Julius Okorie
Veteran entertainer, Charlie Boy, better known as Area Fada, tickled the fancy of the older generation with a captivating post of veteran newscasters who made NTA tick in the past.
The ageless grandfather posted on facebook a picture of himself flanked on both side by the duo of Ruth Benamaisia-Opia and Siene Allwell-Brown, whose news delivery and pronunciation arrested and held viewers’ attention from start of the network news to finish in those days.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Area Fada of the Charlie Boy show posted that picture and challenged his teeming followers to guess who they are. “My two favourite girls from way back. Guess who they are and what they did. Have a good week ahead “he posted via charlyboyareafada.
The post triggered a lot of reaction from his followers many of who recalled how the veteran broadcasters made their day those days and made Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) a must watch then, especially the network news. While some talked about their voices that were addictive, others talked about their sense of dress and carriage as well as pronunciations that were distinctive.
Many of those who reacted identified the newscasters while some battled with the spellings of their names. They nonetheless were unanimous that the duo were part of the unique veterans that gave NTA then a touch of class.
Ebere Nwaogwugwu reacting said “When decent dressing was in fashion because Satan was still an apprentice not now. Satan has graduated and open fashion houses for naked clothes”
Yetunde Olatile in identifying the duo, went a step further to pray for them for touching lives with their voices, saying “Siene All-Well Brown, after marriage, called Rasak Lawal , fashionista mama,l used to copy her styles then, beautiful Ruth Benemasia – Opia , you people made us glued on NTA of the old. God bless you 🙏”
Fajiye Rufusakin on his part said “Area father with the best ladies on the NTA. Hmmmmm. Good old ladies and. Egbon the show biz man.”
Johnnie C. Onwuzulike submitted “Contributing, just to try to spell their cool names correctly: Ruth Benamaisia-Opia, & Sienne Allwell Brown (later; Sienne Razak-Lawal).
Sienne’s voice was unmistakable to me – deep, velvety, feminine voice like that 😋Ruth..? Wow.. 🤗. Almost the perfect ladies for the Network News!”
For Franca Asuzu Ifechukwu, their impeccable English was one to take home any day. He said “Good old days, NTA news casters with impeccable English and golden voice Ruth Benemaisia Opia and Siene Allwell Brown, those days that my father will not let us watch cartoons in peace, always on news channel and we see these newscasters as mini gods. 😂😂😂😂😂😄😁”
Atta Ndubuisi Onwura recalled not just the network news at 9 but also his love for Ruth saying; “I was hooked to NTA network @ 9 because of Ruth Benamaisia Opia. I love the woman to bits.😄”
Bede Obinna adding his voice to the submissions noted: “These are the people, Siene and Ruth, who made watching NTA then so unbiased and relevant, until cock and bull enter airwaves.”
Another Internet user, Emmanuel U. Onuoha, chose to be funny in his submission, “Chai, those days when you trusted television so much that you watched it with 2 eyes,”
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One of those who responded, Dafame Baba, however used the ocassion to sell his market, reminding the Areafada painting he did for him that should have fetched his some bucks but did not. He says,”Area Father Hope you remember one Artist at Gbagada that made your portrait and delivered it to you. where you dressed like Michael Jackson. Na me o. i just did it for the love i have for you. Shishi i no collect, but i have an opportunity of having handshake with King Sunny Ade. He was there that day. I hail ooo Oputa boy for real.”
Olaka Jf was however sympathetic for the GenZ whom he said know nothing about the veterans who delivered the way it should. He simply said “GenZ are lost in thought😁 they can’t relate!”
Aside from Ruth Benamaisia-Opia and Sienne All-Well Brown, other ladies of glamour who tickled the fancy of many with their news delivery include Eugenia Abu, Tokunbo Ajayi and Ronke Ayuba.
The male newscasters were not left out as they equally commanded a lot of followership as the then NTA enjoyed number one rating.
Among some of them include Taiwo Obileye, Shola Omole, Patrick Oke, current CEO of channels Television John Momoh and Cyril Stobber who is flying the flag several years later.
Then Frank Olize, known for his humour on Newsline would ask, it is 9’0clock do you know where your children are?
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
