The Golden Days of Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS)-Updated Version, By: Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.

I used to as a young boy wake up by 5am to listen to African Proverbs on EBS Radio .” *The Words of Our Father are Words of Wisdom*”, the Presenter would say. It was a Programme filled of lessons and morals. A very good way to start the Morning.

Those were the golden days of Broadcasting in Benin City dominated by Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) on its Radio @ 9.57 FM “The Star Station ” and television @ Channel 55, EBS TV- “Nothing Else is Better”.

At a time, EBS Radio and Television were the only radio and television Stations in the now Edo and Delta States. Then it was known as Bendel Broadcasting Service (BBS), before the 27th of August, 1991, when the then Bendel State was split to Edo and Delta States. I make bold to say that the then BBS had the most talented OAPs in Nigeria. Later, it transmogrified to Edo/ Delta Broadcasting Service and finally to EBS and DBS, Delta Broadcasting Service.

Those were the days of the Mystery Lady “May Nwoko later Ifeoma Nwoko, I actually thought there was some thing mysterious about her, Uyi Ihama, Charles Ogbogodo, Tony Umole (deceased ), Cosmos Omohinmin, Alhaji Shehu Dododawa, Pius Ehimen, Ransley Abu Osagie, Ann Olumense Adesuwa Osunde, later Adesuwa Onyenukwe, Rev. Tunde Saint Barret, Joe Fabro Ikpomwosa, Babatunde Iwobi of the EBS Trade Fair Fame, Peters Air Irere of Jazz Music Fame, the godfather-Godwin Egbe, the Ayomose Crooner-Peter Imuona Imoaka of HighLife Music Fame and others too numerous to mention.

These icons inspired a generation of persons on radio, including the Writer to take a shot at radio with a very educative Programme “Can You Guess” pioneered by Cosmos Omohimin and Ogini Oluwole Nicholas.The Programme had the likes of Kennedy Ebakata, the late Francis Debba Omoregieva, Blue Guy Ernest Umegboro, Ibrahim Momoh, Obilakaba Ikechukwu, Kingsley Ukaoha, Festus Alenkhe, Agbons Osawaru, Fredrick Omo -Izobo, Okenwa Christopher, Angela Ikimano now Angela Onyekpen, Egbagbe A. Sunday, Bob Igechie and Dr Jolly N. Iguma, Ambassador Odey Jolly, Omenai Charles, Ogaga Emongware, Osazuwa Osahon Daniels – who was the first person in Nigeria to win 5 Myllion Naira in “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” and others too numerous to mention. The Programme ‘Can you guess’ was rested and sacrificed for another programme, Beats and laughs. I understand that the then Management of EBS preferred Beats and Laughs to Can You Guess, because in their opinion it appealed more to the citizens, saying can you guess appealed only to a few elite. I wonder how they came to such a faulty conclusion till today. The Alumni of Can You Guess are thinking of bringing the Programme back even at our expense. That is how passionate we are about the Programme.

There was a period EBS horned a generation of Young OAPs who are excelling in their areas of endeavours all across the Country.
The Programme “Campus Request” produced the likes of Suleiman Aledeh now Sulai Aledeh, Chris Ellems, Tracy Osadolor, Mary Ajayi and the late Samson Ohimiokhai (Nephew to High Chief Raymond Dokpesi). They were mostly young students of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, who combined their studies with Broadcasting and they excelled in both.
Rita Okechukwu and Tracy Osadolor were the love angels of EBS Radio, churning out melodious songs at night with ease and pleasure every night, serenading listeners to sleep!

Cordelia Okpe had a sway with “Make a Minute”, a very educative programme that emphasized on the use of English to talk about any subject. Vievien Okafor, the ebony black beauty and Flora Bossey were both doing Newscasting on Television, but the Queen of Newscasting was the very comely and suave Sidi Lawal, that became Sidi Lawal-Eholor and then Sidi Lawal-Igio. Watching her on EBS Channel 55 Comprehensive News was like watching Arise TV News of today.

Who can forget the comic Felix Ogie of *Una Good Morning Show* on EBS Radio, a vintage and satiric pidgin English programme that pioneered the exposure of the ills of Society on Radio in Benin and that even criticised the Government of the day .It was a *The Golden Days of Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS)-Updated Version . By :Douglas Ogbankwa Esq*.

