IMPOSSIBLE ONLY MEANS I’M POSSIBLE
TAIYE TUNKARIMU
She started singing at age four and knew all the jingles of that time. NENE, the fourth runner –up of the reality show, NOKIA FIRST CHANCE was born in the UK some years ago. This diva though from Nigerian parents dressed in a White shirt and Ankara skirt, a local fabric, with her neatly fixed curly hair hanging around her shoulders hails from Edo state of Nigeria has always been into music and a part of the literary and debating society while in school. A graduate of Lagos State University (LASU), NENE has high expectations of herself as well as high hopes and dreams. She thought to herself one day that she would stand and sing on some kind of stage and to that effect she worked regularly on herself so as to get used to the different crowd in other to succeed with more challenges.” I don’t wait to see a crowd of about three thousand people before I work on myself but with consistency you get a better side of YOU as an ARTISTE”. This mother of three (3) boys had a chat with Taiye Tunkarimu recently at an event.
HER ALBUM
(Coughs and clears her throat) Am cooking something and by the time the aroma goes far (laughs) you’ll all wonder but am running on my album and trying to make sure all the songs are put together. It’s actually the first album but I had a single running and a lot of people are asking for it but you know good things take time and I just don’t want to jump out with an album because I want to do something classic that people will keep listening to over and over again.
For her, Singing has never been a hobby but a dream. “Some people who saw me growing up in life didn’t notice singing as a part of me although some noticed because they were actually watching. I never thought music would become so big for me that I would be identified with it”. When something is your passion and dream, it’s all you want to do and definitely it becomes your identity
NOKIA FIRST CHANCE
The competition was an eye opener for me as an artiste to see a more creative and business side of music especially in the Nigerian industry and the entertainment industry internationally. It was quite an experience, I learnt a lot from the contestants, organizers, stage performances to the kind of music style I wanted.
TEMIDARA her hit single was released three months after she got out of the NOKIA FIRST CHANCE competition. “What gave me the inspiration was the fact that I was a contestant, I didn’t win, I knew I was good and for some reasons I was not crowned the winner but I looked inside of me and said I have to do something extra because it is not a time to sit back and cry. The competition took a lot out of my time and life. TEMIDARA was a song I wrote just walking on the road and humming to myself. The inspiration came just like that and I got home, met my husband who took me over the cords and I put the lyrics to it”.
Before and when she’s on stage, the first thing that goes through her mind is whether or not she is getting paid, people don’t know but they are there to listen to what she has to say/sing. “The fact that people are gathered to listen to you means that you have some kind of power and control. At this point you are a leader showing the audience where to go, if you are scared or not sure of yourself, you lose your crowd because people don’t actually know what goes on back stage. I can either make or mar people’s lives, so there is a lot of responsibility and mentality attached to it”. This high note soprano singer makes sure she goes on stage with some form of euphoria, either calm or up tempo level of energy that will make the audience dance and go down memory lane. “Its energy sapping and requires some sort of psychology attached to it”
Just recently, she recorded a song in collaboration with “EGO” titled “SISTERS”. “It’s a song we wrote together. It’s about two people who have been away from each other, sisters not necessarily biological but friends who grew up together and are meeting again to share their experiences on what life has taught them”. And on having more collaboration she says “is under check right now”. Although the remix of TEMIDARA featured COBHAMS but she would love to work with………… (She laughs), “I’ll let you guys know later on”.
FEMALES IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
The fact is the industry is dominated by the male artiste but it doesn’t mean the females don’t have what it takes. The way men and women function naturally differs, so musically, you see the difference too. The chances are high because women are builders; we are the people that can turn a house into a home. A female artiste needs to have a good voice and there are some extra flavours she must put into her music, her style, image, charisma that will make people buy into her music. The female artistes are coming up well and good, it might seem slow but on stage we build the energy, sound and vocals. So we are not at a loss.
This eccentric lover of tunes listens to all kinds of music from Fuji, Jazz to hip-hop, soul as long as the music is good and makes her go whao. “Personally I love soul and poetry where I can express myself in rhythms and rhymes”.
When NENE is not singing, cooking and attending to people gives her a delight because it makes her a part of people’s lives. “These I love to do because am very hospitable and homely when am in my zone but in public people tend to serve me. Meanwhile, in the house or when my friends come around, we wash the dishes, cook and do all those little things because it really matters”. Besides this, NENE likes to write about anything, poetry, songs and watching movies especially cartoon.
WHAT GIVES HER INSPIRATION?
