The words of the former Director General of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Sir William Haley, come alive when he declared in a famous lecture at the University of Bristol in 1948 that: “The power of broadcasting, if skillfully used, can move masses of people in a way the printed word cannot and, if used consistently, it can affect the outlook of individuals and nations.”
No doubt, the thought of Sir Haley is in consonance with the vision of the founding fathers of old Rivers State who established Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation (RSBC) with the primary focus of providing favourable identity for Rivers people who were, hitherto, in the defunct Eastern Nigeria region.
Radio Rivers 99.1 FM was established on May 2, 1981. It was the second frequency modulated (FM) radio station in Nigeria; the first being Metro FM (also known as Radio Nigeria Two) established on April 22, 1977 in Lagos.
Record shows that ace broadcaster, Daphini gogo-Abbey signed on the station with the call-signal: Radio Rivers Two FM Stereo.
Young Miss Mambo Tumbowei, now known as Mrs. Elizabeth Odumo, signed on the AM Station on June 1, 1978 at the old NBA Station at 22 William Jumbo Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt.
One thing is clear; the Radio Rivers AM which by implication means Radio Rivers One took place after the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) was restructured earlier in 1978.
It is on record that during the restructuring, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) emerged following the fussion of NBC Stations in Lagos, Ibadan and Enugu with Broadcasting Corporation of Northern Nigeria (BCNN).
It is also worthy of note that the benefit of the amalgamation was the directive that state governments should take over all NBC stations, equipment and landed property while members of staff were given the liberty to either work in their various states or retain employment with FRCN in Lagos, etc.
RSBC also inherited NBC buildings at William Jumbo, Degema Street and Ozuoba as well as inherited liability which included part payment of retirement benefits of its former NBC staff.
Interestingly, in the original plan of the founding fathers, RSBC was to serve as the umbrella body for both state radio and television – RSBC-TV and Radio Rivers and this is captured in Edict Number 8 of 1973 as the legal instrument governing RSBC.
Late poet and playwright, Gabriel Okara, was appointed the pioneer General Manager of RSBC TV and Radio while Olu Benibo Fubara was the pioneer General Manager of RSBC as Radio Rivers alone.
As Radio Rivers 99.1 FM clocks 38 years, it is necessary to ask the question, where is its precursor, Radio Rivers One? This question is necessary because Radio Rivers AM was largely community radio broadcasting in Rivers indigenous languages which, in turn, promoted Rivers cultures.
In other words, Radio Rivers AM programming was designed to project the rich multi-cultural diversity of Rivers State and, in turn, project the image of the state in good light as well as create favourable identity for Rivers people.
Evidence abounds that Radio Rivers AM had language programmes in Kolokuma, Nembe, Gokana, Khana, Ikwerre, Ekpeye, Okrika, Eleme, Kalabari and Obolo.
An attempt to transfer all Radio Rivers AM programmes to Radio Rivers FM distorted the programming of FM. To this end, the management could not completely carry on a total commercial or community broadcasting.
Worse still, today’s government officials neglect states owned media and embrace private commercial radio stations, even when budgetary allocation is made in the appropriation law every year.
The attitude of present-day government officials patronising private commercial broadcast outfits over public sector radio is rather appalling and, in fact, disrespectful to the vision of the founding fathers’ interest. It was a cheering news during an interface with the media last year when Governor Nyesom Wike promised to revamp ailing media establishments in the state, including radio Rivers.
On this 38th Anniversary of Radio Rivers 99.1FM, Rivers people await resuscitation of their vocal logo, Radio Rivers FM.
In revamping ailing media establishments, particularly radio Rivers FM, emphasis should not be only on physical infrastructure alone but training of personnel.
It would be recalled that under Chief Olu Benibo Fubara as pioneer General Manager of RSBC Radio, Daphini Gogo-Abbey was trained in Chicago USA, Eric Uzoma Radio Netherlands, Jonny Jack, Ineba Briggs, Margaret Ibiye Daighani also trained in Netherlands and Capital Radio London including Elder Goddy William.
Government must restructure state Radio Stations Radio Rivers 99.1 FM and Garden City FM and also consider establishing at least two more radio frequencies and streamline public broadcasting from commercial interest to serve the multi-ethnic needs of the state.
Moreso, there is so much to learn from the growth of Rivers state University.
For instance, the leadership of Commander Alfred Diete-Spiff (rtd) established the Rivers State College of Science and Technology, the administration of Chief Melford Obiene Okilo upgraded it to Rivers State University of Science and Technology in 1980 while Governor Wike has amended its law to make it Rivers State University.
This is the way to go. Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio Rivers 99.1 FM, Rivers State Television and the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation could be revamped to serve the state better.
Radio Rivers 99.1 FM is 38, Hurray!
Sika wrote in from Radio Rivers FM

Baridorn Sika