Asorogbayi, the media oracle’s triple celebrations!

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Introduction

Today, October 12, 2022 marks the 32nd anniversary of my inadvertent voyage into media advocacy and also a decade of my being a columnist with the highly influential The PUNCH newspaper. Not only that, it’s the 30th anniversary of my advocacy via electronic media. Thus, it’s triple celebrations! As I said severally, Prof. OBC Nwolise formerly of the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan nudged me into media advocacy way back in 1988. Then, I was a student of Extra Mural Studies organised by the Adult Education Department of the premier university. It however took me two years to summon courage to start writing for newspapers. My first “Letter to the Editor” titled “Complete Iwopin Paper Mill” was a mere one paragraph reproduced below:

Complete Iwopin Paper Mill

Daily Sketch, Friday, 12 October, 1990. (Page 2)

When I got to know that the Iwopin Paper Mill had gulped about N300 million naira and yet remained in its embryonic stage, producing nothing, I felt very bitter and depressed. Why should the federal government embark on such a project without making adequate budgetary provisions for its completion? Paper mills are important in any nation’s life. Without paper, there can be no education. The reduction of duty on imported newsprint underscores the importance of paper to a nation’s educational growth. We need books to grow. The government should complete the Iwopin Paper Mill.

From being a one paragraph contributor to newspaper, I have today grown to become a newspaper columnist to a number of print media. First was The PUNCH which incidentally also chose to engage me as a weekly contributor in October 2012. This month therefore marks the 10th anniversary of my being a columnist with the numero uno news medium. I also had a stint contributing weekly to The Authority newspaper on Sunday between 2015 and 2016. From time to time I also contribute to The LAWYER pullout of THISDAY newspaper on Tuesday.

As at now, I have contributed over two thousand articles and other commentaries to many newspapers, magazines, and newsletters. Among the leadership positions I have held in the course of my literary sojourn include being appointed as the Editor-in-Chief of Corper Courier which was a magazine pioneered by National Youth Service Corps of Delta State in 1997. I was also the Editor of Political Finance Newsletter of International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) while I was a staff at their Nigerian office. I resigned from IFES-Nigeria in June 2014.

Though my media advocacy for better society started with the print media, it has however expanded to include Public Affairs Analysis across many electronic media platforms be it television, radio and newspaper podcast. This is what has earned me the sobriquet of Asorogbayi, the media oracle! I commenced my engagement with electronic media 30 years ago, precisely on August 19, 1992 when I started writing letters to be read on a popular current affairs programme titled “OGBC FM Mailbag 2084” on Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation. It was aired from 6 – 7pm every Friday evening. My first letter aired on the aforementioned date was titled “Beggars Strike”.

From January 2021, I also became a television show host when the management of Independent Television (ITV) under the immediate past General Manager, Mrs. Amber Olague invited me to be part of their TMI show hosts. Since then, I have been anchoring Development Focus with Jide Ojo on ITV every Wednesday. We have thus far had 83 editions of the show. I was also an in-house News Analyst with ARISE News TV for two and a half years, October 2017 – March 2020. Though I have lost count of the number of my TV and Radio appearances, my record however shows that I have been on 46 Television and 51 Radio Stations. Note that in some media organisations I have been on more than one programme.

Accomplishments

Print media

My database shows that my commentaries (letters, articles and interviews) have been published in 45 newspapers, magazines and newsletters namely: 1. The PUNCH 2. ThisDay, 3. The Guardian 4. Daily Trust 5. Nigerian Tribune 6. The Nation 7. Blueprint 8. Leadership 9. The Sun 10. Authority 11. Vanguard 12. Daily Independent 13. Abuja Enquirer 14.  Newsdiary Online 15. Nigerian Pilot 16. Premium Times 17. The Cable 18. Order Paper 19. Peoples Gazette 20. Legit.ng 21. HumAngle 22. Africa Check   23. Daily Sketch 24. National Concord 25.          Post Express 26. Third Eye 27. Nigerian Compass 28. Daily Champion (29.) 234 NEXT 30. The Pointer 31. A M News 32. Weekend Classique 33. Sharp Edge News 34. 365Daily 35. Law and Society Magazine 36. The Exquisite Magazine, Mass Com. Dept. MAP, Abeokuta, Ogun State 37. The Independite Magazine of Independence Hall, University of Ibadan 38. Corper Courier Magazine of NYSC Delta State. 39. The Statesman 40. Image 41. The Ethics 42. Women’s Advocate 43. Voters News 44. Money and Politics (MAP) later changed to IFES Political Finance Newsletter 45. Electoral Reform News published by Alliance for Credible Elections 

