By Tunji Ajibade
November 10, 1989, remains etched in my memory as the day a lifelong calling took formal root. That morning I resumed duty as a Producer at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Abẹokuta — the day after I completed my National Youth Service Corps programme. What began as a one-year national service posting in 1988 had, by divine favour and the encouragement of discerning mentors, become the foundation of a career that continues to this day.
I had arrived at NTA Abẹokuta the previous year as a corps member and was posted to the Community Broadcast section of the Programmes Department. There I came under the guidance of two remarkable professionals: the late Morohunkayo Àyọká Idowu, a principal producer of rare insight, and late Robil Isola Akinsipo, then a senior producer. May God rest their souls.Gbogbo ohun tí wọn fi sílẹ̀ kò ní bàjẹ́ lorukọ Jesu.
From the first day I sensed that this was fertile ground for the talent and grace God had placed upon my life.
My love for broadcasting had begun much earlier. As a primary-school pupil I would stand before a mirror with storybooks, reading aloud while listening intently to newscasters and presenters on radio, mimicking their cadence and trying to capture the music in their voices. By secondary school I was already recording ewì at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Ibadan and later at the now-defunct Radio Nigeria, Abẹokuta. The microphone felt natural; the craft felt like home.
At NTA Abẹokuta my bosses did more than assign tasks — they invested in me. As a corps member I was soon producing and presenting programmes, writing scripts, and doing voice-overs. Within three months some of their own programmes were handed over to me. One of the most significant was Itaniji/Owowewo, a community-oriented series sponsored by MAMSER (Mass Mobilization for Social and Economic Recovery). Isola Akinsipo had been producing and presenting it. He allowed me to understudy him for a few weeks; when he judged me ready, he entrusted the programme to me. By the grace of God I did justice to it.
The work took me across virtually every local government in Ogun State. The travelling was rigorous, the hours long, yet I thrived. I was exempted from the weekly NYSC community service because of these programmes. Some fellow corps members began to tease me — “efico,” “ọmọ ìjọba” — but I paid little attention. I was simply doing the work that gave me joy, staying late in the editing suite when necessary so that programmes would be ready for transmission, and watching the impact on the communities we served.
A telling moment came when Chief Isola Fólórunṣó, then Ogun State Director of MAMSER, asked one of his staff in genuine surprise: “Ibo ni NTA ti rí boy tóńtóló, tí Yorùbá dùn lẹ́nu ẹ̀ yẹn?” The compliment still warms me.
Shortly before the end of my service year, my boss called me aside and urged me to apply for a permanent post as Producer. I was invited for an interview and offered employment immediately after NYSC. I completed service on 9 November 1989 and resumed as a full staff member the very next day — 10 November 1989.
I remain deeply grateful to the leaders who saw potential in a young corps member and gave me room to grow. Among them were Dr Biodun Sotunbi (General Manager), Mr Ogundahunsi (Manager, Administration), Mama Ebun Okesola of blessed memory (Manager, Programmes), Mr Bakare (Manager, News), Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa (Chief Engineer), Mama Dupẹ Oladimeji, Mr Kayode Da Silva, and Mr Ayo Odetoyinbo — who once described me, with characteristic precision, as “stylishly stubborn.” I also remember with affection Yemi Sodimu, Fola Longe (who often said, “Tunji, tẹ̀lé mi”), Niyi Orunsolu (my able presenter on Musulumi Ododo and Tafsiri), Demola Oladosu, Brother Rafiu, Alagba Biodun Obebe, Yeye Toyin Jaye-Daramola(Mama T), Mrs Efe Soriyan, and Isiaka Adewuyi — the man who taught me how to handle a camera and whom we fondly called Adini Gudugbe.
Special appreciation goes to Lekan Ajia, who taught me the discipline of scriptwriting at the NTA Television College, Jos, even though our paths did not cross in Abẹokuta. I equally honour the technical colleagues who made the programmes possible: VCR editors Noah Akinmade and Kehinde Ajé; cameramen Adejuwon Adesanya (“Baba Agba”), Kola Omoniyi of blessed memory, (who, on the day I arrived with my posting letter, declared that an Ajibade would certainly serve at the station because his own uncle bore the same name), Gbola Onasanya, Sunday Ogunyemi, Rasaki Olatubosun, Fatai Adiyeloja, Bola Ladele, the ever-resourceful engineer Sodipo, Femi Akinsanya of blessed memory, and many other beautiful souls who made NTA Abẹokuta a place of growth and camaraderie.
That season of discovery, hard work, and generous mentorship shaped everything that followed. What began on 10 November 1989 has, by the grace of God, become a sustained vocation. Decades later I am still in the profession, still learning, still grateful, and still waxing stronger.
Glory be to God in the highest.
Tunji Ajibade is the head of Dominion TV, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
He writes via talogaju22@gmail.co
