Profile

Author and Feminism Advocate, Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie has taken to her Instagram page to shower praises on legendary Nigerian Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka. In her post, Adichie expressed awe for and gratitude to Soyinka describing him as a “Guiding Light. The author shared a picture of herself with the Literary Giant and wrote: “You are, for me, a Guiding Light…

Chimamanda Adichie, from Anambra State of Nigeria, is a genius. As a genius, she has graced American Times Magazine most influential 100 people on Earth a couple of times, and won world women prize for fiction 2007. She is a McArthur fellowship member, a group of world distinguished scholars only for GENIUS.

Adichie won America’s National Book Critics Award for fiction 2014. Won Pen Open book Award for fiction and also won World Best short Award for Literature.

In 2002, she was shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing for her short story “You in America”,and her story “That Harmattan Morning” was selected as a joint winner of the 2002 BBC World Service Short Story Awards. In 2003, she won the David T. Wong International Short Story Prize 2002/2003 (PEN Center Award). In 2010 she was listed among the authors of The New Yorker’s “20 Under 40” Fiction Issue. In April 2014, she was named as one of 39 writers aged under 40[106] in the Hay Festival and Rainbow Book Club project Africa39, celebrating Port Harcourt UNESCO World Book Capital 2014.

In April 2017, it was announced that Adichie had been elected as one of 228 new members to be inducted on 7 October 201, into the 237th class of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; one of the highest honours for intellectuals in the United States.

Adichie holds 16 honorary doctorate degrees from universities including Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Edinburgh, Duke University, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, and the Catholic University of Louvain, among many others.

On 13 October 2022, she rejected an award that was to be given to her by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. She reportedly did not accept the award and, as such, did not attend the ceremony.

Today, she is the most influential Nigerian woman apart from Okonjo Iweala on the world stage. She dines with Presidents, top elites, and even Kings and Queens. Dinning with Africa’s most cherished Nobel Award winner, is still a honour, and privilege to her. The lesson, here, is that generations after her will give her the due honour.

Julie Coker

Julie Coker was a television journalist and broadcaster. She was a brand and a foremost familiar face in television broadcasting in Nigeria during the beginning of the industry.

Coker’s father was Yoruba from Abeokuta while her mother is itsekiri from Warri area. She grew up in Lagos with her mother and step-father and attended St Mary’s Convent primary school, founded by Catholic missionaries and managed by nuns of Our Lady of Apostles. At school, Julie found interest in the choir and performance art, an interest that was nurtured by the nuns. She later gained admission into Holy Child College. When she was fourteen years old, her mother fell ill and went to her village to recuperate, Coker stayed with her step-father’s family who lived in a communal compound. But after a year, without a letter or note from her mother, she risked the waterways to go and search for her in the Sapele area of current Delta State. Coker spoke Yoruba and Itsekiri, the language of her maternal family. When she landed in Sapele, she spoke with strangers to describe what she knew about her mum’s village and by nightfall, someone was able to assist and get her to her grandmother’s place. A few days later and after much apprehension, she was taken to see her mother who was quite ill. She stayed with her until she was fairly strong. When she was ready to return to school, her mother had expended her savings. Coker asked family members for school fees but she could not obtain the full payment. It was at this point in her life, her great aunt’s tricked her into an early teenage marriage. She was briefly in the man’s house until she escaped with the help of her aunt to Lagos. In Lagos, she earned a scholarship to continue at Holy Child College. In 1957, she represented her school in a festival of arts that was featured in the Daily Times Newspaper. After she left secondary studies, Coker began teaching at a convent in Warri, it was during this period she noticed as advertisement for a Miss Western Nigeria competition. Coker entered and won the competition in 1958, that same year, she was a runner-up at the Miss Nigeria contest.

In 1959, she became part of the team of WNTV, she initially worked as a receptionist but when Anike Agbaje-Williams was pregnant and wanted to go on maternal leave, Coker was brought in as a replacement. Coker became one of the earliest well known television broadcasters in Nigeria. After Western Nigeria Television started operation as the first T.V. station in Nigeria, Coker was the second female announcer.

Apart from television, Coker released three albums under E.M.I. Music Nigeria and was an actress in the film, Dinner with the Devil.

Ruth Benamaisia Opia

For many years, the name Ruth Benamaisia Opia was a household name because of her appearance on the network news of the Nigeria Television Authority most evenings. She was the darling of most viewers whose alluring voice adorned the tube as a Newscaster for years.

With her brain, beauty and a voice which viewers looked forward to, she endeared herself to Nigerians during the years she spent at NTA.

She was one of the few broadcasters who molded many young followers in the course of her career, having started broadcasting in 1977. Ruth was born in Lagos to a Bayelsa father and an Ndokwa mother from Delta state. Now in her early 60s, she is married to Professor Eric Opia, the former boss of the now defunct Oil and Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC). They are blessed with beautiful children.

