The Voice That Made History: Bimbo Oloyede Celebrates 50 Years in Broadcasting

By Funmi Bamgbala

LAGOS

Veteran broadcaster Bimbo Oloyede has been honoured for five decades of distinguished service to Nigeria’s media industry, in a celebration that also marked the launch of a 494-page Festschrift chronicling her remarkable career and the evolution of broadcasting in Nigeria.

The event, held on September 1, 2026, at the Lekki Coliseum Centre, Lagos, brought together some of the country’s most prominent media practitioners, academics, civil society leaders and members of the creative industry.

A Pioneer Behind the Microphone

Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, OFR, described Oloyede as Nigeria’s first female television network newscaster, whose diction, poise and professionalism helped set the standard for broadcast journalism in the country.  “For five decades, Bimbo Oloyede has been part of the changing story of Nigerian broadcasting,” Ogunbiyi said. “Today is about preserving what that generation learned for those who will carry the microphone next.”  Veteran broadcaster and former colleague, Siene Allwell-Brown, also paid tribute to Oloyede, recalling her historic emergence as the first woman to anchor the Nigerian Television Authority’s flagship Network News.

Former Minister of Education and co-founder of Transparency International, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, in a goodwill message, brought a personal dimension to her tribute, recalling that Oloyede was her father’s favourite newscaster.  “Civil society generates the evidence, media generates the reach,” Ezekwesili said, urging Nigerians to remain active and engaged citizens. She stressed that a free and independent press remains critical to accountability and democratic governance.

A Career Preserved in 494 Pages

At the heart of the celebration was the launch of Festschrift: Honouring Mrs. Bimbo Oloyede’s Contribution in the Nigerian Media Industry, edited by Dr. Unwana Samuel Akpan, who was present at the ceremony.  The 494-page volume comprises 55 chapters organised into eight sections, bringing together reflections and perspectives on Oloyede’s career, influence and contribution to Nigerian broadcasting.  Reviewing the publication, broadcaster and academic Dr. Reuben Abati described it as “a work of admiration and excellence.”

In a fireside conversation moderated by Judith Atins, Oloyede explained that she participated in the Festschrift project because of her desire to bridge the gap between classroom theory and the realities of newsroom practice.  “I did not get to where I am alone,” she said, adding that the book was conceived not merely as a tribute but as a resource for students, aspiring broadcasters and young media professionals.

A Reunion of the Nigerian Media Family

The celebration also became a reunion of generations of the Nigerian media family, with several of the industry’s most recognisable figures in attendance.  Among them were the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola; Founding Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of ARISE News, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; former Directors-General of the Nigerian Television Authority, Dr. Vincent Maduka and Mr. Sola Omole; and veteran broadcasters Cyril Stober, Prince Bisi Olatilo, Sonny Irabor and Seyi Sodimu.  The creative industry was also represented by filmmaker Tunde Kelani, actress Joke Silva and entertainer Charly Boy.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was represented by his Special Adviser on PR, Documentation and Repository, Segun Fafore. Contributors to the Festschrift include Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Toun Okewale Sonaiya, Tosin Dokpesi and Motunrayo Alaka.

The gathering underscored Oloyede’s enduring influence across generations, bringing together media veterans who shaped Nigeria’s broadcast history, academics who continue to study it, and younger professionals who are now taking the industry forward.

After 50 years behind the microphone, Oloyede’s legacy is now preserved not only in the memories of those who watched and worked alongside her, but also in a substantial volume that documents the journey of a pioneer and the changing face of Nigerian broadcasting.