How My Journey into Sports Broadcasting Began-Sammy Wejinya

 

Today, I'll share a true life story.

I share this story to give hope to the hopeless and belief to those who do not have confidence in their abilities.

About 18 years ago, I made a bold move!

At that time, only four Radio Stations existed in Rivers State.

They were Radio Rivers, Treasure FM, Rhythm FM and Raypower FM.

None of these stations (apart from Radio Rivers) was up to three years old at the time.

During that period, Radio Rivers was off air for a considerable amount of time because the station had issues with their transmitter (I think)

I'd noticed that during that period that Rhythm FM and Raypower FM had domestically-generated sports shows but Treasure FM did not. 

They (Treasure FM) merely hooked up to the FRCN network service for the network news at 7am and 4pm to feed their audience with sports news from the two news programmes.

I decided that I would change that situation!

I was fresh out of secondary school with near zero experience as a Broadcaster but I decided to take the Bull by the horns.

I took a cab and went to the Treasure FM offices at the NTA Premises in Mgbuoba and requested to see the General Manager of the station, Mrs. Loveth Chiezeh.

I'd never met her before...infact I'd referred to 'her' as "him' when making my enquiries at the reception.

I was asked if I had an appointment and I said 'No'.

The receptionist wasn't quite sure whether to ask me to leave or to inform the Boss about my presence at the building...

She decided to pursue the latter alternative and a dramatic incident played out....

Five minutes later, I was summoned into the office of this strikingly beautiful and intimidating lady.

"Yes, young Man, how can I help you," she asked, her eyes piercing through my soul.

I was nervous but I didnt allow it show. 

I'd been practicing the act of public speaking and was Senior Prefect and lead speaker in our powerful debating soceity at the famed Baptist High School.

I told her what I wanted.

She looked at me...from head to toe...slowly.

It was clear (I thought at the time) that she was fighting hard to stop herself from laughing.

"Where have you worked before?" she asked.

"Ma, I join Mr. Isaac Esuku on his Sports shows by 2:30pm  every Thursday at Radio Rivers but I haven't gone for awhile because the station is presently off air," I said. 

"I have also done stuff with with Colin Udoh and (late Ugochukwu) Alozie on CTL (Sports Hour).

"Madam, I am also a guest analyst at RSTV on the sports shows anchored by Mr. Sopriala Bobmanuel," I concluded.

She continued staring at me...for about 30 seconds after I finished speaking, her eyes giving away zero emotions.

I kept shifting from one foot to another, trying not to give away my anxiety and nervousness.

Then she summoned her secretary into her office, wrote a something into a notepad and handed it to her.

The Secretary looked at the note, looked at me and walked out of the office.

Mrs. Chiezeh's eyes never left my face while I shivered slightly...

A few moments later, a gentleman named Wenigha Jackson (family Man) walked into the office and said, "Good morning Madam. I was told you sent for me".

Mrs Chiezeh asked Mr. Jackson to audition me and he took me to the production studio where he was later joined by Charles Anazodo who was on a working visit to Port Harcourt from Metro FM, Lagos.

The audition was stopped halfway. Mr. Jackson looked at me incredulously. 

"Where the hell did this young guy come from," he screamed.

I still laugh anytime I remember what happened that day.

He took me back to Mrs. Chiezeh's office and told her I must be given the job!

I remember that Charles Anazodo walked me to the gate that day and gave me his phone number.

He said he was impressed with me and that I should never change my style (the style I displayed during that audition).

He gave me plenty words of advice that day.

One thing he said which I will never forget is, "Never think about the money. If I tell you what I was first paid when I started, you will laugh"

The next Monday, I hosted my first show on Treasure FM....I named the show 'TREASURE SPORTS' after "RHYTHM SPORTS', the show hosted by my hero, Henry Kalio at the time.

That name stands to this day

Many years have passed since that incident and I have learned, made mistakes, corrected same and continued in the path of my professional education and development.

I believe that at this stage of my career, it is only fair that I give back to soceity in the shape of training interested ones who want to toe this path.

I have since launched the Next Media Star initiative which has seen me take over 300 upcoming ones under my wings.

I train them for free in conjunction with trusted and tested media personnel from across the globe.

Season four of this initiative kicks off shortly and forty (40) dyed-in-the wool media personnel from CNN, the BBC, Al Jazeera, ESPN, TalkSport as well as some of the biggest names in the Nigerian and African Media industry have signed up.

The idea is to see our own rub shoulders with the very best in the world in little or no time.

Watch this space for details.