Ruth began her career in broadcasting at the Radio Nigeria, Enugu, before switching over to television at the time that there were few television stations in the country. Her brain, beauty and voice made way for her in the broadcasting industry. Noticeably, her infectious smile strikes her out from the crowd. She was later appointed a commissioner in Bayelsa State.

Patrick oke

The journey of life naturally depends on the whines and caprices of life itself. Some schools of thought agree it is providence. Even in an accident one can still have an happy ending.

Patrick Oke is an example of an accident gone right. He remained popular as a Network Newscaster on NTA and a Co-Anchor of NEWSLINE, Pairing with Yinka Craig. His national baritone voice served as a very good asset coupled with his distinct and polished diction.

Patrick’s childhood ambition was to become a doctor; he wanted to read Medicine after he came back from Britain in 1974. However all his efforts to get admitted into any of the Nigerian Universities to read medicine failed.

 This “Accident” blew up his ambition and he ended up in a Broadcasting House instead of the Hospital Wards.

Patrick was playing table tennis in a nearby house when one of his friends told him he was going for an audition test at the then Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). He quickly volunteered to go with his friend for the test even though his seriousness at really getting a job was questionable.

Then came the irony, his friend failed the audition out rightly why he passed and immediately bagged a job as an announcer, the Genesis of his broadcasting career.

The salient necessity of combining knowledge and wisdom to enhance one’s career propelled his ambition to move up the academics ladder. He got admitted into the University of Lagos for a Diploma in Mass Communication in 1978 and later a Bachelor of Arts degree in the same course in 1985, after working for a while in Voice of Nigeria (VON).

In 1985, he was transferred to the News department of NTA Channel 10 Lagos.

Patrick Oke even though in love with the profession could not hide his feelings about the reward which he said and still insists is nothing to write home about, compared to what we have in other profession.

According to him it is the interest over and above any other thing now in his Sixties, Patrick Oke plays Lawn Tennis, Chess, Scrabble and Badminton.

A real professional Broadcaster.

Frank Olize

Frank Olize was a dominant figure and legendary broadcaster who feature on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in 1980s and 1990s unarguably a legendary broadcaster. His unique style of presentation was so much admired when he anchored NEWSLINE, a programme aired every Sunday on NTA from 9pm – 10pm. Not just that the programme was very interesting, Olize’s presentation style kept viewers captivated and glued to their television sets while he was on air.

He had this hilarious presentation style which took television presentation to another level

His local assets which could had been a minus eventually became a plus, hence his unique style nobody could did it the way he was doing it. Olize had a way of activating viewer’s emotions while they watched his programme. He could be emotional to the extent that he often shed tears when a story got so emotional and he couldn’t hold himself anymore. Eventually NEWSLINE became a Sunday-Sunday tonic for many Nigerians.

Little was heard about him after his sojourn in NTA. The most prominent information you find about him is his appearance at his daughter’s wedding in Dubai. Needless to say he wants to now live a life one can describe as really private.

One thing is sure: whether he is off the radar or operating from underground, Frank Olize continues exists in the minds of many Nigerians who enjoyed that his unique style of presentations on NEWSLINE, NTA.

Sienne  AllWell – Brown

Sienne Allwell – Brown was a television Presenter with NTA. Her career started with her debut on Radio in 1973 at NBC Ikoyi, Lagos before she ventured into television.

A Fashionista because of her very beautiful outfits on TV then.

Sienne attended Aba township school, Aba in Abia State and ACM Girls’ school Elelenwa, Rivers State. For her “A” Levels, she attended Kulbum Polythenic London in 1979. She also bagged her LLB (HONS) Law at the Middlesex, University  of London in 1984, Nigerian Law School, Lagos B.L 1985 at Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. For three years Sienne was newscaster reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority 1976-1979 where she was also, newscaster reporter editor news producer controller from 1985- 1994. (Another nine years). She was the General Manager/Chief Executive for the Rivers state Television from 1994-1996 A principal partner at the Allwell–Brown and Co(Solicitor ) from 1996-2000 (4 years).

There is no gain saying the fact that Sienne Allwell –Brown led the pack of glamorous newscasters on the NTA Network then she had an impeccable dress sense and Aura. She distinguished herself as a great professional thus stealing the heart of viewers with her clear diction and personal style. After so many years of doing what she knows best, Sienne, finally bid goodbye to the camera and the neon lights.

Sienne Allwelll- Brown has many honors and awards to her credit including AMAOPUO RUBO Grand Bonny kingdom in 2006, a title conferred to select few females every few decades for serving the country and Bonny Kingdom creditably.

