Etete Enideneze Writes on Life and Times of Brighten Sorgwe, Numero Uno of Broadcasting

Etete Enideneze Writes on Life and Times of Brighten Sorgwe, Numero Uno of Broadcasting

The life and times of Brighten Sorgwe, Numero Uno of Broadcasting is written by Etete Enideneze, public affairs analyst, commentator and communication practitioner.

Thomas Carlyle, a classical historian from England, said that “history is nothing but the biography of great men”, who make immense impact on society, and that such persons are born as geniuses. Famous English sociologist and Philosopher, Herbert Spencer argued that the path to greatness is determined by the human environment, social conditions and struggle for survival.

Mr. Brighten Sorgwe, epitomized both points of view in his seventy-seven years on earth, given his destiny, enterprise and outstanding accomplishments, for which he was dubbed Numero Uno in his chosen profession.

His four decades of radio broadcasting career and meteoric rise to stardom, began in 1978 at the Federal Radio Corporation (FRCN), Port-Harcourt, where he made his debut Soul Train programme, Pop Joint and heralded his presence in Niger Delta and Nigeria.

In the same year, the young broadcaster moved to Radio Rivers, Short and Medium Wave Modulations, when Rivers State inherited the FRCN Station. Brighten continued work in the employ of Rivers State, when Frequency Modulation (FM) Station, Port-Harcourt was set up in 1981.

He was redeployed to Radio Bayelsa, Glory FM in 1999, after creation of the state in 1996. He plied his trade at home state, and later served as General Manager of the station from 2004 to 2007.

In all these stations, the maverick On Air Personality (OAP), held audiences spell bound with his stunning performances. His signature music programmes were Funky Vibration, Pop Session, Swing, Pop Trucking with Trucking Sounds and BS Connection, besides news casting and announcing which his golden masculine voice stood him out in the broadcast profession.

“I am Brighten Sorgwe, BS for Short, BS Connection, the Numeru Uno, Inter Continental Ballistic Missile, FM Vocal Logo, BS Experience”, he regularly introduced himself on his pop-culture programmes, and kept audiences glued to the dialing point, listening to his scintillating programmes.

The flagship music and news programmes drew a horde of fans, who called him by such monikers, in addition to the name, King of Swing.

Apart from on air-radio shows, Brighten was a renowned Disc Jockey at parties. He mounted the Disc Jockey deck in several outings, especially in the Garden City of Port-Harcourt, where he was the cynosure of many fans. His popularity was to the extent that, as he told this writer, other DJs impersonated him on shows, where he was in audience, but he usually remained unnoticed.

An astute media and communication manager, Brighten Sorgwe, proved his managerial mettle when he turned Radio Bayelsa around for effective service delivery, while he served as General Manger, from 2004 to 2007.

On transfer to the Bayelsa State Ministry of Information, Culture and Communication in 2007, the pragmatic administrator, effectively handled public information management, first, as Director of publications and later as Head of Public Enlightenment. He retired meritoriously in 2009.

In all the places he worked, Brighten Sorgwe rendered services selflessly to the organisations, generously trained colleagues in phonetics and presentation, programming and public information management in which he was a doyen. Many of his mentees are today doing well in different places, within and outside Bayelsa State.

Brighten’s public service career was not in the broadcast sector alone. After passing out from United Christian Secondary School, Lagos with WASC/GCE in 1966, he enlisted in the Nigerian Navy in 1967.

The Nigerian Navy noticed his communication talent, and deployed him to Radio/Signals Department, as a communicator and instructor, after many local and foreign training.

He also worked in warships at various naval bases, including Lagos, Calabar and Port-Harcourt, where he resigned in 1978. His application for resignation infuriated his bosses who rejected the resignation letter and put him in cell, for a short time, before letting him go.

To him, the divine calling for microphone and broadcasting job, was irresistible. To make it a dream come true, on resigning from the Navy, Brighten took advantage of the FRCN Station in Port-Harcourt, to show his skills. The FRCN employed him as a newscaster and programmer in 1978. That was his springboard to fame.

Despite being a celebrity, BS, the FM Vocal Logo and fine DJ who garnered many awards, remained dedicated in his duties, humble, amiable and kind to everyone, at home and in workplaces.

He honed his mass communication and journalism talent at the FRCN Training School in Lagos, where he obtained Basic and Senior Announcers’ Certificates, respectively, in 1980, as well as National Diploma (ND) in Journalism from the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), Abuja in 1998.

His other qualifications were Higher Diploma (HD) in Information and Communication Technology from Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri, 2002; Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration (PGDPA) and Master of Public Administration (MPA), all from University of Calabar (UNICAL), Calabar in 2003 and 2004, respectively.

In the twilight of his broadcast practice, he enrolled for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in Public Administration at UNICAL, but it was scuttled by health challenges during thesis writing stage.

The legend was a member of noble professional bodies in communication, adminstration and charity organisations. They include Institute of Mass Communication and Information Management of Nigeria (IMIMN) which he was pioneer Chairman, Bayelsa Chapter; Chartered Institute of Administration (ICA), Fellow; RATTAWU and Rotary Club.

Born October 2, 1944 to the Christian family of Late Chief Johnson Sorgwe of Igbogene-Epie and Late Madam Egbe Bunas of Onopa-Atissa, all of Yenagoa Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, Brighten Sorgwe died June 5, 2022.

His is survived by Mrs. Ebioboere Ogbise Sorgwe, wife; eight children: Mrs. Yvonne Sorgwe Iwo Brown, a financial expert and banker; Mr. Asue Bright Sorgwe, a broadcast journalist, marketing and advertising professional. Others are Stella Sorgwe; Tesini Sorgwe; Ovie Sorgwe; Richard Sorgwe; Ebimo Sorgwe; Bright Sorgwe; Ebiwari Sorgwe, step son, and sixteen grandchildren. Among his relatives are Prof. Chabovie M. Sorgwe, Rev. Fortune Sorgwe, Mr. Romeo Sorgwe and Hon. Ayanate Michael Bunas.

The body of the broadcast icon and administrator, Mr. Brighten Sorgwe, was interred on Saturday, 19 November 2022, at his Igbogene residence in Yenagoa, amid a line-up of obsequies.

Brighten, the Numeru Uno of Broadcasting has passed away, and his family, Igbogene, Epie/Atissa, the mass communication community, Bayelsa, Rivers State and Nigeria, will miss him, but his footprints of professional and leadership accomplishments would remain indelible.

The FM Vocal Logo, BS Connection your achievements have indeed etched your name in the biography and history of great men, through destiny, hard work and personal development in your callings.

Adieu King of Swing, adieu the Numeru Uno broadcaster and thrilling Disc Jockey. Rest in perfect peace!

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Etete Enideneze Writes on Life and Times of Brighten Sorgwe, Numero Uno of Broadcasting

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