Somehow, radio broadcasting is structured to help transform the best OAPs into major characters in other sub-sectors of the entertainment industry. Outside the long-list of presenters still lost and engulfed in their fake cockney accent, the few that are versatile, those that truly know their onions have been able to carve a niche in television/theatre/film, hypeman industry, and talent management and also, as book authors. Among those few is Ugochukwu Bamidele popularly known as Yugee ‘D’ Phenom. From his smooth witty presentation skills on radio, to anchoring shows on TV and also standing in as event MC, Yugee is head and shoulders above most of his colleagues in the broadcasting industry.

Although a graduate of the department of Industrial Chemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Yugee found home and satisfaction in broadcasting. He holds a certificate in Basic Presentation from the then Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Training School, Ikeja, Lagos State now National Broadcast Academy Lagos. “I am born in Lagos on the 16th of April, the first of four children. I had my primary and high school education in the ever-busy city of Lagos where radio and television was first fun and later became more of a lifestyle. Icons like Ryan Seacrest, Cyril Stober, Dan Foster, Femi Sowolu, Frank Olize, Larry King were a huge inspiration growing up”

Currently the Head of Programmes, News Anchor and Host of The Sparkling Morning Show weekdays 5am-10am at Sparkling 92.3FM, Calabar in Cross-River State, Nigeria, but he started out trying his hands and following a dream to do radio when in a bid to spice up the social life and bridge the information gap back in his university days in 2006, he created a virtual radio that offered full service from a room in the school hostel with few friends as staff, offering good music and news in the evenings on a daily basis.

“The virtual radio, CYKLOTRAWN RADIO became the rave back then when the station successfully broadcasted the live candlelight procession of the late DaGrin, which was holding at the time in Lagos to students in the hostel environment in ABSU to the surprise of everyone. That and a whole lot more earned me several awards within the university environment including CYKLOTRAWN RADIO making it to the pages of the campus life column on The Nation Newspaper in 2008.

My first real chance to become a professional broadcaster was with City 105.1Fm in Lagos where I interned, garnered experience and learnt under the tutelage of ace broadcaster/ TV show host Kamal Salau and others like Chioma Okpara, Nelly and Sensei Uche. I left Lagos for Abia in 2011 to be part of the growth of the media industry in the state where I contributed a whole lot while working with Vision Africa Radio 104.1fm Umuahia as an On-Air Personality, Script Writer, Voice-Over Artiste, Researcher and Program Producer and learnt a whole lot under broadcast icons like Mr. Chijioke Nwogu and Mr. Sunny Okoroafor.

Though very young at the time, my love and passion for quality, motivational and inspirational music no matter the genre and creativity/professionalism on programs like “The Kick-Start Show” (weekdays 6am to 10am), “Ring my Bell”, “Praise Party”, etc on Vision Africa Radio 104.1fm endeared me to a large number of listeners that cuts across all age brackets within the south-east and south-south of Nigeria earning me my first major nomination in 2012 at The Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards and also the award of Most Promising Presenter in Abia for the Year 2012  at the Abia Youth Awards Organized by CULTURE TV NETWORK in collaboration with Abia State Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

In 2013, I moved to Benin City to work with Independent Television and Independent Radio 92.3fm Benin where I worked as a Senior News Anchor, Show Host/Producer on radio and TV. In 2014, I was nominated and won the award for Outstanding Radio Presenter (Mid-day/Lunch Hour). In 2015 I was also nominated for the Edo State Governor’s Youth Leadership Award organized by The Divine Smiles Foundation International. While in 2016, I was awarded the Best Radio Presenter For The Year at the Independent Television/Radio annual staff awards. For me, these nominations and awards are just the fuel to do more for my audience.

Right now I think of the next step in my career everyday, and all my heart says to my head is “Go with The flow, Flow with the rhythm”… I Just #wanna keep being “your worst bad habit” and the reason you want to listen to radio or turn your TV set on. I’ve heard lots of persons across the states I’ve worked say I’m daring, witty & a fluid broadcaster, who entertains his listener. I guess it’s the effect I leave on them. I can say I’m sure I make other broadcasters wonder how I get away with some of the things I say on air, turning any situation into exciting radio content. I’d advice folks intending to pick a career in broadcasting to look beyond developing fake accents that won’t stand you out but rather develop a personality and find your niche” – Yugee