By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
Two leading media organisations in South-South Nigeria founded by the spiritual leader of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu, have rolled out drums and red carpets to celebrate their anniversaries and achievements.
The media outfits — StarCross Television and Sparkling 92.3FM — have lined up week-long activities to commemorate their milestones and contributions to broadcasting within and outside Cross River State.
StarCross Television, a quasi-religious cable television network established in May 2013, has expanded its reach globally with relay stations in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Sparkling 92.3FM, a commercial, general purpose news and entertainment radio station established in May 2019, was created to bridge the media gap in Cross River, Akwa Ibom and neighbouring southern states.
Speaking on the anniversary, pioneer General Manager of Sparkling FM, Dr Effiong Nyong, said the station had distinguished itself through impactful public-oriented programmes.
He singled out the station’s flagship early morning talk show, Let’s Talk Nigeria, describing it as a platform that has contributed meaningfully to national discourse and public enlightenment.
Listeners who called into the station during the celebration described Sparkling FM as one of the leading broadcast stations in the region.
The current head of the station, Mr Otobong Ekpenyong, assured listeners that the management would continue to develop engaging and audience-friendly programmes in line with standards set by broadcast regulatory authorities.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of StarCross Television, Ogar Osim, led his management team on a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, where he reflected on the station’s 13-year journey.
According to him, the station’s success story would not be complete without acknowledging the support and professional contributions of journalists in the state.
“We remember that before StarCross Television officially commenced transmission in 2013, members of the NUJ, including journalists from AIT and CRBC, made valuable recommendations that helped shape the station,” he said.
Osim also expressed appreciation for the continued support, which the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star and its leader, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu, have received from journalists across the country.
He noted that the spiritual leader had invested heavily in the station through training and capacity building for media personnel in the station in Europe, America, Asia and Nigeria, adding that such investments had helped position StarCross Television as a recognised global broadcaster.
Osim further stated that the television station had played a major role in correcting negative perceptions about the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, despite the enormous financial demands associated with cable television broadcasting.
Also congratulating the media organisations, Cross River State Commissioner for Information, Dr Erasmus Ekpang, described Sparkling FM as a pioneer in community and citizens’ broadcasting.
He commended the station for promoting inclusiveness, amplifying local voices and sustaining people-oriented programming that keeps listeners engaged throughout the day.
“This milestone is a testament to your resilience, innovation and dedication to service,” Ekpang said.
He urged both organisations to remain beacons of excellence and continue using broadcasting as a tool for positive social Change across the South-South region.
