Tête-A-Tête with Erelu Bisi Fayemi By Abasi Femi Oguntayo
By
Abasi Femi Oguntayo
Abasi Femi Oguntayo
REPORTER’s DIARY
Seeth a man diligent in his work, he shall
stand before kings and queens and not before mere men (Proverbs 22:26)
stand before kings and queens and not before mere men (Proverbs 22:26)
The above bible verse
is an illustration of my personal story. After graduating from Ekiti State
University some years back, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, I thought
to myself, ‘what next?’. Since my 100 level days, I have been into the
journalism line, writing for Fountain Newsbreaker as the Campus Editor and I
was a member of my department’s Press Club.
is an illustration of my personal story. After graduating from Ekiti State
University some years back, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, I thought
to myself, ‘what next?’. Since my 100 level days, I have been into the
journalism line, writing for Fountain Newsbreaker as the Campus Editor and I
was a member of my department’s Press Club.
It is a great thing in
life to discover one’s purpose, and for you to know your purpose in life, you
have to know that thing which you do to affect people’s life positively and you
are happy doing.
life to discover one’s purpose, and for you to know your purpose in life, you
have to know that thing which you do to affect people’s life positively and you
are happy doing.
Right from my university days, I had always loved
giving people news, getting people informed and keeping them abreast of the
happenings around. So, I had been in the media line. Even when I got myself
involved in unionism in school, I was elected Public Relations Officer of
National Association of Philosophy Students (NAPS), EKSU Chapter; I was also
elected Public Relations Officer of Federation of Okemesi Students’ Union
(FOSU) National Body. In Succession, I was elected secretary and later President
of the Federation of Okemesi Students’ Union (FOSU), EKSU Chapter. Even after
leaving the University, during my service year in Uyo, the capital city of Akwa
Ibom State, I was made the Public Relations Officer of my Community Development
Services (CDS) Group – Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences
Commission (ICPC).
giving people news, getting people informed and keeping them abreast of the
happenings around. So, I had been in the media line. Even when I got myself
involved in unionism in school, I was elected Public Relations Officer of
National Association of Philosophy Students (NAPS), EKSU Chapter; I was also
elected Public Relations Officer of Federation of Okemesi Students’ Union
(FOSU) National Body. In Succession, I was elected secretary and later President
of the Federation of Okemesi Students’ Union (FOSU), EKSU Chapter. Even after
leaving the University, during my service year in Uyo, the capital city of Akwa
Ibom State, I was made the Public Relations Officer of my Community Development
Services (CDS) Group – Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences
Commission (ICPC).
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| Abasi Femi Oguntayo |
Moreover, having looked
at my background and the positions I have held in the past in which I did well,
I discovered my passion for Journalism. This is the main reason I decided to go
fully into journalism and to be professionally qualified, having earned a
Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy, I proceeded to the International Institute of
Journalism, Abuja where I obtained a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Journalism.
at my background and the positions I have held in the past in which I did well,
I discovered my passion for Journalism. This is the main reason I decided to go
fully into journalism and to be professionally qualified, having earned a
Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy, I proceeded to the International Institute of
Journalism, Abuja where I obtained a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Journalism.
After my service year,
I went fully into the journalism profession and I must say the experience had
been great. Within the short period of my full practice, I have been opportune
to meet dignitaries who on a normal day, I would not have had the chance to
meet.
I went fully into the journalism profession and I must say the experience had
been great. Within the short period of my full practice, I have been opportune
to meet dignitaries who on a normal day, I would not have had the chance to
meet.
Throughout my service
year as a Corp member I never had the chance to see not to talk of meeting the
Director General of NYSC, Brig. General Kazaure, but immediately after my
service year in 2017, I was on the field on an assignment and some selected
journalists were invited throughout the state to interview the NYSC DG when he
visited the Ekiti State NYSC Orientation Camp at Emure. I was opportune to be
among the journalists in Ekiti to be with him and for the first time, I met
with him, interviewed him, got his contact and personally took some pictures of
him for my medium.
year as a Corp member I never had the chance to see not to talk of meeting the
Director General of NYSC, Brig. General Kazaure, but immediately after my
service year in 2017, I was on the field on an assignment and some selected
journalists were invited throughout the state to interview the NYSC DG when he
visited the Ekiti State NYSC Orientation Camp at Emure. I was opportune to be
among the journalists in Ekiti to be with him and for the first time, I met
with him, interviewed him, got his contact and personally took some pictures of
him for my medium.
This and many more are
the experiences I have gathered during the short period of my practice. I have
also met one-on-one with a lot of Governorship Candidates and aspirants,
Senatorial Candidates and aspirants etc. Senators, House of Representatives
Members amongst others.
the experiences I have gathered during the short period of my practice. I have
also met one-on-one with a lot of Governorship Candidates and aspirants,
Senatorial Candidates and aspirants etc. Senators, House of Representatives
Members amongst others.
Meanwhile, my recent
encounter with the Incoming First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi was
the most exciting. Unlike many would have thought, that I met the First Lady on
a political outing or assignment, I was opportune to meet her on a professional
assignment too.
encounter with the Incoming First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi was
the most exciting. Unlike many would have thought, that I met the First Lady on
a political outing or assignment, I was opportune to meet her on a professional
assignment too.
At the International
Institute of Journalism where I recently finished my Post Graduate Diploma in
Journalism, we were to produce a magazine which was produced annually. So, I
was made the Deputy Editor in the Editorial Team while Mr Odunayo Ogunmola of
The Nation Newspapers was made the Editor.
Institute of Journalism where I recently finished my Post Graduate Diploma in
Journalism, we were to produce a magazine which was produced annually. So, I
was made the Deputy Editor in the Editorial Team while Mr Odunayo Ogunmola of
The Nation Newspapers was made the Editor.