“Your hair and shirt is inspiring me right now. Sometimes I look at people in their quiet moment and I just go Hhhmmmm”. She draws inspiration from people and their situation, fiction and real life experience because she has been through a lot in life. “God and other artiste are also a source of my inspiration”. Sometimes it’s good to listen and learn from other people because life is about learning from each other she said.
HER WORD FOR THE UPCOMING ACT
Be sure of what you want to do. Don’t go into something because people are doing it. Have a passion and don’t look for the gain before the pain. Most young people want the money, fame and attention without paying their dues. The truth is nothing good comes easy. You have to work at it and have a never say die spirit even when people are driving you off, your passion will keep you going. Sometimes things happen not to bring you down but to push you up. You don’t have to do it like the unbelievers to make it.
Her philosophy of life is uncountable but one is “ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE”. This she said is true as nothing is IMPOSSIBLE with God. “There were times when people thought it was impossible for a black man to make it to the white house or for a plane to fly, the truth is every time an impossibility is placed before you, it is a time for you to break through and do the impossible which means “I’M POSSIBLE” because the bible says, all things are possible to them that believe. Don’t ever let people still into your belief.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
1st National Youth Media Summit
Youths Take Charge at the 1st National Youth Media Summit
Omotayo Obe and Taiye Tunkarimu
In recent times, the closures of some newspaper houses have been the news especially across the United States and Europe. A lot of young people are now moving online to get information and current news rather from newspapers. Ambassador Stephen Oguntoyinbo, CEO of The Talk Village International had the craving for the need to put together a forum where it would bring to the notice of young people the role of the media in national development and rebranding the images of Nigerians in Diaspora by young people themselves.
This yearning gave rise to the 1st ever National Youth Media Summit, which took place recently at the British Council Multi-Media Suite, Ikoyi, Lagos for two days. The gathering was mostly attended by young people and facilitated by the young people themselves. Many issues were raised and discussed as to the role of the media in the nation’s development and the inactive role played by young people especially while using the Internet giving its potential as a news outlet. A lot of emphases were placed on social networks such as Facebook, You Tube, Twitter et al and the Internet generally, which can be used as effective tools in disseminating information especially about Nigeria to the whole world.
While making his presentation, the Editor of TIMELESS Newspaper, Ayodeji Jeremiah spoke on the era of the new media and the need for a convergence between the old and the new media in other to make the best use of both worlds even as the World is changing to a global village. He emphasised the need for a synergy between the old and the new media while stating that democracy is still the strongest and best form of governance in modern society. The media, he said remains one of the strongest institutions that allow democracy thrive in any society.
Mr. Ayodeji said as a journalist, it is important not to be restricted to one media format but be an all rounder in the different formats. Given the power of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace as not just social networks but also powerful tools for news dissemination and information; the challenge for print newspapers is to address how to use the new media even as many young people don’t have the time to flip through the pages of different newspapers for news when in a matter of minutes, they can have detailed information on news happening just by going online.
On how the traditional media can meet the challenges of the new media, he said print newspapers need to focus more on analysis than reporting. They must also focus more on young people who love to read about themselves. The need for better design, more graphics, more headlines, more pictures and less text should be embraced. Newspapers, he said must have a clear ideology and carve a niche for themselves.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Ayodeji advised youths to develop themselves and try and get at least the minimum educational degree. He also urged them to be knowledgeable about everything and most especially their subject areas. In his words “know your stuff, know your environment”.
According to Dr. Tunde Adegbola, The CEO of African Technology Initiative, a company set up to make computers useful in African languages, the media he said is information and communication and the way we do it is the most important factor of our humanity because the objective of humans is to communicate. The media is full of opportunities and information revolution is a youth thing. This is the age of advantages and privileges that never came in the 60s or 80s. Nigeria, he said is the only country without a Community Development Broadcast Initiative (Community Radio and the likes) in the ECOWAS region. He therefore admonished the youths to stand up and be counted because the capacity to inform and transfer information lies in the hands of young people and if we don’t act now we will be oppressed and told who we are and whatever we are told becomes a reality because we haven’t taken advantage of who we are and what we have. Dr. Tunde ended his presentation by defining Globalisation as when Nokia sells more cameras than the likes of Kodak, Sony, Canon et al put together.
Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, the Sunday Editor of The Nation Newspaper and founder of Journalist for Christ spoke on Communication, Policy and Journalism Practice: the Role of the Youth. He started off his presentation by defining success as “seeing into the future before it becomes very obvious”. For many young people it is about being successful in whatever career they have chosen for themselves but to succeed in the field of journalism he stressed that it is important to be knowledgeable about happenings in the society especially the running of government and their policies because one cannot argue about what he/she does not know. Proper qualifications is also very important as a media practitioner and in seeking employment, it is crucial that one seeks for it in the mainstream media and come up with new concepts to improve on the quality of contributions on the Internet and ideas that will champion the coverage of new issues and topics that matters like climate change and globalisation.
