By Israel Babalola
Without mincing words, some Radio giants have bowed out of the radio industry in the Country, particularly the Capital city of Oyo State, Ibadan.
One would say, these radio geniuses left while the ovation for them is high in the media industry and the city at large. Thus, to some of us their die hard fans, it was a very wrong and unnecessary move!
Although, the city radio sphere has moved on, but yet the mark of these ones is still on the radio pathway cannot be forgotten so soon in Ibadan, and even Nigeria by extension.
Check our listed 5 Ibadan On-air-personalities that left Nigeria at the peak of their careers amidst others. This is not an exhaustive list, but these 5 are prominent for us;
FOLAKE OTUYELU
The household name Otuyelu, well known as ‘GCON’ was a very popular indegneous newscaster and radio presenter on Splash 105.5 FM, Ibadan. Her mastery of the Yoruba language and boldness on radio endears people to the newspaper review programme ‘Tifun-tedo’ and makes it the people’s favourite. Nevertheless, it is still a rude shock for many of her radio fans to learn that she has left the country unannounced and relocated permanently to the United States of America, alongside her entire family. Some few years ago, she granted an interview from her new domain, and explained that she has to flee the country in that manner because of incessant assassination attempt on her life by unknown persons who may have been hurt by her bravery and professionalism on air. As at the time of filling this report, Otuyelu is living happily with her family, while radio observers hopes for her return on Radio someday very soon.
JACOBS ADEYEMI
TOPE ALABI
IFEOLUWA ADENIYI
REAL BUBBLEMASTER
Olumuyiwa Adekunle, better known as Real Bubblemaster on Radio was a distinct and excitement personified OAP. He was a freelance presenter at Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) until 2005 when he left the country for the United Kingdom. The much loved anchor of the popular show, E ma Bubble, back then left several mouth opened, when we were hit with the news of his departure. His highly entertaining Yoruba show was a show never to be missed, he was a delight to listen to. The former lecturer of The Polytechnic Ibadan is currently in Dublin Ireland still doing his thing on the microphone and entertaining listeners of his radio show on an online platform. He revealed in an online conversation with some of his former colleagues at BCOS, like Daddy Freeze, Femi Obong-Daniels, Femi Olugbogi, Lyrical Genius among others that his last salary at BCOS before he left in 2005 was 1200 Naira.
Which of these departures hurt you the most and still hurts till date?
Ifeoluwa Adeniyi and jay jay
I missed those voices
Ifeoluwa adeniyi
Jacobs
Radio queen
Your report is comprehensive. Before I read this report, I thought you wouldn’t remember Bubble master because it’s been a while he left. I was surprised to see his name in the list. Being an ardent radio listener, there is none of them that I don’t know. The way you described each of them is accurate. However, there is another Yoruba presenter that should equally make up this list. His name is Oyekunle Azeez A. K. A. Professor. He also worked with BCOS and the then Radio OYO now known as Olúyọ̀lé FM. He was a radio presenter, TV presenter and an actor. He came up with a Yoruba soap opera then entitled “Ẹniìtàn” and that was where he played the role of a professor. Besides that, he substituted alàgbà Banji Òjó as the anchor of the programme “Só Dáa Bẹ́ẹ̀?” when the former retired. He equally left the Nigerian soil for America at the peak of his career. I think you should hire me