Tobi Aworinde
A veteran broadcaster and elder statesman, Otunba Kunle Olasope, has shed more light on the long-held controversy surrounding who holds the record of ‘first African television presenter.’
The ace journalist, in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH at his Efon Alaye Ekiti home, highlighted his role at the inauguration of the first African television station service, Western Nigeria Television.
Olasope said, “I had finished at the Nigerian College in 1958/59 and television was about starting. So, they advertised for positions and I applied, having worked for about one year and a few months at Radio Nigeria before. So, Anike Agbaje-Williams, Segun Olusola, Olu Falomo and I became pioneer personalities of television in Africa.
“The truth of the matter is that I was part of the opening ceremonies for WNTV (Western Nigeria Television), first in Africa. The opening took place at the Western (Nigeria) House of Chiefs secretariat, Ibadan, and from outside the lawns, I read the opening news bulletin, (for) five minutes at 7.25 pm.”
He noted that the last third of the bulletin underscored the events of the night, which included the opening of the first television station, before the late Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, arrived at 7.29 pm.
The elder statesman said, “As soon as he came in, the video recording of that night started from there. They did not record my own part. They started recording from the arrival of Chief Awolowo’s car up to the inside of the hall. It was after Chief Awolowo had opened the television there that we then crossed over to Television House from where Anike did the opening continuity announcement to launch programming.
“So, I was part of the opening ceremony, which preceded the launching of programmers; Anike was part of the launching of programmes. But because, if you pick the video of that day you will not see me, it made people to wonder, ‘Where is Kunle’s claim?’ Not only that; ordinarily, today, you go from the studio to the OB (outside broadcasting)
“If, for example, there was something happening at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, it was the announcer in the studio who would first say, ‘We are going over to the Liberty Stadium where are now having the National Day parade, etc.’ That event, again, made those people wonder how I could have preceded Anike.”
However, according to him, the inauguration had to take place before programming could start.
“By the time NTA (Nigerian Television Authority) was marking 50 years in 2009, I made a suggestion that instead of having this controversy raging on, Anike should claim she is the first television announcer in Africa and I the first television newscaster in Africa. First is first; news casting is different from announcing. Anike is a woman; I am a man. And that is exactly what NTA did,” he added.
Speaking on state-owned stations, Olasope said state governments must realise that they were holding the stations in trust for the people while in office.
He said, “Here we are now. (Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo) Fayose went on air and announced something. The poor boys and girls couldn’t have stopped him. He is the head of government but now they are the ones suffering until further notice. The National Broadcasting Commission has closed down the station until farther notice.
“I am already making moves because I have a stake in that station, being its pioneer chairman and first executive chairman. And I hope that the government of Kayode Fayemi, being an intellectual and gentleman, would give us his backing to see that that station comes back on air.”
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