Ibadan-based gospel musician and broadcaster, Yinka Ayefele, has revealed that the road accident he was involved in in 1997 became the major turning point in his life and career.
Ayefele made this known during a press conference held on Wednesday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Secretariat, Iyaganku, Ibadan, as part of activities marking the 10th anniversary of Fresh 105.9 FM.
The event was attended by Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser on Media to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, NUJ Chairman in Oyo State, Comrade Ademola Babalola, and a representative of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Alhaja Sherifat Mohammed-Koro.
Speaking on his journey, the Fresh FM founder recounted how the accident changed the course of his life.
“I worked at Radio Nigeria Ibadan, I was into jingle production. I bought a Beetle car from the money I realised. I had a road accident on my way to Abeokuta in Ogun State in 1997 with the car. It was in the road accident I had in 1997 — many people know the story — that was my turning point,” he said.
Ayefele also shared that his radio station began as a live streaming initiative on Facebook before evolving into a full-fledged broadcast platform.
“It was on Facebook that I started live streaming. I realised that my fans outside Nigeria appreciated it. After that, I thought I could have a radio station and change the narrative and the system of broadcasting,” he said.
The media entrepreneur revealed that it took him seven years to secure a broadcast licence after being investigated by the NBC.
“They came with DSS and asked for my licence. I said, do I need a licence? They said yes. It took me seven years before I was given the licence. If they investigate other station owners the same way, many wouldn’t survive. I want to change the face of broadcasting,” he stated.
Ayefele also noted that in the ten years of Fresh FM’s operation, he has never sacked any employee.
“I have never sacked anyone in the last 10 years. The only one I did was that I advised the person to resign,” he said.
He recalled how former Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s controversial demolition of his station brought him global attention.
“Ajimobi was the first person to expose Fresh FM to the whole world. The day it happened, it was painful, but BBC and CNN called me. It was a blessing in disguise. Ajimobi also rebuilt the station,” Ayefele noted.
NBC representative, Mohammed-Koro, in her address, urged broadcasters to adhere strictly to the rules guiding their operations.
“We know that broadcast stations cannot do without violating the rules, but we encourage you to comply and maintain professionalism,” she said.
