‘Sports programmes, a getaway from youth restiveness’
Sharif A. Abdullahi is the editor and head of the sport section of Cool, Wazobia and Arewa FM stations, all in Kano State. Also known as Babs, his programme has greatly shaped sport broadcasting in the state.
What makes your sport programme different from others?
In broadcasting, what really matters is the content of the programmes on air. We have rich and meaningful contents that satisfy the yearnings of majority of the sporting community in Kano State. We offer the fans what they want, and all indications have shown that they really like what we have been giving them.
What in particular is your programme’s strength?
listeners are given opportunities to discuss issues and make suggestions on issues. These have made our listening community to increase tremendously. They keep increasing because we carry them along. In a nutshell I can say what really makes us unique are three things; the state of the art equipment, audience-centred contents and localization of the programme that ensures that sports broadcasting of about four hours daily is spread across the three stations.
What is your view on youth restiveness?
has over three million audiences and that has made me one of the best sport broadcasters in the region.
These people are mostly youths and I strongly believe that through sport, youths restiveness can be addressed. The sports programme is considered the most followed because Kano has the largest radio audience base in Africa. The station gets to Katsina, Jigawa, Bauchi, Kaduna, some parts of Zamfara and Plateau states. It may interest you to know that there is always a live streaming all over the world via the internet.
How do you perceive sporting activities?