Nike Fagade, CEO, Positive Development Foundation emphasised the need for young people to read widely, promote and say good things of themselves and their country everywhere they go within and outside the country. She encouraged youths not just to go online and check mails or chat on Facebook writing status such as “I just prepared beans and dodo” or “am chilling in a buka (a local canteen)” but to flood the Internet daily anytime they get the opportunity to go online with positive information and news of young people changing and contributing positively to the growth and development of the society. She also pleaded with Nollywood film producers to stop espousing negativism in Nigerian movies. “Not that we don’t know that these things are happening but we have to erase the negative and bad image of Nigeria and start showing the world the good side of Nigeria.”
Dolapo Taiwo of Unotech who spoke on Web 2.0 said the future of Communication and Journalism lies on the Internet. He pushed for everyone to make good use of their blogs to disseminate information. He stressed that young people should use the Internet for more productive and positive money making ventures by building a brand for themselves and making lots of noise about such. The need for government to come up with new media policies was also emphasised.
During the group discussions, the participants came up with suggestions that for youth media to be extraordinary and different there is a need for young people to be consistent with their initiatives and develop their content to a world class standard. Innovation and creativity must be employed and loyalty to clients and customer cannot be disputed because this is a time for young people to explore and take charge of the world thereby creating an identity for themselves.
Stephen Oguntoyinbo, convener of the event and CEO of TalkVillage International said youths must integrate into the social media a means to creating or rather facilitating the desired change needed in Africa. He encouraged youths to tap into the social media because of the various advantages and its potential as a catalyst for change when used for advocacy. He went ahead to give a frame work of the advantages of the new media stating that it saves time and energy, it is globally accessible, economically sustainable and it serves as a strong tool for networking. He also advised Youths to be information seekers and sharers and to explore the new media effectively to boost their work.
Another panellist, Mr. Panny Daranijo told the audience that in using the new media, youths should ask and answer the following questions - Who Am I? ,What Are My Interests?, What exactly do I plan to achieve by this platform I am using?, What am I teaching?, What am I broadcasting to the World? He advised youths to use the Internet for positive changes. He also advised that the Internet should not just be used for teaching alone but also as an agent of change. He decried the trend among youths who use the Social media, especially Facebook to say irrelevant things and the sorts.
Mayowa Adeniran, CEO, E3 Media gave the audience different websites they can visit to blog, vlog and where they can get job opportunities and create a string web presence to boost their career profile. He listed sites such as www.africanews.com, www.bloglighting.com, www.payu2blog.com, www.betterbusinessblogg.com etc as sites where young people should visit to make their voices heard and create an impact. He advised youths to stand up and be heard and use the resources available to them to create the needed impact in the society.
Azeezat Sanni, Co-Presenter, Touch of Spice on Star FM encouraged youths to discover themselves, their interests and be very mindful of the power of words especially in the use of the new media in order not to fuel aggressions, hate or even libel.
The Conference also featured group work as follows:
Group A: Web 2.0 - Gateway For Boosting your Business Globally
Group B: Act Local; Think Global, Opportunities for Youths in Media
Group C: Engaging Youths in Community Radio
Each group was required to brainstorm and come out with practical, economical and pragmatic ways on how it can make impacts on its given topics.
GROUP A in its presentation gave insights on how youths or any business owner at all can take advantage of the Internet to market themselves. They suggested the use of the social media- Facebook, Twitter etc, Blogs, Vlogs (You Tube) etc in creating a web presence on their products and services. They also suggested how everyone present can teach others on how to use the computer without necessarily spending so much money.
Group B raised the possibility of using the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with a view of raising awareness on the MDGs as an opportunity for youths in the media. The group’s focus was on developmental journalism. The group says through the use of social media, Web Radio, Blogs and the Print Media, the awareness of people in the society can be raised towards achieving at least 60-70% of the MDG goals by or before 2015. The group’s Facilitator and Editor of Timeless Newspaper, Mr. Ayodeji Jeremiah pledged the support of his newspaper to the cause.
Group C facilitated by Azzezat Sanni spoke on the need to promote community radio so that the voices of everyone can be heard. She also revealed that they plan to start advocating for community radio through her Touch of Spice radio programme; the group also intends to speak on issues that affect various people at the grass root level.