She was awarded certificate of commendation, Newscaster of the year Category, Nigeria Media Merit Award . Also for three consecutive years, Sienne was voted Best Nigerian Newscaster by “Lagos Life”. A Guardian Newspaper Publication – 1986 – 1988.

Sienne Allwell –Brown is also a member of many professional organizations both local and international: Association of Business Communications (IABC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), International Public Relations Association UK and many more.  

Ronke Ayuba

A time there was when the Nigerian Television Authority was the darling of millions of Nigerians. Those years the NTA Newscasters were the most popular stars in the Nigerian Galaxy. NTA was the station and one of the most seductive newscasters then was the legendary RONKE DARLEY later to become RONKE AYUBA

Ronke Ayuba started her broadcasting career in 1972 at the NBC (Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation), Ibadan, Oyo State as a freelance Presenter of a Radio Programme and also at the WNTV/WNBS after which she was employed as an Announcer and Presenter in March 1973

In 1981 she was transferred to NTA Lagos as a newscaster and she exploded into stardom in 1985. She later abandoned the broadcasting job for business.

For a good part of the early 1980s Ronke Ayuba dazzled most Nigerians to such an extent that when she left her job in NTA as the Primetime Newscaster, Many Nigerians were not only sad but also shocked.

The goddess of the Nigerian tube went to establish a clothes designer outfit.

Many people were also surprised at her fashion statements on Television. She also became a restaurateur at the Tafawa Balewa complex in Lagos.

Ronke , the Sassy beauty who affirmed she really missed her fans and professional colleagues  also said she was glad to be away from it all as she already had enough of T.V presentation. Ronke Ayuba was so charming on Television that many regarded her then as the unofficial “Miss Nigeria”. 

She maintained an active post television life, especially with her marriage to one of the most powerful men in Nigeria then, General Tanko Ayuba. She was later appointed a member of the Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG).

She became the first Lady in Kaduna State as her husband was appointed Governor of the State.

It is on record that the famous Trio and girls of NTA Ruth Benamaisa  – Opia, Kehinde Young Harry, Sienne Allwell – Brown  were contemporaries of Ronke Ayuba.

JONES OKPOHO USEN

If one is to stir up a juicy debate on who and who falls within that category of longest serving and most successful broadcaster, the name that will readily come to our mind of minds is Jones Okpoho Usen popularly called Citizen Usen.

Jones Usen, a native of Akwa Ibom was born in Lagos on April 4, 1950.

The young Jones (now 70 years old), then joined the old Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation in 1974 from college.

On radio, Jones was hot with debates and has been known for interviewing high profiled personalities in almost all the sectors of live. He has won several awards for his dexterity as a professional Broadcaster and these include “Announcer of the Year” by the NBC (Nigerian Broadcasting Commission), Broadcaster of the year by the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA).

In broadcasting, Jones Usen is a rolling stone with a difference because he really gathered and is gathering mosses.

He has traversed the electronic media of radio and television for the better part of the last forty years. He was at different times Programmes Director, Head of Programmes and Production Manager. Jones Usen is currently with the Continental Broadcasting Services (Radio Continental, Lagos), where he has become a source of inspiration to colleagues and other professionals.

Jones Usen is married with children and grand children.

MALLAM NASIR DANLADI BAKO

Mallam Danladi Bako was born on September 1, 1957. An astitute and eminent broadcaster cum Public Administrator, he attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos.

He worked at Rema Radio, Sokoto from 1973 and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Lagos.

He was a former Anchor “Morning Ride” in 1988 and also former presenter “Master sports”.

He later became Head of the Maiduguri Zone of the National Broadcasting Commission before he was appointed the Personal Assistant to the Minister of Sports.

Danladi Bako later became the secretary, Media sub-committee local organizing committee.

He was Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission between 1999 – 2002.

He later became the head media sub-committee, 2014 Commonwealth Games Bidding Committee.

Along the line in 2007, he dabbled into politics and was made chairman, media and publicity, North-West PDP and also chairman Presidential campaign committee in 2015. However, Bako became the chairman media and publicity, 2015 Sokoto State Governorship campaign. He was appointed commissioner in charge of information in Sokoto State between 2012 – 2015.

Danladi Bako the Black Belt Taekwondist, is now the KOGUNAN SAKWATTO.

He garnered several awards as a professional which included Best producer/presenter award of the NTA Sokoto and also Best overall staff award in 1980.

Board Member Cross River Basin Development Authority 2004 – 2008.

Governing Council Member Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi 2009 – 2013.  

Mallam Danladi Bako has been rightly described as larger than life. A man of extra ordinary achievements, A serious minded Administrator, Broadcaster Extraordinaire, a meticulous teacher and a maverick. A living legend of sort.