibility for failing to implement several developmental ideas that could have transformed the organisation.
He noted that the idea of establishing an event centre at BCOS had been conceived years before a similar project was initiated at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Ibadan.
Farounbi observed that the event centre at NTA’s Agodi premises is now nearing completion, while comparable opportunities at BCOS were not explored.
Expressing emotional pain over the current condition of the station, he lamented the sight of abandoned and deteriorating vehicles scattered across the corporation’s premises, describing them as symbols of neglect.
He said the management appeared to be waiting for external intervention instead of taking proactive measures to revive the organisation.
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Farounbi also reflected on his years of service at BCOS, recalling a conversation with the late former Oyo State Governor, Chief Bola Ige, who had expressed the ambition of making the station not only the first television station in Africa but also the best on the continent.
He said that vision inspired generations of broadcasters and media professionals who dedicated their careers to building the institution into a respected broadcasting organisation.
The former ambassador further expressed disappointment over what he described as internal divisions among members of staff, alleging that political interests had at different times overshadowed professionalism within the corporation.
According to him, employees became involved in political camps and internal rivalries instead of focusing on strengthening the station, while merit and competence gradually gave way to favouritism and sycophancy.
Farounbi stated that witnessing the decline of an institution to which he devoted part of his professional life had been deeply painful.
He appealed to both leaders to take decisive steps towards repositioning BCOS and restoring its reputation as one of Nigeria’s foremost broadcasting institutions.
Farounbi concluded by reminding stakeholders that BCOS played a historic role in developing broadcasting in Nigeria, noting that the station trained and produced professionals who later contributed significantly to the establishment and growth of broadcast stations across Northern Nigeria.
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