ANALYSIS On the Scorecard of Prestige FM Minna Nine Years of Uninterrupted Broadcasting in Niger State. How Far.
By Yakubu Mustapha Bina
Prestige FM Radio Minna is the only first private radio station established on 17th July, 2017 based on the conviction of the principles of media establishment to inform, educate, enlighten, entertain to ensure the unity of Nigeria and promote social and ethnic diversity, encourage religious tolerance amongst the diverse Nigerian’s. Although, it started as a joint venture with shareholders in the organization.
PRESTIGE FM MINNA is first while others are following “We are hard to reach” due to the steady progress of the station compared to others. Prestige FM remain as the most reliable radio station in the last nine years of its existence in Niger State that have maintained its progressive status and improving in the airwaves. We are always very clear that gives our listeners the local, state, national and international news together with business and weather reports across the world.
Our slogan “Truth is Our Watch Word” we say it the way it is. That is Prestige FM Radio Minna for you however without intimidation and fear, we are prestigeous that is why we are PRESTIGE. Our programmes cut across different languages to include: English, Hausa, Nupe, Gbagyi, Igbo and Yoruba, Fulani and Abawa respectively while the two major religions are given their fair opportunity for various programs.
This is the only radio station that considered its listeners and clients as a major priority hence we are not created for political vindata or politically inclined. Therefore, Prestige FM Minna have lines of programmes that has direct impacts on the lives of the people ranging from politics, social, economy, religious, educative and entertainment as well as enlightenment like Nigeria Today, Kasar mu Ayau, Crusaders, Tselle Daya, Zara Bunu, Journalists Hangout, music of yester years, Ogene Ndigbo, ku matso yara, Masabaqa, mata adon gida, fadar mai gari among others.
Prestige FM also air our various News bulletin like News Real, News At Dawn and News at Noon which are down in English and translated in Hausa, Nupe, and Gbagyi respectively also news updates as well as weekly News Review. We do have Special Reports and News Commentary on matters that affects the people and the society. That’s why we are leading.
Prestige FM first hits the airwaves on the 17th July, 2017 to mark the commencement of its operations will be nine years on July seventh 2026 very conscious and paying attention to the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC)
codes and regulations through monitoring to ensure strict compliance and avoid violations of the laws of broadcasting within the period under review, however satisfied and confidence with the operational measures of the NBC in the state for their relentless efforts of monitoring of its activities and programs accordingly. Truth can never be told so as not to be understood, and not to be believed.
Consequently, Prestige FM Minna now solely owned by Colonial Sani Bello (retired) the Sarkin Malamai of Kontagora who has paid off all other shareholders of the organization is currently led by the Executive Director Malam Yusuf Ibrahim Ladan since 2019 who has been running the station affairs silently, steadily and progressively. We could not afford to deviate from but to sustain the station principles of media establishment of information, education, enlightenment, entertainment the public and to ensure the unity of Nigerians devoid of religious and ethnic differences as well hold government accountable through transparency in governance to be sustain and improve upon. One needs not write in a diary what one is to be remembered for ever but his leadership legacy will speak volumes.
The business mogul owner of the station also proudly owns the Landmark FM Kontagora established about six years ago on 19th March, 2019 operating simultaneously with Prestige FM Minna making it the highest in listenership in Niger state that no other radio station can match. Sustaining its courage in broadcast despite related threats from some quarters. His media investments has led to the ongoing establishment of SANBEL Television situated in Kontagora at the advanced stage of completion to be launched. It doesn’t take much strength to do things, but it requires great strength to decide on what to do.
The first private radio station in Minna Niger state capital that opens the window for other radio stations, however Prestige FM Radio Minna has continued to lead in its content, programs, initiatives, commitment, listenership, critical and investigative reports, at the side of the masses not government inclined, very principle in the realization of its mission and vision of touching lives of the masses especially the poorest of the poor and down trodden in the society.
The station have remain focused, innovative, steadfast, resilient, committed to the professional conduct, ethical practices, in line with the vision and mission of the radio station in the last 9 years of its operations of broadcasting covering every Geo- political zones of Niger state and beyond like parts of Kaduna, Kebbi, Abuja, Kogi and Kwara States while its simultaneous operation with Landmark make us edge far above others in the state. Recently our programmes and News streams live to meet up with the contemporary global challenges and standard. Courage is not absence of fear but the mystery of fear.
Many Nigerian youths both male and female were employed through the wise investment of the elder Statesman that deserve to be emulated devoid of political motivation – thousands of people have used the stations as a stepping stone platform to trained themselves now doing well in their carriers in government and private sectors of the economy.
One of the greatest achievements of the current Executive Director of Prestige FM Minna Malam Yusuf Ibrahim Ladan’s leadership is the efforts and determination to move the station to the permanent site at the Bosso Estate in Minna from the hired apartment after the change of the ownership. It takes a thrive, focused and committed leadership to achieve such successfully deserved commendations having gone above average. Success comes to a man who sees today what others are thinking to do tomorrow.
Malam Ladan a simple, humble, patriotic, a silent achiever the Executive Director who has remain strategically silent and committed, focused on effecting development of the station passionately over the years not otherwise. Prestige FM Minna have continued to witnessed steady progress despite change of ownership and leadership of the station still recognizes critical stakeholders of the organization for their initiative and contributions.
Many social responsibility programs, service to humanity were embarked upon while the consistency and uniqueness of Prestige FM Radio Minna has kept the station going and maintaining its listenership, clients who are not taking for granted in all it ramifications – to be one of the best radio station in the country and the world. Proudly talented, trained, qualified, and determined staff to achieve best results with greatness in their job accomplishment. Those coming behind Prestige FM should be careful about pretending what they claim to be, because at the end, you are what you pretend to be.
Just like any other organizations across the world, Prestige FM Minna shares its own challenges which includes: epileptic power supply from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) that usually disrupted transmission of programs, high cost of operations including high cost of diesel, sudden and unexpected breaks in transmission which is normal in broadcasting, while sadly in April 2025 after the completion of the permanent site and relocation the station’s mast was destroyed by wind storm although managed to sustain its operations with limited coverage which we later overcomed perfectly. Remember that the most difficult ways to face difficulties is to face them happily.
Prestige FM Radio Minna is currently waxing stronger with the upgraded modern equipments to meet up with the contemporary digitalize global broadcasting principles, first in Minna Niger state to be streaming it programs live while improving in standard of operations to meet up with the current demands of the industry to greatness.
We are leading the space while others follow in Niger State broadcasting and also witnessing steady progress without compromising standards. This is a determination of a mirror that never loses its ability to reflect even when it is broken in to pieces.
CONGRATULATIONS Prestige FM Radio Minna for thriving to achieve the uncommon fit in the last almost nine years of existence just as we strive to sustain the tempo for years to come.
That is an ANALYSIS: On the Scorecard of Prestige FM Minna Nine Years of Uninterrupted Broadcasting in Niger State How Far? BY YAKUBU MUSTAPHA BINA A JOURNALIST AND ANALYSIS IN MINNA, NIGER STATE
16th February, 2026.
