••• Marks 4th Year Anniversary
Premium 89.9 FM, one of Akwa Ibom State’s fastest-growing radio stations, on Thursday celebrated its 4th Anniversary with a lecture, prize-giving, and the graduation of the first beneficiaries of its Free Digital Entrepreneurship Training Programme.
The event, held at Signature by Royalty, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, had as its theme theme “Bridging the Digital Divide Raising Rural Digital Entrepreneurs and Leaders.” It highlighted the station’s expanding role in promoting digital inclusion, youth empowerment, and leadership development.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Prof. Nsikak Idiong of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Uyo commended Premium FM for driving innovation through its Premium Digital Academy. He emphasized the need to equip rural communities with digital skills as a pathway to economic opportunities.
Chairman of the occasion, Sir Charles Udoh, who is the Delivery Advisor to the Governor on Tourism Projects and MD of Ibom Hotels, lauded the station’s resilience and social impact, describing it as “a bridge between government and the people, and a rallying point for community engagement.”
High point of the celebration was the graduation of the pioneer trainees of the Premium Digital Academy, who had undergone free training in digital literacy, web design, social media marketing, video editing, broadcasting, and entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the ceremony, Premium FM’s Managing Director, Noble Lady Maureen Umanah, said the programme was the station’s way of giving back to society. She urged young people to embrace opportunities rather than crime, noting that the radio station itself started as a vision and has grown in leaps and bounds over the last four years.
As part of the anniversary, Radio Station also honoured individuals and institutions for outstanding contributions to leadership, governance, business, and community service. Award recipients included: Noble Lady Helen Eno Obereki, Coordinator, Office of the First Lady who bagged Emerging Amazon of the Niger Delta Award, Hon. Gideon Uwa, Chairman, Etim Ekpo LGA – Outstanding Performance in Infrastructural Development, Mr. Ubong Nkutt, Chairman, Itu LGA – Outstanding Performance in Infrastructural Development, Nigerian Police Force, Akwa Ibom Command – Award of Excellence in Community Policing
Other award recipients are; Ibom Air – Award of Excellence in Aviation Services, Amitec Construction Company – Engineering Icon Award, Obong Prince Ikim, Chairman, AKSEPWMA – Excellence in Environmental Sanitation & Protection and the President of AKISAN USA – International Leadership Award
The colourful ceremony drew dignitaries, media stakeholders, business leaders, and representatives of institutions from across the state.