In commemoration of World Radio Day 2024, we collated thoughts of journalists and media managers on their career journeys in the radio in or through radio.
‘My involvement in radio was intentional’
My name is Ayodele, Emmanuel Eyitayo (TheVeryMostBlessedOne), C.E.O, Director of News, S.M.A FM, 104.7 MHz, EJIGBO, LAGOS & S.M.A FM, 104.7 MHz, IKOFA, IJEBU-ODE.
I am a presenter, programmes producer and broadcast engineer. I am a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN), Nigeria Association of Broadcast Technologist and Engineering Professionals (NABTEP).
My involvement in radio was intentional. No one would believe a stammerer could present.
I had been a lover of radio as a child. In fact, I coupled a transistor radio, as a student in Class four at Metropolitan College, with the assistance my teacher of Physics, Mr Suleimon, at the time, introducing me to diodes and their colour codes.
By 2008, I knew I must own a radio station if ever I wanted to influence the direction of radio programming. Coming from the background of being a sound technician and a DJ, all I need was the transmission end.
This happened in 2012 with S.M.A COLLEGE FM. By 2013, S.M.A SPECTRUM TECHNOLOGIES LTD was established with which we got a commercial license for S.M.A FM, IKOFA, IJEBU-ODE, in 2015. We got the commercial license for S.M.A FM, EJIGBO, LAGOS in 2018.
In the last decade, we have influence a crop of presenters who respect the listener, as a significant stake holder in the business of broadcasting.
We have also demonstrated that the situation of the Nigerian could be placed at the front-burner without being partisan.
Finally, the Nigerian language and culture has been accorded the right place on air via our medium.
‘I fell in love with radio because of the music, voices’
Babatunde Okunnola
Radio remains the most used mass communication medium across Africa, and continues to thrive inspite and despite of modern technological advancements. Studies estimate radio listenership to be between 60% and 80% of the continent’s 1.4 billion population.
I fell in love with radio because of the music, and the voices. I wondered about how one person had the power to influence, educate, and inform others about the world. How could one person know a little about so many things at once.
The mystery behind the personae behind that voice who could possibly be walking next to me without knowing it was indeed intriguing, and ohhh the powerful stories told that changed lives. The power of radio.
This year’s celebration of the 100-plus years of radio offers us an opportunity, to reflect on the historical significance, cultural relevance, political power and social impact of the medium.
Grateful for professional who have contributed greatly over the years like the Austin Okomas, Samson Deckers, Dan Foster, Chaz B, the Funke Treasures, Yinka Craig, the Aro Leonards, Adams Momoh , Steve Kadiri, and oh so many others who have held my hands and others who’ve influenced from afar off.
‘Anni Abdulsalaam for giving me the YES’
Elfreda Alarechi
On #WorldRadioDay2024, I am proud to say that I began my career as a radio journalist at Today95.1fm covering local issues such as health, environmental crises, business, and travelling across the sea and rivers to tell underreported stories.
All thanks to Anni Abdulsalaam for giving me the YES I needed in 2017 to start this journey, and I am forever grateful because our paths crossed, and this path I took has now given birth to The Colonist Report and The Colonist Report Africa-TCR Africa
Elfreda Alarechi,
In honour of Komla Dumor
Amaka Okoye
On World Radio Day today, I like to honour specially the late Komla Dumor, the man who inspired me to become a journalist. I never got to tell him that, because I was still in my 2nd year as a radio student when he passed on in 2014. I remembered vividly how our lecturer Sebastian Koladiyil broke the news to us on that morning of January 18th, 2014 in our radio practical class.
And for my next assignment on Features and Packages, I would do a feature on the Lives and Times of Komla Dumor. Of course we didn’t have a studio or school radio station at the time, so my piece on him was only heard by our lecturer and other classmates. I was so glad I did that. It was rather a tribute. For my classmates and lecturer, it was an assignment, but for me, it was a tribute to a man who made so much impact on me without ever knowing.
I remember exactly how he sounds as the host of the radio programme Network Africa on BBC then. And even when he presented The World Today on the BBC World Service. From listening to him on radio to watching him on TV and seeing all of his expressions and loud laughter and the flair and ease with which he presented. And his extra excitement when he was on ground reporting especially when it was something on football is one that hasn’t left my memory.
His voice made radio a must to listen to. His narrative or presenting skill fueled my imagination about whatever the subject matter was even as I listened without seeing his face. He had the language, the tone, the right emotions and one could feel his sense of humour during his programmes. His voice resounded in a way that just resonates. He was a delight. And every time I heard him, I say to myself, I will make a great journalist and storyteller like this man. He did it with so much ease. At least that was how it came across to me. It was natural.
It is for people like him and many more great voices on radio, that I believe that radio will never go extinct. And today, I am grateful that I once heard his voice and though I didn’t end up in radio save for a few months on internship I did in Radio Shahidi(Isiolo, Kenya), I am forever grateful for the impact he made. May his light keep shining!
