Once I finished school, I decided I was going to volunteer in a radio station. I travelled to Ibadan where a childhood friend Dammy Sasona took me to the Head Of Station in Raypower 95.1FM. He dumped me in the newsroom and
that turned out to be a great move

Words by Sesan Adeniji

Outside the kiddie’s shows, it will be hard to find any evidence that proves that young adults are actually learning anything new and impactful from most of the prime time radio shows across the country? Unequivocally, some radio presenters and radio programmes these days seem to have lost some level of educative authority in comparison to all that was achieved by the early veterans in the game.

In hindsight, social media could have serve as a veritable means to research information and guide in making the right assertion leading to a more enlightening and entertaining conclusions, but instead, listening to some radio shows, outside the music, the daily unsubstantiated info churned out and the empty rhetoric leaves the audience slightly confused with nothing to take home. But despite the void, they are still a handful of OAPs in the game doing exceptional jobs.

Thoroughbreds like Wale Bakare present programmes with so much conviction and authority. With deep-rooted broadcasting ethics and know-hows acquired as a program and news presenter across Rock City 101.9FM, Raypower 95.1FM and now at Inspiration 100.5FM Ibadan – His shows are pleasing to the ears – engaging but most importantly educating. Bakare Omowale Gafar, popularly called Wale Bakare is tailor-made for radio broadcasting.

“Growing up was interesting. My primary education was in St Bernadette nursery and primary school; secondary was in Sacred Heart catholic college both in Abeokuta. I wanted to be a big farmer one time, so I went on to study Agricultural Engineering at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

Second year in school I hosted a Student Union Government debate. I did so good a friend named Kuti told me to consider radio. I had loved radio, just didn’t think I’d be good enough. So my school had a radio station that had not started transmission. I enrolled there, attended trainings, had a couple of internships and I kept practicing.

My friends Ope and Lanre Ademonsun later invited me to co-host some shows on Rock City 101.9FM Abeokuta; one was a youth advocacy programme, the other was sport. So a couple of weeks doing those really broadened my knowledge. At that time I knew all I wanted to do was radio. I would record myself, listen to other presenters and news anchors because I love the news.

Once I finished school, I decided I was going to volunteer in a radio station. I travelled to Ibadan where a childhood friend Dammy Sasona took me to the Head Of Station in Raypower FM. He dumped me in the newsroom and that turned out to be a great move. I started casting the news on Raypower FM 95.1 Ibadan in less than a week and damn I was a badass lol. Later I started casting the news on AIT Ibadan. At that time I was a co-host on the sport shows as well.

Months later, I had proven myself and I got a contract that came with more responsibilities. I had to host the lunch hour show called the “Raypower Lounge”. That was a whole different level of work but I was excited. It was fun, giving out all that information, making different people with different worries feel comfortable listening to you was a challenge I relished and enjoyed.

I started gaining people who trusted and loved my shows; and that was a great feeling. After over two years at Raypower/AIT. I got an opportunity at Inspiration FM 100.5 Ibadan, which was right for me at that time, so I took it.

Inspiration FM gave me a whole different level of opportunity. Again I was on the lunch hour show called the “Lunch Time” alongside Sumbo (2-4pm Monday – Thursday) and also, I do  drive time till 7pm on those days as well. It was a challenge making existing listeners get used to a new voice. It was tough but I’ve so far achieved it.

I remember a particular lady called one time and started criticizing my style. Apparently she wasn’t so used to my playful, casual but yet professional style. You need to have a great sense of humour sometimes to realise something I say are all jokes. I guess that felt strange to her
but I won her over. Moments like that are just crazy.

I keep casting the news which I love doing. I hear I’m arguably the best newscaster around here. I feel so too lol. I don’t necessarily want to be the most popular On-air person but that should be great. What I really want is to be revered for what I do and get great comments from people. I want to touch lives and be the reason some kids even if its just one decides to be a broadcaster. Of course I want to work at the highest levels of broadcasting and be able to tell my kids, “your daddy was badass” lol ” – Wale Bakare

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