Veteran broadcaster and CEO of Triple A Multimedia Network, Akin Akinborode, popularly known as "KOGOKOGO," has called on online radio On-Air Personalities (OAPs) to transition from mere presenters to community leaders by treating their audience as family. He made this declaration on Thursday, July 23, 2026, while delivering a keynote presentation titled "The Relationship Between Online Radio OAP and Listeners" at the grand finale of the one-year anniversary of Treasure Online Radio, held at the Ise Oluwa Ni Cooperatives Hall.

THENEWSCREDIT reports that Akinborode emphasized that the survival and profitability of digital broadcasting rely heavily on the emotional bond between the presenter and the listener. Unlike traditional terrestrial radio which relies on expensive transmitters, masts, and localized FM/AM airwaves limited to a 50–100km range, online radio utilizes servers and the internet to achieve global reach. This borderless nature allows listeners in Ogbomoso, Lagos, the United Kingdom, and Canada to stream the same broadcast simultaneously 24/7, turning the global audience into a tight-knit community.

Despite its borderless reach, the veteran broadcaster identified major hurdles facing online stations, including high data costs, erratic power supply, and low local adoption. To combat data costs, he recommended that stations strike "batal" partnerships with network providers, trading advertisement slots for data bundles. He also urged stations to deploy solar power, inverters, and automated transmission software to keep stations running smoothly during power outages or when presenters are offline.

THENEWSCREDIT reliably gathered that to bridge the local adoption gap, Akinborode advised OAPs to actively promote their stations using grassroots, mouth-to-mouth awareness campaigns in local markets, schools, churches, and mosques. He stressed that presenters must create meaningful, localized content that directly addresses community issues. Furthermore, he reminded operators to protect their stations from legal liabilities by using royalty-free music, securing proper streaming licenses, and consistently airing clear copyright disclaimers.

The lecture highlighted building long-term audience trust through intentional, authentic engagement, emphasizing a shift from traditional broadcasting to a two-way relationship where listeners feel seen and valued. OAPs are urged to humanize their presence by utilizing video live-streams, sharing personal stories, and actively conversing with listeners by incorporating social media comments and voice notes into broadcasts. Furthermore, fostering community requires extending engagement beyond airtime through dedicated communication channels and maintaining strict consistency in scheduling, content delivery, and providing valuable, actionable information.

The presentation also highlighted interactive on-air techniques, advising OAPs to use local proverbs, emojis, and playful slang to make listeners feel at home. He recommended running weekly call-in segments, highlighting a "comment of the day," and hosting interactive airtime giveaways to increase real-time engagement. By showing open gratitude, tracking listener locations via digital analytics, and directly messaging loyal fans, presenters can successfully turn casual listeners into brand evangelists.

Akinborode concluded by linking tight audience relationships directly to financial sustainability, noting that high listener loyalty creates reliable profit points. Advertisers and corporate sponsors are naturally drawn to highly engaged, interactive digital communities. By combining traditional advertisements, securing dedicated show sponsorships, and hosting paid localized services like birthday shoutouts and anniversary surprise programs, online radio stations can easily unlock self-sustaining revenue streams.