₦airaland Forum

He made Nigerians interested in NTA "A.M. Express" back then. Yinka Craig was a pioneer radio and television broadcaster, sports journalist extraordinaire, a national icon, an articulate compere and a detribalised Nigerian.

Early in life, Craig had planned to study Sociology preferably to the Ph.D level in the United States and stay there as a lecturer, but fate had his path cut out for him in broadcasting.

He joined the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (now Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria) in 1967 as a studio operator. He rose to the limelight as a sports commentator and analyst in the 1980s while on the staff of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

The Guardian calls him a very well-informed commentator, adding that he was one of the most travelled broadcast journalists of his time. Craig later gave up sports analysis in order to diversify his talents. That decision brought out the best in him as a multi-talented professional.

Following his voluntary retirement from the NTA in 1990, he went into packaging private corporate documentaries just as he was involved in information technology (IT) and computer operations, through his marketing communications outfit, Yinka Craig and Associates.

He remained actively involved in television programming and soon became famous for his presentation of Newsline, a highly regarded news magazine feature on television.

Later, Craig also served as the main anchor of AM Express, an early morning show that is laced with freshness and originality. Craig impressed viewers with his encyslcopaedic grasp of varied subjects and inimitable presentation style.

He passed away on September 23, 2008 and as a journalist with PM NEWS, I was detailed to cover the funeral ceremony held in Lagos. It was truly emotional.

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He made Nigerians interested in NTA "A.M. Express

I remember this man back in 90s.Always 😃 😊 😀.
May his gentle soul continue to rest in Christ

I remember those years when he co-anchored NTA AM Express, I was in secondary school in Lagos back then. Such lovely memories... 🥺

May his soul continually rest in perfect peace 🕊️

The man made NTA sports and AM program interesting to watch. Such a quiet, soft spoken and charismatic gentleman in the likes of Cyril Stober, Frank Olize( Newsline) and Fellow Sports journalist - Modele Sarafa-Yusuf. God continue to rest your gentle soul sir.

Am express.
Gen Z will never know the joy of waking up to AM express tune every morning.

Shola and fela sport gist by 7am.

Yinka craig, Katherine Edoho, sadiq dabbah

Rest in peace Sir. This man is my distant relative. ,🥲

Rest on big man. You are truly a person to remember. Those newspaper he always read out during NTA AM EXPRESS is such a memory never to forget. Sleep well Craig

Hmm. Keep resting in peace baba. That's how we will also remember all these our yeye politicians like Tinubu and Buhari whenever they die, but what good are we going to say about them bayi?

The best from nta Sunday news line

Yinka Craig >> Frank Olize >> Abike Dabiri

Ile n je eniyan.

This life, we come and go.

Lets live a life of impact.

I remember him in A.M EXPRESS. Soft spoken and very articulate. Died of cancer I tink.

Gen Z will not understand this post



Nnnnnnnnnnnmmmmm

Teeeecash:
Am express.
Gen Z will never know the joy of waking up to AM express tune every morning.

Shola and fela sport gist by 7am.

Yinka craig, Katherine Edoho, sadiq dabbah

I swar. I live to watch that AM EXPRESS before going to school, mostly those newspaper headline they always read out.

Teeeecash:
Am express.
Gen Z will never know the joy of waking up to AM express tune every morning.

Shola and fela sport gist by 7am.

Yinka craig, Katherine Edoho, sadiq dabbah

But they know the joy of internet and other stuffs na. You didn't know the joy of hunting and gathering either.

femi4:
Hope he's alive now well

The best from nta Sunday news line

Yinka Craig >> Frank Olize >> Abike Dabiri

Man died since 2008 na.

22 more characters needed.

NTA was nice with people like him not all these basket weavers forming journalists everywhere.

I miss him.

May his soul continue to rest perfectly in peace.

Hmmm... In NTA sports program, I know him with Akinloye Oyebanji, Modele Sharafa Yusuf, Ahmed Adio and the likes.
Later on NTA newsline and AM express I knew him Cyril Stober, Frank Olize, Levi Ajuonuma and co.

I used to look forward to watching NTA AM Express, he anchored alongside Mariam Anazodo and Katherine Obiang.

He died of blood cancer... I remember..

He had a way of turning ordinary people into interesting personalities on his interviews...

Such a gentleman!

He was a great Sports commentator of the 90's.
What an amazing Journalist.
Some of them that made us loved NTA in the 80's and 90's seems to have gone to the world 🌍 beyond.
Adieu 🕯️
May He Find Eternal Peace 🕯️

Yinka Craig, Hammed Adio (Kwara man), Akinloye Oyebanj, another Kwara man, Modele Sarafa Yusuf, Fabio Lanipekun made NTA Sports memorable to watch. Yinka Craig was living in Surulere then, may God never leave his family.

Indomie Generation will not know him...

Time has passed o!

That was a time we love to remember, embedded in our memory. A time you travel abroad to study and immediately starts counting days when the course will get finished, so that you can rush back home. Time of so much opportunities. Time of hope and achievements. Keep resting Yinka Craig....You are lucky you ain't witnessing the deteriorating condition the country you loved so much is going through right now. Naija is on a spiral downward retrogression right now and it's scary to imagine what would happen within the next few years if Naija doesn't get a disciplined, compassionate and sensible individual as President. Those we have now and in the past are bunch of pigs, vultures and hyenas....just to keep you abreast of the current affairs in your beloved country....

Racoon:
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He made Nigerians interested in NTA "A.M. Express

There was a Wakama too, right? And Bnemesia Ophia Ruth for the Sunday evening news. Then Iredia and others. It was the only show we had then to actually listen to federal government talk.

Na wah! Everyone is just going. Never knew he passed. It's been years I say to watch NTA . Is it still functioning?

Thanks for remembering him.
I remember him very well.
A detribalised soul who was fond of waking us up early hours of the morning 😭😭😭

dalitigator:
There was a Wakama too, right? And Bnemesia Ophia Ruth for the Sunday evening news. Then Iredia and others. It was the only show we had then to actually listen to federal government talk.

Na wah! Everyone is just going. Never knew he passed. It's been years I say to watch NTA . Is it still functioning?

He died long ago😭😭😭😭
Such an amazing man.
I don't think he would have survived the Nigeria of today either. The bitterness would have killed him. It takes those without feelings to survive today's Nigeria. That man no get enemy at all.
Always smiling. Never knew he planned JaPaing

Hello racoon.

How do one ensure he/she accomplish their dream of becoming a broadcaster, presenter, OAP, journalist, or in summary just simply working in the media?

I would like your inputs too in how one can get a radio job.

Thank you.

Racoon:
The man made NTA sports and AM program interesting to watch. Such a quiet and soft spoken and charismatic gentleman lin the likes of Cyril Stober, Frank Olize( Newsline) and Fellow Sports journalist - Modele Sarafa-Yusuf. God continue to rest your gentle soul sir.

Racoon:
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He made Nigerians interested in NTA "A.M. Express

Yunka Craig was also a newscaster with NTA Nigeria

Love800:
Hello! How do one ensure he/she accomplish their dream of becoming a broadcaster, presenter, OAP, journalist, or in summary just simply working in the media?
I would like your inputs too in how one can get a radio job. Thank you.

I think most often start by attending schools of journalism then gain experience in radio/TV houses. Please other should kindly help to make inputs too. Thanks