It is no more news that Ibadan is the first city in Nigeria to air a broadcast. Ibadan is the home of broadcast in Nigeria, from where radio stations in other cities and states draw their OAPs to achieve their essence in broadcast establishment. That is why the ancient city of Ibadan is blessed with veteran broadcasters, who have done tremendously well in their career. Those who have spent decades in broadcasting their names and voices have never been forgotten. Ibadan broadcasting industry has produced many outstanding veteran broadcasters, but not many people know that some of them still practise their trade till date.
This is why City People Head of TV, brings to you 10 veterans Ibadan-based broadcasters who are still very active.
ALHAJI ABOLADE SALAMI
Alhaji Abolade Salami is the current Head of Programmes at Fresh 105.9 FM and he has been a broadcaster since 1978 when he left secondary school. He worked with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) through the help of Ezekiel Abidoye Akinwumi, whom he described as his elder brother. Salami started his journey as a Studio Manager before he voluntarily left FRCN to join the first private radio station in Oyo State, Splash FM as a pioneer staff member.
ALHAJI ADEGBOYEGA LAWAL
The Ace radio presenter and a regular host of “O ndun Yungba” on Lagelu 96.7 Fm started his broadcasting career as a freelance Yoruba programme presenter in the year 1978 at the then Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), now Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ibadan. The Bashorun Adini of Ikolaba, Ibadan, is also the Patron of Hair Dressers’ Association of Nigeria. Lawal is the past Governor of FIBAN, Oyo State Chapter and National Liaison Officer of TAMPAN. He is currently, a freelance presenter at Oluyole 98.5 FM and Lagelu 96.7 FM. He’s also active on Facebook with his programme “Oro Agba”.
YEMI SONDE
Yemi Sonde, fondly called “Jigan”, is one of the brilliant broadcasters, who has given broadcasting a new shape that many broadcasters are now emulating. He started his trade in 1989 at age 29 at the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC). He was trained by the late ace broadcaster, Toba Opaleye. He is a regular host of a popular magazine programme on Splash 105.5 FM called “YS Live”. He was the presenter of “Miliki Express” on BCOS for 22 years. He once handled ‘Ema Bubble’ on BCOS. Certainly, Sonde is a well known voice in the Western part of Nigeria. Anchors shows in many Yoruba speaking states. He is the proprietor of “Yemi Sonde Media House” that runs an internet based radio services. He also runs Yemi Sonde Media Academy Radio (YES-MA Radio).
CHIEF DHIKIRULLAHI AKOLAWOLE OLOOTU
The veteran Yoruba broadcaster is one of the trending presenters doing very well in the modern day radio industry. Olootu is, indeed, one of the iconic Ibadan broadcasting personalities with a rich knowledge of the Yoruba Language and culture. Chief Kola Olootu started his professional career as a freelancer in 1985, from the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) Ile-Akede, Orita-Bashorun, Ibadan. Today, he is the Baasooro of Yorubaland, a title given to him in appreciation of his huge contribution to broadcasting industry in Yorubaland. He presents “Oselenkejo” and “Ale Ere Be” a popular programme on Lagelu FM on Wednesdays and Sundays respectively.
ALHAJI OLALOMI AMOLE
Alhaji Olalomi Amole, popularly called “Aare Mekunu” is a seasoned and humorous presenter of Yoruba programme. He started out in the 1970s by participating in a radio drama entitled: “Laugh and Learn” on the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), otherwise known as Radio Nigeria.
Currently, Olalomi, whose career has spanned over 40 years, co-hosts ‘OyinAdo’ and ‘Gbarada’, with his partner, Akomolafe Olaiya, on Fresh 105.9 FM, Ibadan.
OTUNBA AKOLAWOLE LADOKE
Akolawole Ladoke is a veteran newscaster/presenter in Ibadan. He is fondly called “Kola ooo”, which has come to become a household name as he presents Yoruba news review “Tifun-Tedo” on Splash 105.5 FM. Currently, he’s the Head of Programmes of Lagelu 96.7 FM, the twin sister of Splash FM. His dexterity in handling his programme makes him the people’s radio presenter.
BAALE YEMI OGUNYEMI
Yemi Ogunyemi, an impeccable radio/TV presenter, was on WNTV/WNBS and featured in children’s programmes. He later started freelancing, on with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria from where he went to the Nigerian Television Authority. He was a pioneer freelance staffer when the first NTV Theatre was established in 1977 only to become a full fledged members of staff in 1979. Ogunyemi started presenting ‘En Balaya’, which brought him fame in 1979 after Funmilola Olorunnisola, currently spokesman to many monarchs.
LERE SHITTU
“Mido Mido” as he’s fondly called, is the “Dokita Ife” of the popular programme on BCOS. He has more than 30 years experience in the industry. He started his broadcasting career at the Federal Radio Corporation, Ibadan and later joined the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) Ibadan, where he rose to the position of Assistant Director of Programmes. He is now the GM of Pensioners FM, 106.7.
ADEYANJU ADEGBITE
Uncle Yanju, as he loves to be addressed, was the first On-Air Personality on Radio O-Y-O 2 FM stereo first On-Air Personality on the television service of Oyo State (TSOS) – 1982. He worked at the Radio Nigeria between 1973 and 1976 before he joined BCOS in 1976. Mr. Yanju Adegbite with the sobriquet, the Music Merchant, has immensely contributed to the broadcast industry. He was a Studio Manager, Presenter, Newscaster, Disc. Jockey (D.J) and Master of Ceremonies (MC) with a touch of excellence. He was the Special Adviser to His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State on Broadcasting and the Chief Executive Officer of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) from 2011 to 2015. Currently, he works at Fresh 105.9 FM, and he is also the Special Adviser/Project Director, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).
KOMOLAFE OLAIYA
Komolafe Olaiya is one the successful veteran broadcasters in Ibadan and obviously one of the most humorous presenters of this generation, currently, Komolafe Olaiya co-hosts Oyinado and Gbarada, alongside his partner on air for over many decades, Olalomi Amole, on Fresh 105.9 FM, Ibadan.
Send Us News, Gist, more... to citypeopleng@gmail.com | Twitter: @CitypeopleMagz