By Emmanuel Uffot
T1AF Media Group promoted by My Tony Afia has scored another first landmark milestone in broadcast media in Akwa Ibom State with the unveiling of the first private owned indigenous speaking FM Radio Station in Akwa Ibom State. The station which goes by the name TangSio FM and will operate on 102.7 frequency which birth early this month was formally unveiled on Monday this week.
The chairman and CEO of TAF Media Group, Tony Afia announces the official birth of the first privately owned dialect-speaking Radio Station in Akwa Ibom State, TangSio 102.7 FM Uyo said his vision for the radio station is to give Akwa Ibom people a sense of belonging to the media world, keep them up-to-date with day-to-day happenings and enable the people to communicate effectively in their different dialects.
Afia called on all Akwa Ibomites and everyone at large to embrace the birth of the station, advertise their products and also see it as an avenue for job creation even as he urged qualified persons to apply.
He added that the focus of Tang Sio whose content will be on general interest comprising, news, musics, sports and other phone in programmes all in indigenous language will be operating on a 24-hour basis.
TangSio FM is a Nigerian indigenous language speaking radio station located in Ibiaku Uruan LGA of Akwa Ibom State. The station’s content, cut across Ibibio, Efik, Annang, Oron, Igbo and Yoruba etc.
The station has already attracted listeners in the state cutting across the youths, the elders and the aged who are primarily attracted to old time music especially high life of yesteryears and spirit filled gospel music on Sundays and dawn.
Indeed, the introduction of TangSio FM radio brings to three the number of broadcast stations of the Taf Media Group. It could be recalled that the Afia led media Group is reputed to be the one that midwifed the first privately owned radio FM station in Akwa Ibom, being Planet 101.1 FM.
Like a man with the Midas Touch he again showed the way by establishing the first private Television station in the state Spectrum TV which drew accolades both from the State Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, NBC.
During the inauguration of the TV station September last year Governor Emmanuel had commended the pioneering spirit of the Chairman of TAF Media Group, Mr. Afia and his entire Management team on the establishment of the first privately owned television station in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, after pioneering the advent of private radio stations in the state in April 2013.
The TV station whose license for operation was granted by NBC since 2015, is relayed through
Startimes Channel 136.
The birth of TangSio 102.7 FM brings to 13 the number of radio stations in Akwa Ibom state. These are AKBC 90.5 (Akwa Ibom Government owned), Passion 94.5 FM, Comfort 95.1FM, Planet 101.1 FM, Atlantic 104.5 FM (Federal Government owned), Heritage 104.9 FM (Owned by Heritage Polytechnic, Eket), UniUyo 100.7 FM, Paradise 105.5 FM, Excel 106.9 FM, Inspiration 105.9 FM, Gospel Revolution 107.5 FM and Premium 88.9 FM in Abak.
Tony Afia is the Chairman/CEO of TAF and Associates Ltd, incorporated on December 8, 1995, Owners of Taf Construction, Planet 101.1 FM, Spectrum TV and now TangSio 102.7 FM, attended Wells Fargo Bank Finance Training Institution, where he obtained a Certificate in Corporate Financial Management and Marketing.
Before he established Planet Radio 101.1FM on June 9, 2013, Afia has worked as an Auditing Assistant for Globe Oil Inc, Atlanta, Georgia, Wells Fargo Bank, as Assistant Vice-President and Branch Manager. As a branch manager, his branch ranked top among its peers in sales and profitability. He is very successful in the construction industries building Roads, Bridges, and Drainage systems to mention just a few.
He is currently the Chairman of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON Zone F) comprising of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, ad Edo States.
Tony Afia is a Christian, and worships at Destiny International Mission, Uyo since his return from U.S.A. in 2006. He is married to Idorenyin Afia, a broadcaster and Managing Director of Planet Radio 101.1FM. He has six children.
