Our Team

Faruk Dalhatu (Managing Director) A purpose driven and hardworking team player who contributed in taking FREEDOM RADIO from a modestly planned upstart to a highly respected and influential media outfit in Nigeria and beyond. The team of initial 47 staff that he recruited and headed grew FREEDOM RADIO from a one-station outfit to a vibrant group of 4 stations across 3 cities of Kano, Kaduna and Dutse in North-Western Nigeria. That team which grew to 265 had developed such compelling contents that became a must copy for all competitors. FREEDOM RADIO had enjoyed massive man-power development, financial growth as well as absolute industrial peace under his watch. During the same period, FREEDOM RADIO had received over 500 certificates, commendations and awards by various bodies at home and abroad. Likewise, it partnered with over 100 bodies and causes for the promotion of public good. In February 2016, Faruk Dalhatu and his team won a grant to set up Dandal Kura, a radio aimed at countering violent extremism in Maiduguri, the epicenter of Boko Haram insurgency.

The phenomenal success of this Kanuri and Hausa languages radio has earned it intense attention and accolades by all the stakeholders in the Lake Chad Region crisis. After the grant ended in February 2018, the team under the leadership of Faruk Mohammed Dalhatu continued to broadcast as an INDEPENDENT radio in Maiduguri. This string of successes culminated into the establishment of the only PRIVATE FM station in Maiduguri in March 2019.

A graduate of Ohio University, Athens, U.S.A. Dalhatu has attended several career enhancing courses and endeavors.

Dalhatu is on the board of directors and board of trustees of several companies and NGOs.

Rahama Zakari Bello started her career in the media at Freedom Radio Group in 2005 as Admin Officer. Her experience also includes over 5 years as Human Resources/Administrative Manager at Opportunities Industrialization Centres International (OICI); implementing the Entrepreneurship Development Centre, EDC which is a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) project. She was instrumental to its expansion to over 5 North Western States in Nigeria including Abuja during the project’s life span. As a Manager, Rahama worked to support the growth and competitiveness of her employers by developing and implementing internal control practices and procedures that comply with local and International best practices where she controlled over 100 staff.

Rahama Bello joined Dandal Kura Radio International (DKRI) as Executive Director on the 1st of February, 2020. Before then, she worked for over 2 years as Human Resources, Administrative and Procurement Manager with Network Arewa24 Limited; over 3 years of work experience at Equal Access (EAN), a media industry; as Human Resources and Administrative Manager.

Bello graduated from Kaduna Polytechnic with HND in 1991. She is on the board of several companies and NGOs.

Ahmed A Akewula is a consummate professional in Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Auditing, Financial Reporting and Budgeting, Tax and Accounts Reconciliation with over 20 years cognate working experience out of which 12 years is at management level. Working experience in Production, Media, CSOs, Engineering and Construction Industries with a proven capacity of improving profit and cutting costs through knowledge of all areas of budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, reporting and analysis. A self-starter, team player, problem solver, stickler for procedure and strong ability to work under pressure and as well as in multicultural environments.

Akewula assumed the role of DKRI General Manager on the 18th of October 2021.

Responsible for administration and personnel issues of the station. He has been working in radio industry since 2004 where he garnered experiences in various departments and session of two radio stations. First as Admin Secretary of Freedom Radio Kano from where he moved to Dandal Kura Radio International as Head of Administration and Human Resources since 2016.   

Holds Advanced Diploma in Public Administration from Bayero University Kano and proficient with Microsoft word and excel software. Speaks Hausa and English languages at an acceptable level.