By Christy Anyanwu
Seun Oyedeji aka Jewel, is a seasoned broadcaster with over two decades of experience. She is currently the National News Coordinator at Silverbird Television.
Oyedeji is engaged in organising the forthcoming symposium, The Encounter, to be held in Lagos.
In this interview, she talks about her sojourn as broadcast journalist and other issues.
Read on…
Please give us a snapshot of yourself.
I’m a broadcast journalist, an administrator, public speaker/trainer and a positive change agent who is proudly Nigerian. I am the National News Coordinator of Silverbird TV.
How did your journey into broadcasting start? What was the initial experience like?
I started as a teenager who got the opportunity to intern at the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation through the help of my neighbour in Abeokuta, Kayode Kujore, a DJ on OGBC 1, who then introduced me to Mr. Kunle Job, a presenter on OGBC 2.
So, I was curious, serious and focused on learning the ropes and mastering the game. I was blessed to have had mentors like the legendary Busayo Olaifa (the ‘Okolo Master’), who taught me the rudiments of broadcasting, Mrs. Toyin Shogbesan (the present General Manager, OGBC) and Mr. Taiwo Oshindele. Though Mr was not a broadcaster, he treated like his child
My dreams of being on television came to fruition because Mr Femi Aderibigbe, took a chance to have me on the team that launched Star FM in Lagos, from where I got to be on the sister station, MITV. Nr. Aderibigbe is now the CEO of Nigezie/Orisun TV.
Although I admired the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Christiane Amanpour, it took the eagle eyes of Mr. Tayo Balogun to spot the ‘prospects’ and the encouragement from Mr. Banji Busari of MITV to help activate the dream. And the rest, as the saying goes, is history
Was that your ambition as a young girl growing up?
No, I wanted to be a lawyer. However, that was because my parents and everyone around me wanted me to be one. And maybe I got it now – love to advocate for fairness, justice and the positive things in-between.
However, as a broadcaster, I believe I’m able to still fulfill those yearnings through the opportunities given to me to act as a bridge between the government and the governed in order to promote national development, peace and unity. This is achieved through intentional research into issues, objective processing of derived information and the professionalism in delivering the messages.
How is life being a TV personality, in terms of appearing in public places like open markets or patronizing roadside sellers?
I just live. And simply, too. It feels good to receive compliments on what you do and your looks. Asides that some vendors would always try to shortchange you. In all, the benefits far outweigh the occasional hassles.
Suppose there is reincarnation, would you still want to be in the same profession?
Oh, yes! And hopefully, there would be better choices to be made earlier in life in order to fulfill dreams and aspirations on time.
You will be a year older in a few days, what lessons have you learnt about life?
Everyone you encounter in your life, everything that happens to you and the people or circumstances that make them happen ‘had been written’. However, the space in between, which refers to your attitude and the ability to be audacious and get best out of it all, lie in your hands.
With your new age, tell us a few plans you would want to hack before the end of two years. Why the symposium to mark your birthday instead of funfare?
By God’s grace, there are great plans. Just watch this space. I believe that there comes a time in one’s life that you become more intentional about reaching out to the people whose causes you plead anytime you have the opportunity to do so on television. I chose this special day to address a critical issue in the education sector which centres around the deployment of technology in conducting examinations in Nigeria by creating a meeting point for major stakeholders to interact.
I strongly believe that bridging the communication gap between the authorities and the citizens would aid better understanding of government policies and allow direct feedback from other stakeholders without any ‘noise’.
This is intended to improve the standard of education, which would in turn, promote national development and peace. And yes, there’s a space for thanksgiving and reception for friends, afterwards.
What’s the central focus of the symposium this May 24 and what do you hope to achieve with it?
Education. ‘The Encounter’ symposium aims to analyse the impact of the deployment of technology on examination administration in Nigeria. And that is why the big question is whether ‘The Impact of ICT on Educational Development is Overrated, or not?’
Students from five schools have been invited to a debate in order to share their views on the subject matter.
Recently, the West African Examination Council, WAEC, announced the introduction of the first-ever computer-based West African Senior School Certificate Examination for candidates. According to the council, the new policy is aimed at improving examination delivery and to curb malpractice. But how ready are we for this journey? We intend to get answers to this and other questions from the authorities at the symposium
Looking back on your journey, what are you most grateful for?
I’m grateful for life, supportive and loving family, great friends and associates, and especially, for the opportunity to rewrite my story— all to the glory of God
You’re literally one of the most accomplished women in the Nigerian broadcast terrain today. Was broadcasting your childhood ambition?
Yes, broadcasting caught my fancy since my childhood days. I remember drawing inspiration from watching the likes of late Tokunbo Ajayi, Sienne Allwell-Brown and Ruth Benamaisia Opia, locally. I also sat and watched Mallam Danladi Bako on NTA’s Morning Ride and said to myself that one day, Seun Oyedeji would be counted among them. My parents, my dad in particular, wanted me to be a lawyer but today, at 89, I believe he’s proud of my choice of profession
Would you say women have generally fared well in Editorial/Management positions across the Nigerian media industry?
Absolutely! I mean, the list of highly successful female editors is endless! It’s been quite a journey from the era of the “gentlemen of the press” when the profession was largely dominated by men to the times when the likes of Mrs Doyin Abiola became the first female editor and the Managing Director/Publisher of National Concord; Mrs Funke Egbemode, who did not just rise to the position of the Managing Director of the New Telegraph Newspaper but also emerged as the President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, among other hugely successful women in media.
Female editors in the broadcast media are equally doing exploits— very creative, resilient, dynamic and visionary.
What was it like as a young female beginner in the profession and how would you describe your journey to the top?
I belong to the group of the ‘thoroughbreds’ in the industry. I started in 1994 as a teenage intern with the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, OGBC, under the tutelage of the best hands in the industry, where professionalism coated with discipline made the difference. You would not only celebrate but go into fasting and praying just because you must not ‘bungle’ that one opportunity to give the ‘time-check’ on radio— which you would have informed the whole world to listen to.
From an intern to the General Manager of a radio station and now the National News Coordinator at Silverbird Television, I am grateful for the experiences garnered over the years and remain hungry for more.
TV stars like Oprah Winfrey have shared tales of how they were labelled ‘not good enough’ by producers while in their teething stages. How did you deal with such if it was ever your experience?
Let me say this, no matter how good you are, not everyone will like you. However, I welcome criticisms—whether constructive or malicious. I believe they are meant to nudge you to work harder and get better to the point that even the ‘malicious’ will have nothing on you.
A book on your life’s journey will be incomplete without what and what names?
The names of my parents’, my daughter and entire members of my family. Professionally, you have notable personalities like names Mallam Danladi Bako, Busayo Olaifa, Kayode Kujore, Kunle Job, Femi Aderibigbe (KWAME), Lemi Olalemi, Bola Salako, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and someone I call ‘Beeps’ among others, which time and space won’t permit.
What’s a typical day like for you as Head of News?
I wake up to pray, check my mobile devices for ‘breaking news’, check the mailboxes for daily correspondence co-anchor our flagship breakfast show— ‘NEWS HUB’, engage in meetings after meetings, stay constantly in touch with Bureau Coordinators to ensure smooth operations, and always ready for instructions from above.
What are your top three hacks for succeeding in the broadcast industry?
Put God first because you’ll need Him at every turn. Discover yourself and keep learning – you’re one of a kind. Networking is the key that will keep you in the game
What would you not wear as a TV personality on air?
Anything that feels or looks indecent.