By Adigun Akintayo
“Show me someone who does a good job and I will show you someone who is better than most and worthy of the company of kings.”
This Biblical allusion best describes the appointment of Kunle Junaid of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) who was appointed as General Manager in the Civil/Public Service of Oyo State.
His appointment as General Manager, dated 16th January, 2026, came a day to his official retirement from service, courtesy of the uncommon magnanimity of His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State.
Kunle Junaid, who spent 34 years in the State Public Service, started as a producer with the famous Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State – BCOS – after undergoing series of rigorous drilling auditions under the strict professional supervision of the then head of Presentation Unit (English), Mrs Funke Taiwo – ably assisted by the duo of messrs Olaolu Olatubosun and Femi Popoola, now High Chief and Barrister at Law, respectively.
BCOS, no doubt is a reputed training ground for those willing to make waves professionally broadcasting. And, Kunle Junaid, never missed the opportunity as he grabbed it firmly with both hands.
A household name in the broadcast media space across the South West, Kunle Junaid, as a broadcaster of distinction, a versatile producer, a dexterous presenter, a powerful newscaster, a vibrant commentator cum a talented and gifted mercurial public programmes anchor, cut his teeth under the sharp cutting edge industry leaders, the masters themselves – the iconic duo of Chief Bamiji Ojo and Prince Biodun Sanda – both BCOS Director of Programmes and General Manager respectively, during that time.
A multiple awards winner, KJ, as he is fondly called, produced and presented quite a number of popular and flagship programmes on both BCOS radio(O-Y-O and FM) as well as television, while in service, like Eyi Ara (including the sports segment pioneered by erstwhile Honourable Dauda Adam from whom he took over upon becoming an elected lawmaker in the Oyo State House of Assembly, thus becoming the second ever presenter of sports in Yoruba in the entire South West)
Others were Medley, Igbalaye, Ise Oojo, Olofinntoto, Atelewo, Lotunlotun, Gbangbadekun, Gbarada, Ojukoro, Gbagede Oselu, Eleti Ofe, as well as Iroyin, to mention just a few.
As a multi-talented producer of masterclass features and documentaries, Kunle Junaid led a 5-man crack team comprising late Tunji Alawaye, Wale Rufai, Biodun Akindele and Engineer Ayo Olubode, that produced the epic, classic and money-yielding Presidential Visit Documentary, way back in 2001, when the then President Olusegun Obasanjo paid an official 3-day visit to Oyo State during the tenure of Governor Lam Adesina, with Prince Dotun Oyelade at the helm of affairs in BCOS.
Also, Kunle Junaid – as the leader of “Rescue Team”(a vibrant legacy-propelled team) – played a pivotal role along with the likes of Debo Adeosun, Engineer Yekini Ogungbenro, Layi Fatokun, Stephen Adeyemo, Bola Adeyemo, among others, to diligently, purposefully, doggedly and patriotically revamp the hitherto comatose and near bankrupt Ile Akede (Radio) Cooperative CICS Ltd, bringing it back to enviable profitability between 2000 and 2006.
Before then, however, he was from 1997 to 2000, Oyo State Chairman of RATTAWU and Coordinator of the industrial union in the entire South West, that is, from Lagos to Delta States.
A great activist and fearless union leader, Kunle Junaid, equally represented Oyo State NLC in the Oyo State Productivity Committee set up by Governor Lam Adesina, between 2001 and 2003.
This was aside from his being one of the seven frontline-spokespersons for labour teams during the minimum wage negotiations with both the then military regime of Compol Amen Oyakhire as MILAD and Alhaji Lam Adesina as Executive Governor.
Between 2007 and 2011, courtesy of Governor Alao-Akala, he was seconded to Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board(Muslim Wing) as Secretary.
The secondment afforded him the opportunity and rare privilege to serve on a number of high profile committees of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria – NAHCON – such as Aviation (as the sole representative of the 17 Southern States), Madinah Accommodation, Suitcases, Transportation, Feeding as well as Munah Tent.
Until his redeployment back to BCOS in 2011, Kunle Junaid was the Secretary of the Forum of Chairmen and Secretaries of State Boards, Agencies and Commissions in the country.
In fact, despite his redeployment back to BCOS by the state government in June, 2011, Kunle Junaid – based on his track record of due diligence, transparency and accountability along with ability and proven integrity – was nevertheless invited by NAHCON, to serve as the National Secretary of its maiden National Feeding Committee.
In the course of his sojourn in the Civil/Public Service of Oyo State, Kunle Junaid, was privileged to attend a number of workshops, seminars, trainings and manpower development courses, prominent among them being a week-long executive course on Fraud Detection at the famous Administrative and Staff College, ASCON, Topo, Badagry, Lagos State, in 2002.
Again, he was one of the Oyo State Government’s sponsored 3-man participants in a top-class Batch 4 National Course(with other participants drawn from Defence, Foreign Affairs and Federal Finance Ministries as well as, CBN, NAFDAC, NDLEA, Academia, et al) at the very prestigious National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State, in December, 2025, where he again emerged as the unanimous Batch 4 Team Lead/Ambassador.
The very fascinating CV of KJ, which stood him shoulder high, might have been an important factor in his well deserved appointment as General Manager in the Civil/Public Service of Oyo State.
A man of destiny, humane, humble, gentle, likeable, affable, unassuming and easygoing, Kunle Junaid’s attainment of the peak of his chequered career in broadcasting, courtesy of the uncommon magnanimity of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, is definitely a veritable lesson to those still in service that hardwork, professionalism, dedication, undiluted patriotism, pursued with humility, level-headedness, honesty and perseverance, does not go unnoticed but rather pays off.
Adigun Akintayo is an Analyst with broadcast experience.
