Don charges veteran broadcasters to give back to society

Prof. Emma-Owuams Owuamalam has challenged veteran broadcasters not to live in the memories of yesterday, but come out of their shelves and give back to the society.
Prof. Owuamalam, who is a Mass Communication professor at Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus, made the call as a guest lecturer, at the Veteran Broadcasters’ Day, on last Friday in Umuahia.
The Nigerian Newspoint correspondant in reports that the event was organised by the Veteran Broadcasters Forum(VBF) with the theme “Sustaining distinction in broadcasting.”
In his lecture entitled’Broadcasting yesterday, today and tomorrow’, Onwuamalam described veteran broadcasters as purveyors of ideas that were untapped.
He regretted that the National Broadcasting Code and Press laws seemed unknown to contemporary broadcasters even when they existed.
According to him, paucity of orientation or even retraining had given birth to educated illiterates and analogue performers in a digital age.
“However, the abuse of phone-in in broadcasting is worrisome when objective of its use is lost on the user.
“Today’s stations relish in adolescent fades and more with no process message through lyrics to the listener. It is love, baby, money or rituals.
“What do they hold for tomorrow’s society through information, education and entertainment?”, he queried.
The renowned professor with speciality in broadcasting, decried the paucity of documentations in the broadcasting of yesterday.
Earlier in his address, Chief Nnamdi Olebara, the VBF President said that it was an association of veteran broadcasters of Old Imo extraction.
Chief Olebara said the forum had resolved to re-event the “real deal in broadcasting” through its proposed VBF Radio/Television and VBF Broadcast Academy.
Highlights of the event was the confernment of awards on some personalities, including Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu (Outstanding Gov’s Award).
Others included Augustine Alaribe (Pioneer D.G, Imo Broadcasting Service) and Dame Victoria Akanwa, first female legislator, old Imo State (Beacon of Light), amongst others.
The members of the Veteran Broadcasters Forum were present, during the day, among them, were Chief Silas Ihenkor, Donald Ekenta, Nnorom Emecheta, Inyang Olugu, who also recived an award, as a Quintessential Broadcaster, Chikwe Ikenyi and Chinwe Kalu Ogba, who entertained the guests with one of her music of seventies (70s).
The director general of Abia broadcasting cooperation, known as BCA, Chief Uchenna Dike, also witness the event.