After many weeks of expectations, Daar Communications Plc, owners of African Independent Television (AIT) and its Radio subsidiary, Ray Power FM, has commenced operation in Ilorin, Kwara State with the test-run of the Ray Power FM.

The test-run, it was gathered, commenced penultimate Friday with only musicals being played to sensitize the listeners on the birth of the new station. This is in line with the regulations of the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) which is the regulatory body for broadcast stations in the country.

The NBC code allows a new broadcast station to test-run for a couple of weeks after inspecting its facilities before it is allowed to commence full commercial broadcast after satisfying all the requirements for broadcasting.

It would be recalled that Chairman of Daar Communications Plc, Dr Raymond Dokpesi in January, last year paid a visit to the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed where he intimated the governor about Daar's debut in Ilorin and its plan to utilize the satellite education services to enhance the quality of education in the state.

Speaking with Daily Trust correspondent, the Head of Daar Communications, Ilorin, Mr Johnson Osula disclosed that in a couple of weeks the Ray Power FM would commence full commercial broadcast, adding that the test-run is between 8 a.m to 7 p.m every day including Sunday. "In line with the NBC regulations, we shall be on test-run for a couple of weeks while the commission would come again to inspect our facilities and give us the go ahead to commence full commercial broadcast", he said, adding that the TV station would also commence very soon.

According to Osula, "We are here to entertain, educate and inform and we would not shy away from those responsibilities". He said the station would tailor its programmes towards satisfying the needs of Kwara public across different socio-cultural milieus.

He said, "We are out to serve the people and the people also include the government. We partner with the government as much as possible because they have their programmes outlined for the benefit of the people. We are not going to begin to lie to the public because we have our integrity to protect as an outstanding media outfit.

"Whatever we do we are always conscious of the fact that the public is out there. We will tell the truth at all time, inform the people at all time, educate and entertain and ensure that we also carry the people along in whatever we are doing.

"There will also be feedback. You know communication is a two-way thing, you inform and you also get feedback from the people. We report the government and ensure they do the right thing for the public but the fact is that we would not play politics with our station".

He disclosed that the station is currently on local transmission to intimate the public of its existence in the state. It added that programmes would be designed in the various languages of the people of Kwara State to give each of them a sense of belonging.

Residents of Ilorin who spoke to Daily Trust correspondent hailed the birth of the station in the state, saying it is an indication of the fast growing economy of the state. Besides, they said it would deepen competition among the existing FM stations in the state thereby enhancing quality of their broadcast.

Other FM stations which recently debut in Ilorin are the private-owned Royal FM, Unilorin FM and Harmony FM while the Ray Power FM is expected to add to the number of stations listeners can tune to.