We worked hand in hand
and brainstormed together. Having gathered all our news stories, we later
thought on who to use as the cover of this year’s edition of the magazine. Then
I suggested we contact Erelu Bisi Fayemi, being the incoming First Lady of the
State, an industrious and highly intelligent woman. Mr Odunayo immediately
bought the idea and he contacted Her Excellency. She agreed to be the cover of
the magazine and also granted us an interview.
and brainstormed together. Having gathered all our news stories, we later
thought on who to use as the cover of this year’s edition of the magazine. Then
I suggested we contact Erelu Bisi Fayemi, being the incoming First Lady of the
State, an industrious and highly intelligent woman. Mr Odunayo immediately
bought the idea and he contacted Her Excellency. She agreed to be the cover of
the magazine and also granted us an interview.
Some days later after
we contacted Erelu, the interview was ready, because we did the interview
online and she said we should come to Isan to get the soft copy of the
interview and some other materials that might be useful for the editing of the
interview. On that faithful Tuesday morning, we left Ado for Isan and we got
there in no time. We were ushered in and she was already expecting us.
we contacted Erelu, the interview was ready, because we did the interview
online and she said we should come to Isan to get the soft copy of the
interview and some other materials that might be useful for the editing of the
interview. On that faithful Tuesday morning, we left Ado for Isan and we got
there in no time. We were ushered in and she was already expecting us.
Her laptop where she
intended to send the materials to us was with her and she was just about having
breakfast. Immediately we entered the room where she was, she welcomed us
cheerfully and told Mr Odunayo, “It’s been a while” because she was
more acquainted with him. She offered us some coffee but we graciously declined
that we were okay.
intended to send the materials to us was with her and she was just about having
breakfast. Immediately we entered the room where she was, she welcomed us
cheerfully and told Mr Odunayo, “It’s been a while” because she was
more acquainted with him. She offered us some coffee but we graciously declined
that we were okay.
So, she passed her
laptop computer to me so that I could copy the important documents we needed
which I did. We thereafter had at least an hour chat with her; So exciting and
interesting to be with, a highly cerebral woman. We talked on a lot of things,
ranging from the aftermath of the 2014 defeat and the journey back to the
government house to the just concluded Osun Governorship election and her
husband’s plans for Ekiti People.
laptop computer to me so that I could copy the important documents we needed
which I did. We thereafter had at least an hour chat with her; So exciting and
interesting to be with, a highly cerebral woman. We talked on a lot of things,
ranging from the aftermath of the 2014 defeat and the journey back to the
government house to the just concluded Osun Governorship election and her
husband’s plans for Ekiti People.
She was so free with
us, only three of us in the room and we talked at length. She did not even know
I was Akogun Tai Oguntayo’s son until I introduced myself and she was like,
“Oh really? You’re Akogun’s Son, Wow! That’s great!”. She talked
about how the incoming administration would invest greatly on young people,
youths and students because she believes these are the future of Ekiti State
and investing in them now will give us the assurance of a greater Ekiti. We
also talked about how close the results of the Osun election were and how APC
thinly escaped defeat, then we came to the conclusion that the Ekiti State
Gubernatorial election that returned Dr Kayode Fayemi was justified. If APC
could win in Osun with less than 500 votes and in Ekiti State, APC won with
over 18,000 votes, then one can say, Dr. Kayode Fayemi gallantly won that
election. She was then like, it should never be said, that the election was
close, compared to what APC had in Osun.
us, only three of us in the room and we talked at length. She did not even know
I was Akogun Tai Oguntayo’s son until I introduced myself and she was like,
“Oh really? You’re Akogun’s Son, Wow! That’s great!”. She talked
about how the incoming administration would invest greatly on young people,
youths and students because she believes these are the future of Ekiti State
and investing in them now will give us the assurance of a greater Ekiti. We
also talked about how close the results of the Osun election were and how APC
thinly escaped defeat, then we came to the conclusion that the Ekiti State
Gubernatorial election that returned Dr Kayode Fayemi was justified. If APC
could win in Osun with less than 500 votes and in Ekiti State, APC won with
over 18,000 votes, then one can say, Dr. Kayode Fayemi gallantly won that
election. She was then like, it should never be said, that the election was
close, compared to what APC had in Osun.
While we were still
with this dexterous woman, she brought out parcels for us and gave one to me.
The parcel contained Two of her published books, ‘Speaking Above A Whisper’ and ‘Loud
Whispers‘ which will be read publicly very soon in Ado-Ekiti at the
October monthly reading of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and some
other packages.
with this dexterous woman, she brought out parcels for us and gave one to me.
The parcel contained Two of her published books, ‘Speaking Above A Whisper’ and ‘Loud
Whispers‘ which will be read publicly very soon in Ado-Ekiti at the
October monthly reading of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and some
other packages.
These are some of the
benefits of being a journalist. You get the opportunity of meeting people who
ordinarily, you would not have had the chance of meeting. Such an encounter with
the incoming First Lady was a delightful experience one cannot forget in a
hurry. I was inspired by her and got more encouraged to be more diligent in
whatever I find myself doing, because just like the above bible verse, anyone
who is diligent in his work will stand before Kings and Queens and not before
mere men.
benefits of being a journalist. You get the opportunity of meeting people who
ordinarily, you would not have had the chance of meeting. Such an encounter with
the incoming First Lady was a delightful experience one cannot forget in a
hurry. I was inspired by her and got more encouraged to be more diligent in
whatever I find myself doing, because just like the above bible verse, anyone
who is diligent in his work will stand before Kings and Queens and not before
mere men.
