SoS Fatim Bajie-Janneh, secretary of state for Communication, Information & Information Technology, over the weekend, Saturday 13th December 2008, presided over the inauguration of Unique FM radio, one of the latest broadcasting media to have emerged in the country’s increasingly competitive communication industry.

Broadcasting on 101.7, located on 40 Garba Jahumpa Road, Unique FM’s  inauguration, a private Radio Station, came at its first year anniversary, and was held at  its head office, bringing together dignitaries drawn from the public and private sectors, among them the US Ambassador to The Gambia, Barry Wells, and a cross section of media practitioners.

The event, according to our reporter, was unique in that it marked the official launch of a station that will offer Gambians the opportunity to listen to live broadcast of programs on VOA and some business up date. The event also witnessed the launch of Unique FM Radio Station website, which is accessible on www.uniquefm.gm.

As the day marked the one year anniversary of the broadcaster, the authorities used the opportunity to announce possible plans to expand its airwaves, in a bid to making it accessible to a wider audience accross The Gambia. Another very important program which rarely features in radio broadcasting in The Gambia, Weather forecast, will be featured on Unique FM.

All this is said to have coincided with the Birthday celebration of Lamin Manga, the proprietor of the station.

In her inaugural speech, Fatim Badjie-Janneh told the gathering that the celebration marked “yet another historic event in the country’s development efforts.”  She described Lamin Manga as a real pace setter worthy of emulation by other youths in the country in our bid to achieving our desired sustainable development goals.  

SoS Badjie-Janneh expressed deep sense of gratitude through her department of state, on behalf of Government of The Gambia, under the dynamic leadership of Professor Alhaji Yahya Jammeh, to Lamin Manga, for coming up with “a wonderful initiative.”

“We have many youths in the information communication industry, she said, and went on,  “There is a need for them to emulate Mr Manga’s efforts.”
Barry Wells, the US Ambassador to The Gambia, also spoke at length on the importance of the information and communication industry in any given country. 

He cited the possible relay of VOA’s programs to Gambian audience as important. And he said VOA started broadcasting operations in the USA in 1942, and that it broadcast using 45 different languages throughout the world.

The US representative in The Gambia assured the authorities at Unique FM of his institution’s support at all times.  “We look forwards to listening to programs on Unique FM radio and we wish you the best in your endeavors,” he said.

For his part, Lamin Manga, proprietor of Unique FM Radio Station, said his management at the radio station decided to use its one year anniversary as an opportunity to introduce different programs.

He revealed his management’s plan to train local news presenters with the help of some prominent news broadcasters and journalists. The Unique FM Boss expressed heartfelt gratitude and sincere thanks to their “valued customers,” and colleagues in the world of media in The Gambia and beyond, and to all those who in one way or the other contributed to making the occasion a resounding success.