By: Chinedum Ohanusi
Seasoned broadcast journalist, Salem Akindele-Rock has assumed duty, as Head of Radio Nigeria Network Sports, and Outside Broadcasting Directorate; with the determination to breathe fresh energy and life into the department, which has in the time past been the reference point in Sportscasting.
Akindele-Rock was drafted in by the Director General and Chief Executive of Radio Nigeria, Dr. Idris Bulama, who believes he is a fitting round peg in a round hole, to shore up the operations of Directorate, which came into existence in 2020.
Before his redeployment, Akindele-Rock was a Deputy Director, in the Programmes Directorate of the Corporation (FRCN).
Akindele-Rock, a former Chairman of the Oyo State Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), resumed duties Monday 3rd of March, 2025; and is tasked to bring his wealth of experience to bear in repositioning the Directorate, positively.
The multiple award-winning broadcaster, noted for his savviness and details to issues, is grounded in every area of the profession, having worked as a General Reporter, Beat Reporter, Correspondent/Liaison Officer in Niger and Kogi States.
His rich experience on the job, has also seen him work as Current Affairs Officer, Editor, Sports Writer and Presenter, Sports Analyst, Commentator, Programmes Producer and Presenter, Radio jingle production, drama/acting, scripting etc.
His forage into sports started from his primary school days where he was in the school’s football Team; and in the Secondary School, he played Basketball and Volleyball and was part of the Government High School, Adeta Handball team that perennially faced the Army Day School Sobi at all Kwara state handball finals in the 1980s.
From there, he went to the Kwara state Polytechnic where he was a key member of their historic Taekwondo team led by coach Tunde Bodunde.
At the University of Ilorin, he embraced Baseball when it was newly introduced into Nigerian Schools. He was also the pioneer Public Relations officer of the Unilorin Baseball and Softball Association and part of the Unilorin Baseball team that played Russia in an exhibition match at the Kwara state Baseball stadium, the first in Nigeria then.
Akindele-Rock started his sports reportage at Radio Kwara in 1990 as an intern and became a member of the FRCN Ibadan sports team in 1999.
The 58-year-old Salem Akindele-Rock, an accomplished broadcast journalist, life coach and Influencer; as man of many caps, is married with children.
