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RAYMOND ALEGHO A DOKPESI ( Spelt Backward , DAAR, Communications )
We woke up one day in 1993 to hear back to back music from an unknown radio station ..After each music , the next thing that follows was Rayyyyyyyyy Power , Rayyyyyyy Powerrrrr, Rayyyyyy Power
For and days and weeks , it continued like that , no voice , no programmes, it was all about music and nothing else.. Everyone got hooked, the sound quality was out of this world..The jingles were like nothing like we’ve heard before
What is Raypower , who was behind it , no one .At a point some said it belonged to billionaire MKO Abiola
There was no GSM Phone or Internet to do a Google search
Then just like it started, one day we heard a voice , he introduced himself as OLUSESAN EKISOLA ( that name sounded familiar, could it be the same Ekisola of OGBC FM )
Yes indeed , it was him , he introduced the station and told us they were transmitting from ALAGBADO LAGOS ( where is that one , i was born and bread in Lagos , Alagbado ke ) i asked a few friends , i was told Alagbado was around Kollington ( yes , an area named after veteran fuji artiste Kollington Ayinla )
Later on some other voices joined , some familiar , others were unfamiliar
After some weeks of 100% entertainment, the station suddenly went off the air
No music , nothing..Haba ,kilode , we were all hurt
It was later we learnt the Military Government closed the station down for not having a broadcast license
When we thought that was the end ,suddenly
Raypower FM now commenced transmission services after starting its test broadcasts on December 15, 1993, followed by official commercial broadcasting on September 1, 1994.
Timeline Test Broadcast: December 15, 1993 — Initial signals went live in Lagos on 100.5FM.
Commercial Launch: September 1, 1994 — Full commercial operations began, marking it as Nigeria’s first private and 24-hour independent broadcast station.
The station never looked back . It was modelled after some stations in USA
Presentation was out of this world ..
It played both Nigerian and foreign music
Mr Olusesan Ekisola became the first General Manager of the Station
Prominent amongst its pioneer staff were Keke Ogungbe ( an Inlaw to Dokpesi who later became the GM ) , Dayo D1
There were also names like Ogee Onazi , Steve the Sleek Kaduri , Ambrose Olutayo Somide , Momoh Kubanji , Ladi Lawal , Jiire Kuforiji , Iya dudu Ibiyemi Arinola Olufowobi , Biola Aberuagba , Vin Martin Iloh , Namure, Yemi , Tosin Dokpesi, Augustine Okhiria Agbonsuremi Tolu Sam Ajayi , Maxell Eze , Tony Akiotu , Toun Okewale , Busola Faiga ( the list was endless) ..You can help me add those i missed out
If I did not add your name kindly forgive me ( some people sent me messages yesterday , they were not happy that I ommitted their names in my previous write up )
Raypower FM redefined FM broadcasting in Nigeria
Every other station that came after it tried to beat it but they couldn’t
It also became a total independent voice on issues of national interest
Some of its popular programmes were POWER PLAY , MINIJOJO, FACTFILE , POLITICAL PLATFORM, NIGHT SENERADE , SAX & JAZZ ( Presented by Lagbaja ) , BEST TOP 10 COUNTDOWN , an Igbo programme ( I’ve forgotten the name ) etc
Kenny and D1 traveled allover the world bringing live feeds on events in USA and other parts of the world
It’s coverage of sports were also unprecedented
Raypower FM became a torn in the flesh of the military regime of Babangida and Abacha
It stood shoulder to shoulder with the Nigerian people during the June 12 saga ( i am still wondering why President Tinubu ommitted the names of some of them in his Democracy Awards )
Later
Abuja Expansion: On January 1, 2005 — Raypower FM Operations expanded to the Federal Capital Territory at Kpaduma Hill, Asokoro
The area where Raypower FM also stood above others was in the area of promotion of new , young upcoming artistes
Many of the current generation of Hip pop acts owe their successes to the station
Currently we have hundreds of private radio stations in Nigeria but Rahpower FM opened that door
There is so much to say about Raypower FM , but all the praise goes to a man behind the mission , a Marine Engineer ( who was not even a journalist) who saw the gap in the horizon and freed Nigerians from the well compromised Government owned radio stations at the state and federal level
Dr Alegho Dokpesi , take your flowers, Nigerians will never forget your pioneering role in liberating the Nigerian broadcast industry at the risk of your life ( during the military era )
May your soul continue to rest in the bossom of your creator
A grateful nation says , Thank You Sir
Chris Kehinde Nwandu, journalist and former Artiste And Promotions Manager , Sony Muisc
SB E-news.
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