I used to as a young boy wake up by 5am to listen to African Proverbs on EBS Radio .” *The Words of Our Father are Words of Wisdom* “,the Presenter would say .It was a Programme filled of lessons and morals .A very good way to start the Morning.
Those were the golden days of Broadcasting in Benin City dominated by Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) on its Radio @ 9.57 FM “The Star Station ” and television @ Channel 55 ,EBS TV – “Nothing Else is Better “.

At a time, EBS Radio and Television were the only radio and television Stations in the now Edo and Delta States .Then it was Known as Bendel Broadcasting Service (BBS), before the 27th of August ,1991,when the then Bendel State was split to Edo and Delta States .I make bold to say that the then BBS had the most talented OAPs in Nigeria .Later ,it transmogrified to Edo/ Delta Broadcasting Service and finally to EBS and DBS ,Delta Broadcasting Service.

Those were the days of the Mystery Lady “-May Nwoko later Ifeoma Nwoko,I actually thought there was some thing mysterious about her ,Uyi Ihama ,Charles Ogbogodo ,Tony Umole (deceased ) ,Cosmos Omohinmin,Alhaji Shehu Dododawa ,Pius Ehimen,Ransley Abu Osagie ,Ann Olumense Adesuwa Osunde ,later Adesuwa Onyenukwe,Rev. Tunde Saint Barret ,Joe Fabro Ikpomwosa Babatunde Iwobi ,of the EBS Trade Fair Fame , Peters Air Irere of Jazz Music Fame , the godfather-Godwin Egbe ,the Ayomose Crooner-Peter Imuona Imoaka of HighLife Music Fame and others too numerous to mention .

These Icons inspired a generation of persons on radio ,including the Writer to take a shot at radio with a very educative Programme “Can You Guess” pioneered by Cosmos Omohimin and Ogini Oluwole Nicholas.The Programme had the likes of Kennedy Ebakata ,the late Francis Debba Omoregieva ,Blue Guy Ernest Umegboro,Ibrahim Momoh,Obilakaba Ikechukwu,Kingsley Ukaoha , Festus Alenkhe , Agbons Osawaru,Fredrick Omo -Izobo,Okenwa Christopher,Angela Ikimano now Angela Onyekpen,Egbagbe A. Sunday ,Bob Igechie and , Dr Jolly N. Iguma , Ambassador Odey Jolly ,Omenai Charles ,Ogaga Emongware , Osazuwa Osahon Daniels -who was the first person in Nigeria to win 5 Million Naira in “Who Wants to be Millionaire “and others , too numerous to mention.The Programme Can you guess was rested and sacrificed for another programme ,Beats and laugh .I understand that the then Management of EBS preferred Beats and Laugh to Can You Guess , because in their opinion it appealed more to the citizens ,saying can you guess appeals only to a few elite.I wonder how to came to such a faulty conclusion till today .The Alumni of Can You Guess are thinking of bringing the Programme back alive ,even at our expense . That how passionate we are about the Programme.

There was a Period EBS horned a generation of Young OAPs who are excelling in their areas of endeavours all across the Country.
The Programme “Campus Request” ,produced the Likes of Suleyman Aledeh now Sulai Aledeh,Chris Ellems ,Tracy Osadolor,Mary Ajayi and the late Samson Ohimiokhai (Nephew to High Chief Raymond Dokpesi) .They were mostly young students of the University of Benin,UNIBEN,who combined their studies with Broadcasting and they excelled in both .
Rita Okechukwu and Tracy Osadolor were the love angels of EBS Radio ,churning out melodious songs at night with ease and pleasure every night ,serenading listeners to sleep!

Cordelia Okpe had a sway with “Make a Minute “,a very educative programme that enphasized on the use of English to talk about any subject .Vievien Okafor the ebony black beauty and Flora Bossey ,were both doing Newscasting on Television, but the Queen of Newscasting was the very comely and suave Sidi Lawal ,that became Sidi Lawal-Eholor and then Sidi Lawal-Igio.Watching her on EBS Channel 55 Comprehensive News was like watching Arise TV News of today .

