Our Anioma People Hardly Support What Is Our Own

 

Our Anioma People Hardly Support What Is Our Own

 

-       Vivian Isioma Gbunnor, Bridge Radio Broadcaster  

 

Vivian Isioma Gbunnor is one of Anioma people’s finest radio presenters and broadcasters plying her trade with Bridge FM, Asaba. Miss Vivian Isioma Gbunnor, the Uwa Anioma Presenter popularly called “Adadiohanma”, in this interview, speaks with PEN MASTER (EMEKA ESOGBUE) of the Ibusa Community Development Union (ICDU) Online News Editor. She speaks about her background, career, her recent Enuani Achievers Award honour, corporate social responsibilities of Bridge Radio and why the Ibusa and Anioma people hardly patronize the Enuani program as much as expected. Excerpts: 

 

Pen Master: (Laughing aloud) Finally, you are here. Isioma, you know for me, it feels exciting that you who interview others is being interviewed today. What few things can you tell our teeming readers about yourself?

 

Gbunnor: (Laughing) Pen Master, let me thank you so much sir for giving me this great opportunity. I am Isioma Gbunnor popularly known and addressed as “Adadiohanma”. I am “On Air Personality” with private owner station in Asaba, the Delta State Capital. I am actually by studies, a Counselling Psychology graduate from the Delta State University, Abraka. I am down to earth and attracted to humility and honesty. Well, like you have said, it will make interest for me having you interview me. I hail from Umuodafe in Ibusa, Delta State.

 

Pen Master: Thank you, Adadiohanma. I have observed that as an ace presenter and broadcaster, your image with your Bridge Radio, Asaba is fast soaring to greater heights. What do you owe this - your passion for the job, the Aniomaness in you or your teeming listeners? Let us know.

 

Gbunnor: (Smiling) Seriously, I think it's because of the teeming listeners who appreciate, support and encourage what I do. For the Aniomaness in me, I think it's majorly by the grace of God because it even baffles me every time I receive accolades from my listeners asking me how I am able to deliver on my presentation. But I really and honestly can't explain how these things happen so well hence, I should say that I owe my appreciation for that to God Almighty.

 

Pen Master: As a Counselling Psychology graduate, how did Vivian Isioma Gbunnor find herself in broadcasting? 

 

Gbunnor: (Smiling) Hmm! Getting into this field, I can say is my greatest miracle and testimony of divine location. You see, on the 1st of October 2017 after reading the second reading in the particular mass of that day in our Enuani dialect, my Catechist told me there was a man outside waiting to see me. On meeting with the man whom I later identified as Barr Andy Isioma Ogbolu, he inquired if I did the translation of the reading on my own and I answered him in the affirmative. He then asked if I could get him my Curriculum vitae, which I had to take to his office expectedly. I think he later spoke with someone who happened to be the person who needed a suitable person to anchor an Anioma program on radio. Subsequently, I was invited for an audition, which turned out successful and I got this job. Note that all this had to miraculously happen within two weeks when I was earnestly seeking another job as coincidentally, I was still with an organization. Ironically, when I came to submit my reference letter to my new employers, the Director jokingly asked why I was still putting on my branded shirt for my office and I laughed, responding that I wasn't aware I had been taken for this job already. I eventually resumed the job officially the next day and that’s where I am up to this moment. I give my sincere gratitude to God and Barr Ogbolu whom he used to locate me.

 

Pen Master: (Nodding his head) This is great to know. And Isioma, you started your “Uwa Anioma” program right away so that you are now an acclaimed Culture Ambassador of some sort, of the Anioma people. How did you contemplate this program in the first place?

 

Gbunnor: Seriously, I felt I could learn on the job being something I hadn't tried before and with no educational background on anything Anioma. God has been at the center of the whole stuff, because personally, it's surprising to me. And God has always directed to me, the right people willing to participate in supporting the continent of the program to be more of what it should be. I remain grateful to such people and group. But God still deserves the largest chunk of the praise.

 

Pen Master: …But seriously, if you were not now a journalist, what would you be?

 

Gbunnor: (Thinking) Hmm! I would be a counsellor, meaning that I would be practicing my major discipline, which I studied for four years in school.

 

Pen Master: Besides your fantastic program, some of your critics have claimed that scarcely does your radio station broadcast political ills in Delta State as affecting the people of the state. Are your critics justified? 