Television

I have been on 46 television stations anlysing topical national issues. They are as follows: 1. Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) International 2. NTA News 24 (3.) NTA Parliament 4. NTA Language (Yoruba) 5. NTA Lagos Channel 10 (6.) NTA Abuja Channel 5 (7.) NTA Ibadan Network Centre 8. African Independent Television (AIT) 9. Channels Television 10.TV Continental (TVC) 11. Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN) 12. Arise News TV  13. Silverbird TV Lagos 14. Peoples TV 15. Independent Television (ITV) 16. Galaxy Television, Ibadan, Oyo State 17. Kaftan TV  18. TV 360 (19.)  Signature TV   20. Clearview TV   21.        Roots TV  22. Silverbird TV Abuja 23. NCTV/ TSTV  24. South Africa Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) 25. Galaxy Television Lagos 26. Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).  27. Thunderbirds TV 28.          AD4TVRadio 29. Plus TV Africa 30. Superscreen TV 31. Aso TV 32. Viewer TV 33. Core TV 34. News Central TV 35. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) TV 36. Independent Corruption and Other related offences Commission (ICPC) TV (37.) 24 News TV 38. Atlantic Television Network, Port Harcourt, Rivers State 39. Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) 40. China Central Television (CCTV) 41. BBC News   42. Trust TV 43. Africa News 44. WAZOBIA Max TV 45. Leadership TV podcast 46. Spectrum TV, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The above Pie Chart illustrates the fact that only 4 out 36 states and FCT in Nigeria have interviewed me on television stations located in their states while I have also been interviewed by five foreign media. 24 out of the 46 stations are based in Abuja, FCT followed by Lagos with 11. Next is Ibadan, Oyo State with 3 while Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has 1 each. Majority of the TV stations are privately owned.

Radio

The list of the 51 radio stations that have so far interviewed me are: 1. Independent Radio 89.7 FM, Abuja 2. Naija 102.7 FM Ibadan, Oyo State 3. Nigeria Info 92.3 FM, Port Harcourt, Rivers State 4. Women Radio 91.7 FM Lagos 5. Bond FM 92.9 Lagos 6. Oluyole 98.5 FM Ibadan, Oyo State 7. Pensioners FM 106.7 Ibadan, Oyo State 8. Hit 95.9 FM Calabar, Cross River State 9. Faaji FM 106.5 Lagos 10. Rhythm 94. 7 FM Abuja 11. OGBC 2 FM Abeokuta, Ogun State 12. Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Rivers State   13. Amuludun FM 99.1 Ibadan, Oyo State 14. Vision 92.1 FM Abuja 15. Love 104.5 FM (Crowther Radio) Abuja   16. Ray Power 100.5 FM Abuja 17. Hot 98.3 FM Abuja 18. Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Network 19. Kapital 92.9 FM Abuja   20. Voice of Nigeria   21. Kiss 99.9 FM Abuja 22. WE 106.3 FM Abuja 23. Greetings 107.5 FM Abuja 24.  WAZOBIA 99.5 FM Abuja 25. Cool 96.9 FM Abuja 26. Armed Forces Radio 107.7 FM Abuja   27. Human Rights Radio 101. 1 FM Abuja 28. Nigeria Info 95.1 FM Abuja 29. Invicta 98.9 FM Kaduna 30. Premier 93.5 FM Ibadan, Oyo State   31. Rockcity 101.9 FM Abeokuta, Ogun State 32. Boss 95.5 FM Abuja 33. Liberty Radio 103.3 FM Abuja 34. Family Love 103.9 FM Umuahia, Abia State 35. Eagles 102.3 FM Abuja   36. JAMZ 100.1 FM Ibadan, Oyo State 37. West Africa Democracy Radio 94.9 FM, Dakar, Senegal 38. PRIMOG Radio 39. Bright 98.7 FM, Abuja   40. Grace 95.5 FM, Lokoja, Kogi State 41. Daily Trust Newspaper Podcast 42. Radio Now 95.3 FM, Lagos 43. Nigeria Police Radio 99.1 FM 44. Maloney 95.9 FM, Keffi, Nasarawa State 45. Today 95,1 FM Port Harcourt, Rivers State 46. Citizens 93.7 FM Abuja 47. Classic 94.3 FM, Abuja 48. Seven 103.9 FM, Onitsha, Anambra State. 49.          Correct 102.9 FM Enugu 50. NCBN 106.7 FM, Abuja 51. Voice FM 89.9, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. 

