Cyril Stober:
Cyril Stober is a popular face in the Nigerian first Screen known as the NTA . Mr. Stobber is a Sierra Leonean by origin,but he is a Nigerian and an indigene of Minna, Niger State by birth. He was born in Minna, Niger State Nigeria. He likes wearing Hausa Fulani Babaringa and Caftan dress because of the culture of where he grew up.
He attended Government Secondary School (GSS) Minna and received an A1 in English.
He started his career in broadcasting with NTA Minna. He worked with the Nigerian Television Authority for about three decades where he anchored the NTA news at 9pm.
While working with the NTA Minna in the Early 1980s to late 80s when the NTA Minna was on the Hill Top very close to the Houses of General Babaganida,Gado Nasko and Abdulsalami Abubakar along Tunga Road in Minna,Niger state. His face remain one of the most popular among the children growing up in Minna at that time as well as the general television viewers in the city of Minna.
Unlike some other news broadcasters in Nigeria, he was known to be himself. He never had a fake accent or went to school to learn how to speak with fonè. In fact he is authentic eloquence. He has often been described as a wonderful voice at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) where he has held sway over the years as an eloquent newscaster.
'I am Cyril Stober'.
This sentence, always delivered in a cool, calm voice endeared many Nigerians to the veteran newscaster, Cyril Stober, as he delivers the primetime news or other broadcasts on national television.
• He has often been described as a wonderful voice on television. He talks news, breath news and sleeps with news. Everything about him revolves around the news. Cyril Stober, an ace newscaster on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has been around for decades, pursuing his passion in his chosen career, broadcasting.
• Before the advent of private stations in Nigeria, listening to the NTA news at 9 everyday was always a wonderful moment for many families in Nigeria. Watching Frank Olize, Sadiq Daba,Yinka Craig and others on NTA special programs and all the stories of what was happening around the country was amazing. Saturday mornings were also magical with the likes of late Yinka Craig on Morning Ride. Watching Sienne All Well Brown, Ruth Benemesia Opia, John Momoh and the late Tokunbo Ajayi on NTA news was so intriguing. Cyril Stober came exceptional because of his voice and dressing. In fact he remain the most well dressed presenter in the whole of the broadcasting industries in Nigeria. Although he likes wearing our Nigerian local dresses a lot ,but when you see him in the Western or English suits you would mistake him for a James Bond. In fact if you want to know much about African/Nigerian dresses and dressings don't go for a fashion parade show,model,or even our ministries of Arts and Cultures, but just locate Cyril Stober broadcasting news or entertaining through the television media.
Everybody admired the authority and eloquence with which Cyril Stober delivered the news. Many younger generation of journalists were inspired to pursue a career in journalism because of how impressive his use of phonetics was.
He is a nice man . He visits and deliver lectures without pay if invited in all occasions. He visits Minna his home town more often despite that his mother died in Minna in the early 1990s while he has relocated to Abuja.
He used to be my neighbor while growing up in 1980s.
If you don't know him : I can tell you that he is level headed,charismatic,simple and a very gentle individual.
Thank you for reading this piece-From Ali Alhaji