Brila FM – the first only sports Radio station in Nigeria was in the news recently and it was not for sporty reasons.
Realizing a breach of trust within the station, founder Larry Izamoje investigated and discovered that some of his employees were involved in fraudulent practices, siphoning off advertising and sponsorship money from clients. The impact, as discovered, was not only financial but has also affected the morale of his remaining staff and the reputation of the network of stations. The employees who were tracked to be involved in the nefarious activities were asked to go, but they did not just want to go quietly. The decided to use social media to attack the Brila Media Group with a view to tarnishing the reputation and credibility of the owners.
This brought to the fore trust issues regarding businesses and companies set up by individuals who sometimes receive flack if they are always directly involved in the day-to-day running of such companies.
I have known Larry Izamoje, since our days in Radio Nigeria in the 80s when he was a freelance artiste with the Outside Broadcast Unit, and I am sure that like me, he would prefer to be in retirement at this time and watch his business grow, without being caught up in the day-to-day running of the group as a one-man business in old age. This obviously prompted him, right from inception to guide the station by to employing professionals in different fields to help ensure the smooth running of operations – accountants, marketing and advertising people, technical staff, administration and others needed to run the business.
Somehow, staff whose fingers have been caught in the cookie jar are those trusted by the owners to make sure business runs well.
According to a management statement, it discovered “criminal diversion of funds, pass-off, invoice fabrication, receival of payments and system manipulation leading to the loss of over N150,000,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) over the last couple of years”, and the matter had been referred to the appropriate authorities.
Those involved have been invited by law enforcement agents, interrogated, and confessions made. “Surprisingly, some of the key actors connected to this devious and insidious activities have been engaged in digital vilification, orchestrating netizen mob against our organization and founder Dr. Larry Izamoje in order to blackmail the company and project it as insensitive and anti-employee”, the statement said.
It went further to express Brila’s commitment to professionalism, corporate governance, and value creation that benefits our stakeholders, including employees and reassured its business partners, listeners, and fans that the station remains their favourite sports radio network and reliable partner of choice.
Brila FM was founded on October 1, 2002, by Larry Izamoje as Nigeria’s first and only sports radio station. Brila FM expanded to four stations, in Lagos, Abuja, Onitsha, and Port Harcourt and the network has grown into a robust establishment with a dynamic online presence.
Unlike traditional radio stations that cover a wide range of topics, Brila FM is dedicated solely to sports, providing listeners with updates on local and international sporting events, discussions, and sports-related interviews.
The station has introduced several innovative programmes and segments aimed at engaging sports fans and they often feature live commentary during major sporting events and in-depth analysis of various sports. However, the current fraud issues have resulted in the shutdown of a couple
of its stations and would obviously be making Brila FM owners think back on different ways to run the business. But there is just no way business owners cannot engage professional staff to achieve success in their endeavours. A radio or TV station requires several categories of professionals, aside the core broadcasting and journalism practitioners.
But what has played out at Brila FM was the usual greed by employees who try tricks and ways to get rich at the expense of their employers, and end up sabotaging a genuine effort to expand the country’s economy and give jobs to qualified citizens.
Many Nigerian businesses are one-man businesses due to several factors, and lack of trust is one of them, as many entrepreneurs feel that they cannot rely on partners or employees due to concerns about loyalty, competence, or the potential for conflict. This leads them to operate solo to maintain control over their business.
The current issues at Brila FM, I am sure, would have shown Larry Izamoje and his team that in today’s digital landscape, the success of a radio station hinges not only on its programming but also on the integrity of its operations. Following the crisis, Larry has made the difficult decision to shut down a couple of stations. We are glad that even in the wake of online criticism, he has remained composed. Engaging in a heated online war will likely backfire, further damaging the station’s reputation. It is essential that this professional demeanour in all public communications is maintained. The statement released by the management has expressed their commitment to transparency and integrity within the company, while also assuring clients and listeners that the station is committed to restoring their trust.
They should go further to encourage loyal staff, clients, and listeners to share their positive experiences that can help counter the negativity from former employees and such testimonials and positive stories can be used to highlight the value and integrity of the station.
Hopefully a thorough investigation by law enforcement agencies and forensic accountants or a legal experts can provide more insight into the fraud and nip future attempts before they even commence, including reviewing and strengthening internal controls, more thorough auditing processes, regular financial reviews, and enhanced employee training on ethics and compliance.
While this fraud is a significant challenge, Brila FM has the opportunity to emerge from this crisis stronger and with a renewed commitment to integrity and transparency. By taking proactive steps, Brila FM can protect its brand, restore trust among clients and listeners, and ultimately create a more resilient radio station for the future. In times like these, the lessons learned can lead to more stringent practices and a more robust operation, that will ensure long-term success.
Brila FM remains a significant player in the Nigerian media landscape, influencing the way sports are appreciated and discussed in the country. This current challenge should just be but a tiny blip that should make the Brila Media Group a stronger performer in the burgeoning entertainment and sports sectors of the Nigerian economy.
