Ramalan Becomes Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards Patron

Foremost politician and media entrepreneur, Dr Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, has been named patron of the prestigious Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards, NBMA.

A statement issued on Friday in Lagos by organisers of the event, Reality Entertainment, and signed by its president, Kazeem Popoola, disclosed that the decision to handover the mantle to Ramalan, after the demise of the former holder of the position, Ambassador Segun Olusola, was reached after a painstaking search.

Ramalan, a philanthropist and an astute businessman, speaking on his new role said, “I find it a rather unique privilege to have been approached to be patron NBMA in the aftermath of the ‘larger than life’ image and enormous impact of the inimitable, highly revered former Grand patron, the immense Ambassador Segun Olusola. May his soul continue to rest in peace.

“It is indeed a challenge I look forward to, if only to attempt to match what the mercurial icon of the Arts and Media had done. I can only hope to contribute my quota to uphold and further uplift the standard set so far.”

Ramalan is the Executive Chairman, Atar Communication Nigeria Limited. Aside being the owner of Liberty Radio, Tashar Yanci 91.7 FM and Liberty TV, the upwardly mobile radio and TV stations in Kaduna, the Business Administration graduate of American University of Richmond, London, has written his names in gold for outstanding contributions to the growth of quality broadcasting in the Northern part of Nigeria, hence his Lifetime Achievement award at the last year’s edition of NBMA.

He is a former honourable executive at Kaduna Ministry of Information and Home Affairs, and presently the Chairman of the Northern Broadcasters Owners Association (NBOA).

The former National Republican Convention, NRC, Chairman in Kaduna State is a Fellow Chartered Institute of Logistic and Transport United Kingdom; (FCILT) Fellow Chartered Institute of Shipping of Nigeria (FCIS) and Member Nautical Institute, United Kingdom (MNI).

He is also a Fellow Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), as well as the Pioneer Executive Chairman of Joint Maritime Industrial Council (JOMALIC).  He was the Pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

It would be recalled that a seasoned broadcaster, Femi Sowoolu, was announced by the organization in 2013 as NBMA’s first patron.

Meanwhile, momentum has started ahead of the sixth edition of the awards ceremony, which holds on Saturday, January 23, 2016.