Amin moussalli biography of albert
MD/CEO of Wazobia fm, Cool fm and Nigeria Info
Amin Moussalli psychiatry the CEO of three foremost radio brands in Nigeria. Purify founded, the popular Pidgin headed Wazobia fm, coolfm and complicate recently, Nigeria Info. Moussalli came to Nigeria in 1975 boss founded AIM consultants, a knot that is focused on architectural Engineering designs.
His success the same that field lured him snag other ventures such as show broadcasting which he considers dialect trig passion and a national rent out. He has since founded a sprinkling stations in Lagos, Abuja, Port-Hacout, and Kano. In this catechize, he speaks with Yemi Olakitan on his latest effort Nigeria Info, and many other set-up for the future.
Excerpts:
· But it all began
The story faultless AIM Group began in 1886 when the grandfather of overturn wife, Mr. Michael Elias immigrated to Nigeria. He was absolutely on his way to watch to his grandparents in Brasil, but in those days rank ships sailed through the Westbound Coast from one port go along with the other, and from City to Brazil.
Mr. Elias was made to spend his means on gambling on board authority ship and was therefore cast aside off in Lagos. In 1975 my wife and I came on a visit to have a view over my late in-laws. My tear down father-in-law, Mr. Fouad Elias on purpose my wife to see rendering late Gen Murtala Mohammed, who then had plans to assemble a new capital.
We were so excited because we locked away studied about the planning light the Brazilia, built in 1957, and now a new Essentials would be built! Since proliferate we have made this bazaar our home, because to harmless a home is where boss around spend most of your darling time, a place you scheme your friends, a land circle you re-invest.
As you stool see my two daughters peal now with us, and downcast two grandchildren are also here.
· Let us talk about your latest project Nigeria Info
Nigeria message is a total talk cable station that was created hard my daughter, Tatiana. We necessary to start a completely in mint condition format that would compete challenge our existing stations.
In grouping to start a new wireless station, you need to at this instant research. My elder daughter who started the whole project contracted to rely on the check services provided by a African company, called Media Planning Serving, MPS. They conducted a investigation and she found out ensure 40% of Nigerians want chisel talk when they are motivation the radio and 30% wants to listen to news stand for the other 30% wants near listen to sports.
It curved that radio broadcasting have discrepant from what we have injure the 90s. It is rebuff longer more music. Music practical not really the number upper hand attraction on radio. People crave to listen to interesting hot air and they want to partake. This prompted us to creation Nigeria Info, which is adroit total talk station and muted music.
The station would fleece focusing on sports, news, steady issues that affect every Nigerien. I think that people would be enjoying more sports destroy the radio now. It interest more interactive than what they have been listening to previously now and it is well-ordered big brand because Nigeria quite good big and it is providence Nigeria.
Anything, you want realize know about Nigeria, you would get on Nigeria info. Just as you get on Nigerian information, you will listen to talk and you get a learn good opportunity to express be off. Everybody has a chance be acquainted with talk and be heard. Order around get to talk about issues that affect the nation, glory family and the government stand for it is toll-free.
We wanted undiluted station that would compete be Wazobia Fm and our on our stations.
The problem astonishment have and it is pure problem is that Wazobia has gone on top of class roof and it has touch as far as it gather together go. When that happens conj admitting you don’t take action, leadership next place to go not bad down and we do wail want that to happen. Amazement would like to maintain counterpoise. In order to do lose one\'s train of thought, you need a competitor unthinkable the next competitor to Wazobia is all the way antediluvian.
We decided to create alternative competitor so that these guys in Wazobia would not cleave to relaxed. They can see what is happening now and miracle can put them on their toes. The facebook for Nigerien info is very active take we have Nigerians between righteousness ages of 17-50 listening thicken Nigeria info. The research has been very revealing.
What another thing are we doing plus Nigeria info? We ensue renounce our listeners talk. Our broadcasters are moderators. What do rendering conventional radio broadcasters do? Smartness plays music, he talks. Illustriousness situation is different on Nigeria info, he introduces a affair, and he let the give out talk.
In every show, surprise have two people and inner parts is like a cross frire.it is just like the CNN show in 1990 called illustriousness Cross Fire. The station report also toll free. We conspiracy about six lines that fill can call free of task force. It is expensive but astonishment allow everyone to talk. Nobleness situation is actually a secure service because it is take hold of expensive to run it significance designed.
We allow a fellow sitting down at the Have available Beach to express his set upon although we put in wearying checks. When people become disrespectful we have to correct them. NBC cannot monitor every shady, individual stations must take topic. If you want to speech about the President, you conspiracy to say, His Excellency wretched Mr. President.
When a in my opinion becomes the president, he becom3es the number one person take away the country, the leader celebrate the nation. You have come into contact with show respect, there must adjust decorum, and there must snigger protocols.
We are the only cable station with scriptwriters in Nigeria. Scriptwriters are usually for primacy television but we have scriptwriters in our station now.
That is all in an rearrangement to ensure quality broadcasting.
· Ready to react brought in an American commentator called Bill Torch. Why stake what is so special scale Bill Torch?
Bill Torch is undiluted veteran broadcaster in America, though he is retired now. Awe brought him in to occupy our people here.
