PASSION DRIVES THE STORY I TELL, TVC JOURNALIST OLA AWAKAN DECLARES ‘I HAVE A SIMILAR STORY’
By Yomi Oyelami, Trek Africa Newspaper
Ola Awakan, TV Correspondent, TVC* Shares emotional story of his life growing up in Ajegunle
* Begs parents not to quench creativity in their children, rather ‘buttress passion with education’
* Celebrates Nigeria’s Icon of Democracy, Chief M. K. O. Abiola; Democracy Day June 12
Talk about future. Talk about fact. Talk about fun. That was what ace journalist and arts aficionado, Ola Awakan brought to the live session of #Reminisense the #TweetChat series with Abayomi Oyelami @yomioyelami on Twitter on 9th June, 2020.
In a no-holds-barred manner, Mr. Awakan shared his life story and drew useful advice for the audience. Growing up on the streets of the bustling Ajegunle, a popular Lagos suburb hailed for producing the likes of Odion Ighalo, Austin Okocha, Daddy Showkey, and others, he said: ‘I was 6 months old when I started living with my grandparents in Ajegunle. Salubi Street off Tolu Road precisely. I was enrolled in a Public Primary School – Wowo primary School and there, I discovered that I could draw. At first I attended what my Yoruba people call Jeleosinmi (a traditional creche) where I would go with slate, chalk and a stool to learn. It was adventurous.’
‘In Wowo, I was making drawings of cartoon characters for class mates and earning 50 kobo (one-half of 1 naira). But academically, I was a poor child in primary school but I didn’t give up on myself as far as education is concerned. I grew up with a creative grandfather, a Cobbler and leader craftsman and grandmother who was into hairdo. I saw them as my source of inspiration at first’.
Ola who noted that Ajegunle in Apapa is a unique slum in the heart of Lagos with millions of residents who struggle to survive said ‘I am a product of the good side of the acclaimed’.
In the same environment, he attended high school, ‘I didn’t start reading fluently until I got into JSS 2. I used to admire books. At Ajeromi Ifelodun High School, I started picking up academically but as far as Art was concerned I was close to being an expert. I could draw, shade and colour to an extent. I joined Fine Arts. I also joined the Cultural and Dramatic society in SS 1 as well as Press Club. I also joined a professional theatre group after secondary school.’
He pointed out that no parent should give up on their children/wards if they are not performing credibly in their academics but rather should encourage and nurture them, ‘Parents should try to understand where the interests of their children lie, nurture it and encourage them to buttress passion with education. If they had discouraged me in the arts, maybe my knack for creativity would have been quenched, hence, I may not have been where I am today.’
‘I remember the day I wrote Common Entrance Examination, my granddad gave my grandmother money to make special food for me. Although my Dad was sometimes applying force but that didn’t work all the time. I was determined. I saw them encouraging me so I wanted to reciprocate that. My granddad was lettered but my grandmother wasn’t. Nevertheless, they would encourage me to keep striving. They never stopped me from my love for the art. They would always monitor my assignments. I was told several stories of what they would have become if they were educated.’
On the professional front, the journo-thespian, as he regards himself, communicated how he draw inspiration for his insightful and interesting human angle stories. ‘I have always wanted a platform to tell stories of the voiceless in the society most especially those who live in slums. When I got into Olabisi Onabanjo University to do Mass Communication, it’s very easy for me to connect with Performing Art. All these helped to shape me.’
‘While in school, I created many personal projects for self development. One of such aided me when I finished and I started writing for the defunct National Mirror Newspaper. I saw that there are many stories to be told.’
He, then, reeled out some of his works, ‘When I joined Television Continental (TVC) it was easy. My first story was on Bariga youths. How a young man had created an art academy called Footprint of David to positively impact the lives of hundreds of underprivileged children. That story people said I told it uniquely and the former Governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode got attracted to it and he tried to give them exposure. My story according to the founder Seun Awobajo got helpers attracted to them. Same story got me nominated for NMMA.’
‘I did the story of Munachi Mbonu, the 11-year-old girl who published two books and was raised by a single mother. I did the story of Nigeria’s hyper realism artist, Waris Kareem who drew the portrait of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. My story facilitated the reunion of the family. Through my story the Kareem family got a 2-bedroom apartment from the-then Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. The boy also received scholarship. I moved on to tell the story of a dynasty of photographers in Lagos that has produced the youngest professional photographer, Ariyike. I also told the story of 9-year-old Siju Olawepo, the Calendar Boy and Joshua Agboola, a ten year old techkid.’
‘I told the true story behind the cultural Kegites Club International. I did tell the story of Joshua Beckford and now, the emotionally-motivated inspirational story of Ihuoma Harrison, the founder of Gifted Steppers. She’s given hope to many children and she is still doing same. The kids make up her world. I could relate with these stories because I have similar story. My passion drives me.’
The award winning journalist also paid tribute to Nigeria’s hero of democracy, Chief M. K. O. Abiola, ‘June 12 has remained a red lettered day in the fabric of this nation. And MKO Abiola championed what is now Democracy.’
‘As a people, we’ve to uphold his mandate & practice the democracy that he preached. Many died in the course and we should not allow their blood to wallow in regret.’
‘I am already working on a report on Television Continental (TVC) that looks at how the children have been faring and what they feel about the democracy that Nigeria practices. It should premiere on or before June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day.’
The host of the chat, Abayomi Oyelami extolled the 2018 NMMA nominee and believes that the NMMA award ‘is coming home this year 2020.’ It would interest you that Ola Awakan is Trek Africa’s Journalist of the Year 2019.
