Follow your passion

-
I got involved in media advocacy for development 27 years ago. Precisely in October 1990 when due to the pervasive misery in the land I took up the challenge posed by my lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Prof. OBC Nwolise to get involved in speaking out against the injustices, poverty, bad governance and underdevelopment in the country. He had challenged us in Advanced Level Extra Mural  class in 1988 that beyond the street protests, we can actually write opinions for publications in newspapers in order to ventilate our grievances. So to speak, Prof. Osisioma Nwolise nudged me into what has now given me identity; name and face recognition. My gratitude to the erudite scholar.
Twenty-seven years ago, I didn’t know I will earn my living in the development sector better known as Non-Governmental Organisation.  I didn’t even know I will one day become a development consultant. To God alone be all the glory for ordering my steps along the path that am now treading. My media advocacy and work as a consultant are mutually reinforcing. Yes, I may not have made money, stricto sensu  (a la late Professor Adekunle Amuwo)  from my media advocacy but I have gained a lot. My friend of life, Sheriff  Folarin, an Associate Professor at the  Covenant University is one of the many beautiful gifts media have given me. Our path crossed at the defunct Sketch Press in Ibadan in 1993. I have equally shared same platform with movers and shakers of Nigeria: Senators, House of Representatives members, University dons, media icons,  top security operatives including the incumbent Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim  K Idris,  and many more.

My voyage through the Nigerian media has enabled me to become an author with two books – “Nigeria, My Nigeria: Perspectives from 1990 – 2010” and “A Nation in Tow: Essays on Governance and Leadership in Nigeria”.  At present, I have over 700 published articles in about 25 print media and have made about 400 appearances in over twenty broadcast media.  What’s more, it has saved me from depression, boosted my self-confidence and self-esteem as well as my world view. My eternal gratitude to all media houses and personalities who have granted me opportunity to air my views on their programmes. Don’t get it twisted; it’s not the media that I am passionate about but knowledge impartation. Those who have been privileged to attend my numerous trainings will attest to this. Dear readers, what are you passionate about? Follow your passion; it may one day be your gateway out of unemployment and poverty and guarantee access to wealth. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wishing you the best of 2010

-
Year 2009 will be off in few hours, it’s probably 2010 already in Australia. To you all my fans who have been encouraging me through your constructive and largely positive feedback, I say a big thank you. In 2009, I have many reasons to thank the Lord. In April, I clocked 40 and in October, it dawned on me that it’s been 19 years since my first piece was published in Daily Sketch. Today, the little acorn has grown to a large oak. In 2009, I spread my tentacles wider and added four more platforms to publishing my articles. They are The Nation, Daily Sun, Daily Independent and Next. Two Magazines/Newsletters, Women Advocate and Voters News also sought my permission to publish some of my published articles in their media. On the whole, to date, I have been published by 17 national newspapers and 11 magazines and newsletters. In July 2009, with the influence and inspiration from a friend, Sola Adetunji, I established my own blog from where those who love my writings can now read my views o...
Read more

Jide Ojo, Asorogbayi, at 55

-
  “ When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Refrain: Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings, see what God hath done; Count your blessings, name them one by one; And it will surprise you what the Lord   hath done” -         Author: Johnson Oatman, Jr. I am not unhappy to be alive. To have lived for fifty-five years on mother earth, especially in a challenging environment like Nigeria calls for celebration. In the last one year since I last celebrated my birthday, a new government has been inaugurated with economic policies that have seen to rising cost of living. My living standard, like those of most of my compatriots, have dropped significantly. I have never borrowed to live as I have had to do recently, no thanks to paucity of consultancy opp...
Read more

Jide Ojo @ 50! Kini big deal?

-
My Odyssey It is not the height a man attains that count but also the depth from which he has risen – A Sage Appreciation Wow! I have lived for 1,200 days, 50 solid years. That’s big deal man! In a fragile state like Nigeria where things are gradually turning to Hobbesian state of nature where life is short, brutish and nasty, to live to see one’s golden jubilee is a big deal. In 2016 I lost a sibling, Tolulope Brimah nee Ojo, to the cold hands of death. She was just 40 years old. Last year, we lost Dr. Bankole Ogundeji (Banky) of the Covenant University. We were classmate at the University of Ibadan, but he’s no more. That am alive to witness this day is simply by the mercy and grace of the Almighty God. Early life I was born on Monday, April 28, 1969 to the family of Deacon I.O Ojo, a teacher and Mrs. G.M Ojo, a trader.   Though born and bred in Ibadan, my parents are both from Osun State. My dad, of blessed memory, was from Ile-Ogbo, headquarters of Ayedire Local Go...
Read more