ERNEST OKONKWO

ERNEST Okonkwo traversed his field of endeavour like a colossus. From 1957 when he joined the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) till August 7, 1990 when he breathed his last, he was, particularly in the area of radio sport commentary, a master of his art.



Okonkwo, who started out at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) in 1957 as programme assistant in the Eastern Region, Enugu, was trained at Australian Broadcasting Commission between 1964 and 1965 and later became head of Outside Broadcasts at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

As a sport commentator, Okonkwo, after making his debut at the 1976 African Nations Cup in Addis-Ababa, went on to cover many other international sport competitions, including the All-Africa Games, Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games. On the home front, Okonkwo was there running commentaries on the local sport competitions, particularly football matches, in addition to analysing matches involving the national football teams.

Remarkably, Okonkwo distinguished himself with his witty and flowery language and deep sense of analysis, he brought verve into radio commentary and interested many in his art. In essence, word moved Okonkwo and he in turn moved followers with word. In the days of the Nnando-born Okonkwo, many a fan and footballer alike would record his commentaries as every outing was a masterpiece.

Fancy commentaries like
Okey Isima, with a short pass to Sylvanus Okpala,
they both play in Portugal. They can communicate
in Igbo, they can communicate in English, they can
communicate in Portuguese and they just
communicated  with the ball.

Etim Esin, he shilly-shallies, he dilly-dallies,
he tries to beat one man but only succeeds in beating
himself.

He beats Christian Chukwu, he beats Christian Madu,
he beats Christian Nwokocha…he beats three Christians in  a row, who is this man? He must be a Moslem, oh it is Shefiu Mohammed sending a diagonal pass to Baba Otu Mohammed

After 90 minutes of play and extra time, the match has ended one goal
apiece but a winner must emerge. Five players have on each side been
selected to take the penalty kick. The players are praying to God to give them this day but it is not who prays more but who plays better.


Indeed, Ernest Okonkwo was professionally effusive and reflectively creative.

Okonkwo accounted for most of the nicknames given to Nigerian footballers who played in the 1970s and 80s. For instance, Segun Odegbami was nicknamed ‘Mathematical’; Muda Lawal was ‘Midfield Maestro’; Aloysius Atuegbu was ‘Blockbuster’ ; Yisa Sofoluwe got ‘Minister of Defence’. Some others included Sylvanus Okpala (Quicksilver) while Kelechi Emeteole was ‘Caterpillar’.

In ‘christening’ players, Okonkwo was an authority; whenever he gave a nickname it stuck, no question. This explains why a player like Emmanuel Okala would argue till eternity that the nickname ‘Chairman’ given to Christian Chukwu actually belonged to him (Okala). In an interview seven years ago, Okala had said: “Everybody in the team [Rangers FC] called me that nickname ‘Chairman.’ But all of a sudden, Ernest Okonkwo gave that same nickname to Christian Chukwu. I don’t know why he chose to take my nickname and handed it over to Christian Chukwu.”  Truth is, whoever gave Okala the nickname originally was a ‘lesser’ being and was not as authoritative as Okonkwo.

The ace commentator was prophetic too. Okonkwo nicknamed winger Adokiye Amiesimaka “Chief Justice” in his playing days and years later, the player became the Chief Justice of Rivers State!