Other speakers at the two day event were Ms. Toyin Adesola (President, Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative, SAMI), Ifeoma Adibe (Founder, African Youth Empowerment and Change Initiative), Damola Taiwo (Unotech Media), Asim-Ita Emilia (Redstart/Future Awards), Ashaye Babatunde (E3 Media), and Anyaegbu Francis (Outbox Consulting).
In all, the two day summit made a call to all youths irrespective of gender, religion, tribe and class to take charge, be the change and make positive impact wherever they are especially in the policy making of their countries.
MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM THE SUMMIT
“Globalization is when Nokia sells more Cameras than Kodak and Canon.”
Dr. Tunde Adegbola (CEO Alt-i)
“Not everyone that writes is a Journalist; Journalism has its code of ethics.”
Mr.Lekan Otufodurin (Editor, The Nation on Sunday )
“The New Media, which I prefer to call Online Media, poses a challenge to the traditional media.”
Mr. Ayodeji Jeremiah (Editor, Timeless Newspaper)
“I suffered in this Lagos O!”
Asim-Ita Emmilia
“We should stop using the social media to tell people “I’m eating Burger”. It should be used to promote positive change.”
Mr.Lekan Otufodurin (Editor, The Nation on Sunday)
“If an angry person speaks, the anger is lessened and you know where he is going …In Nigeria, we have angry people whose mouths are tied.”
Dr. Tunde Adegbola, on the need for Community Radio.
“What the traditional media needs is news analysis not news reporting to survive.”
Mr. Ayodeji Jeremiah (Editor, Timeless)
“The question is how to get youths interested in making an impact, like when I told some youths about the Youth Summit, their reply was “Kini Big Deal?”
Peculiar, (Participant at the Summit)
“Don’t post what you don’t want your Grand-Mother or prospective employer to see on Facebook. In using the new media, the key word is ‘explore.’”
Stephen Oguntoyinbo.
“To succeed in using the new media, consistence is the key.”
Mayowa Adeniran, E3 Media
“Government should be pressurized to liberate the airwaves.”
Dr. Tunde Adegbola
Omotayo Obe and Taiye Tunkarimu
In recent times, the closures of some newspaper houses have been the news especially across the United States and Europe. A lot of young people are now moving online to get information and current news rather from newspapers. Ambassador Stephen Oguntoyinbo, CEO of The Talk Village International had the craving for the need to put together a forum where it would bring to the notice of young people the role of the media in national development and rebranding the images of Nigerians in Diaspora by young people themselves.
This yearning gave rise to the 1st ever National Youth Media Summit, which took place recently at the British Council Multi-Media Suite, Ikoyi, Lagos for two days. The gathering was mostly attended by young people and facilitated by the young people themselves. Many issues were raised and discussed as to the role of the media in the nation’s development and the inactive role played by young people especially while using the Internet giving its potential as a news outlet. A lot of emphases were placed on social networks such as Facebook, You Tube, Twitter et al and the Internet generally, which can be used as effective tools in disseminating information especially about Nigeria to the whole world.
While making his presentation, the Editor of TIMELESS Newspaper, Ayodeji Jeremiah spoke on the era of the new media and the need for a convergence between the old and the new media in other to make the best use of both worlds even as the World is changing to a global village. He emphasised the need for a synergy between the old and the new media while stating that democracy is still the strongest and best form of governance in modern society. The media, he said remains one of the strongest institutions that allow democracy thrive in any society.
Mr. Ayodeji said as a journalist, it is important not to be restricted to one media format but be an all rounder in the different formats. Given the power of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace as not just social networks but also powerful tools for news dissemination and information; the challenge for print newspapers is to address how to use the new media even as many young people don’t have the time to flip through the pages of different newspapers for news when in a matter of minutes, they can have detailed information on news happening just by going online.
On how the traditional media can meet the challenges of the new media, he said print newspapers need to focus more on analysis than reporting. They must also focus more on young people who love to read about themselves. The need for better design, more graphics, more headlines, more pictures and less text should be embraced. Newspapers, he said must have a clear ideology and carve a niche for themselves.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Ayodeji advised youths to develop themselves and try and get at least the minimum educational degree. He also urged them to be knowledgeable about everything and most especially their subject areas. In his words “know your stuff, know your environment”.