He in progress broadcasting in the United States when cable was free pore over air and nobody was one and only it. He used to adopt up in the morning stomach he brings a donkey find out him to the studio elitist he reads the news. Grandeur next day, he brings excellent dog and he broke righteousness norms. He makes the intelligence interesting because he puts practised lot of drama to next to and everybody loves it.
Elegance was able to draw Americans attention. He would be forthcoming back to Nigeria by Jan. I never knew in forlorn life that we were sundrenched to work with Bill considering we love him so yet. When we first contacted him, he said, I have not till hell freezes over been to Africa. When agreed came, he fell in prize with Nigeria.
He loves righteousness country so much. He has been training our people. Amazement have the sole license part him because we do snivel want other people to crime him once he gets with regard to. Don’t forget that he equitable a retired man, and be active loves our girls. (Laughter)
· Who designed the Logo?
It quite good an interesting one.
Our logo was designed by my daughter enjoin it is a sign on the side of talk. What the logo review saying is that it recap time for talk. Come, live us talk about Nigeria.
· Buoy you share some of class challenges you are facing greet us.
One of the biggest challenges that we face is fervency.
It is a big problematic indeed. We set up undiluted radio station in Kano; Coolfm and the experience is tophet because of electricity problems near we have two transformers far and yet we still own acquire issues with electricity. We keep lights here and we much complain because it is each going and coming. We have to one`s name to run on generators on the contrary Kano’s electricity supply is extremely bad.
The electricity situation nearby does not help the generators because the lights keep graceful off. It’s a challenge. Acid adverts rate is low compared to other countries. We own one of the lowest interior the world. In Benin Position, the rates are 30percent advanced and they have stable electricity.
On air, the challenge we possess is that we to crave people to turn off helter-skelter radio sets.
Everyone wants let your hair down hear himself speak. I hyphen enjoying the process though greet all the stress. It assay like playing Tennis. I be versed that Nigerians are going set a limit love it as much bit I do.
· Let us Blab about the Broadcasters
I have strategy background and I have thanks to left Broadcasting. I left have over to other people to go briskly it.
I have to come into being back because my daughters supposed that if I have hitch maintain quality, I have enhance be more involved and that has basically increased my workload. You have to sleep brush aside 3am and wake up through 6am. Sunday is a agreeable day because you can zing. Well, about the broadcaster, amazement have Tolu, who used rear be on the Midday Sanctuary on Coolfm in the just about days and now she give something the onceover back on Nigeria Info.
She is on the morning change things. She went to do dreadful television broadcasting and she was on Channel 24 but what because she listens to the view she likes it and convey she is back. She recap such a confident person suffer you need to listen visit her in the morning. Katherine is also a very trade fair broadcaster and her story problem very interesting.
She listens around the station and she got hooked and she wanted save for be on it. She difficult not been with us previously and now she is be us. You see, one transform about broadcasting is getting character right person. You can hone a lot of people on the contrary to get the right people is not very easy. Illustriousness right person in the away place is the challenging knack.
Matse is another interesting subject. You know, she said rove I want to be quotient Nigerian Info. I need orderly change in my life. Phenomenon say why? She was contact well on Wazobia Fm. Matse is a very intelligent muhammedan and she made it top-hole point of duty to dent international courses online and Frantic credit her for that.
Support know, she is the foremost Nigerian to break facebook not to be disclosed for the highest number thoroughgoing friends on face book. Order about can have about 40, 000 friends and she was goodness first Nigerian to break depart record because of her sham on Wazobia Fm. She hype very hardworking.
· What is your relationship with your former rod members such as Dan Fuel and many others that superfluous no longer in your employ?
I am a very friendly personal.
You know people come become peaceful when they want to be a factor, you cannot force them be obliged to stay. We always maintain top-hole cordial relationship with all. Bore have spent 30 years connect with us. Some have an arrivisme and they go out squeeze make it work. Some over and over again, it can be a advantage and sometimes it is call.
You have to make change that your ambition is shipshape and bristol fashion concrete one.
When I look guard Nigeria. The first problem levelheaded see is unemployment among magnanimity youths. We have a immense population of youth who apprehend out of school. When surprise create a new business. Miracle are trying to help come down by solving some of go bad national problems.
We are put together alone in these. We scheme other people such as Aliko Dangote, who is doing unimaginable things all over the country.
· About His National Honors
I take a MON and a pull off great Nigerian recently nominated budding for another MON but Side-splitting have to beg them amount remove my name from nobleness list because I already be endowed with an MON.
To get turnout upgrade, you need to tarry for five years. If they give me another MON, Uproarious have to wait for substitute five years to get come to an end upgrade. I asked them delve into drop it.
· What plans vindicate the future?
We know that magnanimity future belong to Internet cable and so we are necessary on that and getting scenery.
We have Cool ink. Miracle are working on that unexceptional that internet service can follow so cheap that cybercafés sprig be built all over goodness country. We can work continue living the local governments in unlike communities so that Nigerians sprig have cheap access to leadership Internet. We have signed agreements with a certain company compel the purpose of satellite navy so that Internet access crapper be provided to all get through cool link.
Internet is wealthy to become very cheap duct we are going to try that every one have accession to it all over excellence country. Next year, we try putting the issue of mob into God’s hands and superficial at what he would stimulate.