From the above chart, only radio stations sited in 12 states and FCT out of the 36 interviewed me. Out of the 51 Radio Stations, Abuja, FCT has the highest number with 27 while Ibadan, Oyo State came distant second with 6. Lagos, Rivers and Ogun are tied at third position with 3 apiece.   Ekiti, Cross River, Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Kogi, Nasarawa and Kaduna are joint fourth with 1 radio station apiece. A foreign radio station based in Dakar, Senegal is the only one that has thus far interviewed me. As with the TV stations, most of the radio stations are privately owned.

Published books

I have authored three books with focus on leadership, governance and anti-corruption:

1.      Nigeria: Corruption and Opacity in Governance (2019),

2.      A Nation in Tow: Essays on Governance and Leadership in Nigeria (2016) and

3.     Nigeria, My Nigeria: Perspectives from 1990 – 2010 (2010).

In addition, I have contributed chapters in 11 other books.

 

 

Capacity building for media practitioners

I have been privileged to be selected as a resource person at several media trainings organised by groups like International Press Centre and Media Rights Agenda, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Inclusive Friends Association, Centre for Information Technology and Development as well as IFES-Nigeria.

Awards

As a way of recognising my contribution to better society, a number of media organisations have honoured me with different awards. They include:

1.     Chartered Institute of Leadership and Governance (USA) Fellowship Award, 28th November 2019.

2.     “Most Regular Resource Person” on the occasion of NTA Language 10th Anniversary on 9th December, 2021.

3.     Award of Excellence by Independent Television and Radio Abuja for Dedication and Commitment to Public Enlightenment in December 2021.

4.     Women of Inestimable Values “Impact Makers Award” as the Most Outstanding TV Presenter (Male) in recognition of selfless service to humanity on 28th May, 2022.

5.     Love 104.5 FM Abuja “Media Icon of the Year” 2022 on Sunday, 5th June 2022

6.     Yoruba Kingdom Legendary Golden Award of Excellence by Yoruba General Assembly on Saturday, 30th July 2022.

7.     The Redeemed Christian Church of God Region 10 YAYA appreciation plague for contribution towards the success of Ignite Youth Summit, August 2022.

Impact

I strongly believe that my effort through media advocacy is contributing to improved service delivery and better governance. I am gladdened by the positive reviews, feedback and recommendations to other colleagues that I get from many Nigerian broadcasters and journalists. Even, readers, listeners and viewers are daily showering encomiums on me via my various social media platforms namely Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp. For instance, during one of my interviews on People’s Assembly on Hot 98.3 FM in 2021, one of the callers on the programme referred to me as a ‘Media Oracle’. Several other people have also told me they leave whatever they are doing when they see me on TV or heard me on radio. This is very inspiring!   

A Human Rights lawyer, Frank Tietie Esq referred to me as the most interviewed Nigerian during the Annual Human Rights fiesta his NGO, CASER organised in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission on December 10, 2020 at NICON Luxury Hotel in Abuja. On Thursday, October 6, 2022 after my debut appearance on JIGSAW with veteran broadcaster, Gbenga Aruleba on Africa Independent Television (AIT), he remarked on a picture we took after the programme which was posted on my Facebook wall thus “Always a delight having a resourceful resource person like my brother, Jide Ojo, as guest on a programme.” On Friday, October 7. 2022, a renowned Communication Specialist and Analyst, Aro Leonard opined in a WhatsApp chat that “If there was a poll for most loved broadcast media analyst, you will be number 1 😀”. This is a heartwarming appraisal.  Some people who appreciates what I am doing and wished to be like me have also approached me for mentorship which I willingly oblige, free of charge.

Conclusion

I use this auspicious occasion to thank those who have encouraged me on this long adventurous journey. They include Joel Nwokeoma, Online Editor with The PUNCH who was instrumental in enlisting me as a columnist in 2012 when he was the Features Editor with the media conglomerate, Chesa Ransome Chesa who engaged me to be a columnist with The Authority on Sunday, Jude Igbanoi Esq. editor with THISDAY, Mrs. Amber Olague former GM of ITV Abuja, Asiwaju Bode Gbadebo, Online Editor with Leadership newspaper, late Nosa Osaigbovo of Daily Sketch and later Nigerian Tribune and a host of others too numerous to mention.

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