Who can forget the comic Felix Ogie of *Una Good Morning Show* on EBS Radio, a vintage and satiric pidgin English Programme that pioneered the exposure of the ills of Society on Radio in Benin and that even criticized the Government of the day. It was a programme that had cross appeal to all facets of Society. Another indelible character in EBS then was the very boisterous and enterprising Festus Okugbe, who was the Sports Czar in EBS then. He made the watching of the 1994 World Cup memorable. In between the World Cup Matches, the delectable Ann Olumense read the news. Festus Okugbe and Ann Olumense later ended up as husband and wife. Festus had earlier made his mark with the Ugbowo Bombers, a football team of young lads that won the Gothia Cup in Denmark about twice in the 90s.

Cletus Balogun was a sight to behold reading the Channel 55 Comprehensive News and later presenting a celebrities programme together with Osagie Asabor (Now GM EBS), Charles Ogboghodo, Mathew Atagam, Osaretin Ero, Osazee Obazee etc. The Channel 55 Comprehensive News however was cooked in the inner recesses of the EBS News Room by. egg heads like Mr. Ebueku, Ransley Abu Osagie (former GM), Mr. Edokpayi, Mr Braimah, Pius Ehimen etc. It was a close group of experts, who controlled the news structure. It was headed by the Controller News, a very powerful figure that actually controlled what news comes in and goes out of EBS.

There were also other very enlightening programmes on EBS Radio like “What am I”, “The Music and the Maker”, “Morning Drive “, “Reggae Extravaganza”, presented by the highly philosophical Senior Kings Ogbebor (SKO), which is still on Air on EBS Radio till today. It should be the longest lasting programme on EBS Radio now.
The Dean of the Old School -Eugene Okoye was a delight to listen to, as he churned out old school flavours with seamless accuracy. Karl Orakwe was a delight to watch on EBS Sports and one lovely and innocent voice on EBS then was that of the then very young Jessica Ologbosere who is now a Lawyer and is also now of Channels Television. She was so quiet, humble and respectful. She had a mellifluous voice.

Then the golden days of Sports: We had one Oduwa Imasuen who had a melodious voice just like that of the then Onyewonsa Obadigie, who equally was a delight to listen to.
Mr. Psychology- Sylvester Oguname was a pleasure to listen to and watch. He had a profound knowledge of sports with a very enthralling method of narration and analysis. We also had Emeka Ottey, who distinguished himself in Sports Presentation on EBS Radio and Television, so also did Felix Owolabi, who was consistent in presentation of Sports especially commentaries of live matches on radio. I had earlier recounted the exploits of Festus Okugbe and Karl Orakwe.

The Trio of Andy Bello, Chris Enabulele and Fidel Castro also made their mark with their signature show- Breakfast Groove which had huge fellowship. They pioneered musical shows, the Lagos Style in Benin.

Saint Patrick, Festus Alenkhe-who is better known for his now reintroduced Prime Time TV and Radio Programme “Crime Watch” and is now the newly elected Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), Edo State Council, Vivian Okafor, Flora Bassey, Courage Asia Madam Amina Ebbo, were also stars in the “Star Station”. EBS Radio was truly a station made up of Stars and nothing else was better. Those were the golden days of EBS Radio. Those golden days are gone.

The Edo Broadcasting Service has to reinvent itself. One of the biggest mistakes was relocating the Radio Station from the Broadcasting House at New Lagos Road and giving the House to the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue. The Broadcasting House was purpose built with a recording studio with which yours sincerely and others recorded the Programme, “Can You Guess” and other programmes. I doubt if EBS has any real radio recording studio, as we recorded with midgets, which produced low sound quality.

There was an artiste system in place at EBS then promoted by Mrs. Adesuwa Kupulati as then Sole Administrator of EBS, where young and talented persons where given opportunity to show case themselves, while being given stipends. This brought out all these talents. There was no politics, if you were good, you were good.

Now, we have to look at attracting young talents again, by re-introducing the artiste system. That is the future of EBS Radio. Look out for all the names indicated above and you will find that they are mostly on top of their game!

Will the stars shine again? Right now, it seems some thing else is better!

About the Author:

Douglas Ogbankwa Esq., participated in and later presented the Programme “Can You Guess”, on Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) Radio, 9.57 FM, he is now a Benin Based Lawyer and the President of the Benin Writers’ Society.