 

Gbunnor: No, I don't believe that Bridge Radio doesn't criticise political ills in Delta State. Pen Master, I don’t believe it being an inner source and part of the team. Bridge Radio 98.7fm Asaba stands for the truth always. We are not loyal to anybody, but for speaking the truth anytime for the good of the masses. In this area, we do our best.

 

Pen Master: And how do you feel when you sit back to listen to your own voice over the radio?

 

Gbunnor: (Smiling) Wow! Sitting back to listen to my own voice on radio sends through my spine the feeling of satisfaction and some level of fulfilment. Remember I never contemplated the media. Seeing and hearing from myself on videos, I feel elated because it sends me into a sort of dream world. One day, I was in a car with my General Manager in time of the lockdown with his radio on Bridge Radio and a promo my name was mentioned came on air and he asked me this same question of how I feel hearing my name on radio. I smiled and told him it is always a feeling of satisfaction kind of. You can now imagine how I would feel hearing my own voice or seeing videos of myself presenting a program.   

 

Pen Master: Again, you are from Ibusa in Delta State so also your Managing Director. Has your media organization been helpful in supporting corporate social responsibilities in that town?

 

Gbunnor: Yes, we have. A few months into my resumption with the radio station, we carried out some CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) by doing live broadcast of mass celebration in two Catholic church parishes in Ibusa. Unfortunately, I have personally noticed that the Ibusa people and by extension, Anioma, sorry to say, hardly support what is our own. Can you believe that 70% of participants in the Uwa Anioma program are from the South East? I have consistently called for sponsorship of the program for over how many years now, yet no response. Is it good enough? I really love us to support what we have. I can say yes to your question because we divulge any news we receive from happenings there without any charges attached. We have always, since coming on board, featured as official media partner of the yearly Ibusa Annual Soccer Competition by putting the event on our sports program and also running the advertisement on a subsidized rate.

 

Pen Master: Hmm! Okay, let us go personal: Is your Mr. Right yet among your teeming listeners?

 

Gbunnor: (Laughing aloud and raising her hands) Not at all! Funny enough, some of them have indicated interest, but honestly, for some personal reasons, none has expectedly fitted into the shoes as you would normally expect.

 

Pen Master: Isioma, Congratulations! You have just been voted among the Enuani Achievers Award for 2021 in the category of broadcasting. What do you attribute this honour to? 

 

Gbunnor: (Smiling) Thank you, Pen Master. I can majorly attribute it to God's grace upon my life in general.

 

Pen Master: How was growing up for you?

 

Gbunnor: Hmm! I grew up in my community but left after my secondary school. Growing up was quite interesting and being the lastborn and enjoying all the benefits attached to that special position… Pen Master, please don't be jealous o! Okay, but I must tell you that my parents were kind of strict, especially my father, who is a retired Police Officer. Although the strictness paid off positively in my life to some extent but it didn't go well with me as it relates to relating with people, especially the opposite sex. This is because I grew with the fear of associating with the opposite sex, which I believe has a role to play in my current status. I am not so happy about this anyway. I was also a kind of restricted from keeping friends, which challenges me till now. Though I don't have so much regrets about that, because it has helped me to be wise and vigilant about the kind of friends I now choose to keep.

 

Pen Master: (Laughing) Isioma, being the first child myself, I am jealous of your last born family status but now, as a promoter of your people's linguistics, do you sometimes have the feeling that the Anioma people should preserve their now dying dialect?

 

Gbunnor: Yes, to some extent, I think so sir. Though it is still from the angle of the elderly, the young ones may lose the dialect sooner than we expect. On my program, Uwa Anioma, there's only one young Anioma guy who calls in and speaks Enuani fluently. Others may love to join, but they hardly flow. This is because I have made it compulsory for everyone calling in to speak the dialect - at least 80% of Enuani and 20% of English.

 

Pen Master: Hmm! Can you tell us some more things about Vivian Isioma Gbunnor? 

 

Gbunnor: I am just a realist. I believe in saying it the way it is whether people like it or not. So long as it is the truth and the right thing. I may be calm and humble, but don't take it for granted. Also, I have this philosophy of “do to others what you wish they do to you”, for the sake of peace. I strongly believe in “oji chukwu bulu uzo, egwu adi atu a”. Make God your spiritual director in all you do.

 

Pen Master: Alright, thank you my sister, Adadiohanma. It’s been nice speaking to you.

 

Gbunnor: Pen Master, I must confess that it has also been nice having you. Thank you very much sir.