According to Dr. Tunde Adegbola, The CEO of African Technology Initiative, a company set up to make computers useful in African languages, the media he said is information and communication and the way we do it is the most important factor of our humanity because the objective of humans is to communicate. The media is full of opportunities and information revolution is a youth thing. This is the age of advantages and privileges that never came in the 60s or 80s. Nigeria, he said is the only country without a Community Development Broadcast Initiative (Community Radio and the likes) in the ECOWAS region. He therefore admonished the youths to stand up and be counted because the capacity to inform and transfer information lies in the hands of young people and if we don’t act now we will be oppressed and told who we are and whatever we are told becomes a reality because we haven’t taken advantage of who we are and what we have. Dr. Tunde ended his presentation by defining Globalisation as when Nokia sells more cameras than the likes of Kodak, Sony, Canon et al put together.
Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, the Sunday Editor of The Nation Newspaper and founder of Journalist for Christ spoke on Communication, Policy and Journalism Practice: the Role of the Youth. He started off his presentation by defining success as “seeing into the future before it becomes very obvious”. For many young people it is about being successful in whatever career they have chosen for themselves but to succeed in the field of journalism he stressed that it is important to be knowledgeable about happenings in the society especially the running of government and their policies because one cannot argue about what he/she does not know. Proper qualifications is also very important as a media practitioner and in seeking employment, it is crucial that one seeks for it in the mainstream media and come up with new concepts to improve on the quality of contributions on the Internet and ideas that will champion the coverage of new issues and topics that matters like climate change and globalisation.
Nike Fagade, CEO, Positive Development Foundation emphasised the need for young people to read widely, promote and say good things of themselves and their country everywhere they go within and outside the country. She encouraged youths not just to go online and check mails or chat on Facebook writing status such as “I just prepared beans and dodo” or “am chilling in a buka (a local canteen)” but to flood the Internet daily anytime they get the opportunity to go online with positive information and news of young people changing and contributing positively to the growth and development of the society. She also pleaded with Nollywood film producers to stop espousing negativism in Nigerian movies. “Not that we don’t know that these things are happening but we have to erase the negative and bad image of Nigeria and start showing the world the good side of Nigeria.”
Dolapo Taiwo of Unotech who spoke on Web 2.0 said the future of Communication and Journalism lies on the Internet. He pushed for everyone to make good use of their blogs to disseminate information. He stressed that young people should use the Internet for more productive and positive money making ventures by building a brand for themselves and making lots of noise about such. The need for government to come up with new media policies was also emphasised.
During the group discussions, the participants came up with suggestions that for youth media to be extraordinary and different there is a need for young people to be consistent with their initiatives and develop their content to a world class standard. Innovation and creativity must be employed and loyalty to clients and customer cannot be disputed because this is a time for young people to explore and take charge of the world thereby creating an identity for themselves.
Stephen Oguntoyinbo, convener of the event and CEO of TalkVillage International said youths must integrate into the social media a means to creating or rather facilitating the desired change needed in Africa. He encouraged youths to tap into the social media because of the various advantages and its potential as a catalyst for change when used for advocacy. He went ahead to give a frame work of the advantages of the new media stating that it saves time and energy, it is globally accessible, economically sustainable and it serves as a strong tool for networking. He also advised Youths to be information seekers and sharers and to explore the new media effectively to boost their work.
Another panellist, Mr. Panny Daranijo told the audience that in using the new media, youths should ask and answer the following questions - Who Am I? ,What Are My Interests?, What exactly do I plan to achieve by this platform I am using?, What am I teaching?, What am I broadcasting to the World? He advised youths to use the Internet for positive changes. He also advised that the Internet should not just be used for teaching alone but also as an agent of change. He decried the trend among youths who use the Social media, especially Facebook to say irrelevant things and the sorts.
Mayowa Adeniran, CEO, E3 Media gave the audience different websites they can visit to blog, vlog and where they can get job opportunities and create a string web presence to boost their career profile. He listed sites such as www.africanews.com, www.bloglighting.com, www.payu2blog.com, www.betterbusinessblogg.com etc as sites where young people should visit to make their voices heard and create an impact. He advised youths to stand up and be heard and use the resources available to them to create the needed impact in the society.
Azeezat Sanni, Co-Presenter, Touch of Spice on Star FM encouraged youths to discover themselves, their interests and be very mindful of the power of words especially in the use of the new media in order not to fuel aggressions, hate or even libel.
The Conference also featured group work as follows:
Group A: Web 2.0 - Gateway For Boosting your Business Globally
Group B: Act Local; Think Global, Opportunities for Youths in Media
Group C: Engaging Youths in Community Radio
Each group was required to brainstorm and come out with practical, economical and pragmatic ways on how it can make impacts on its given topics.
GROUP A in its presentation gave insights on how youths or any business owner at all can take advantage of the Internet to market themselves. They suggested the use of the social media- Facebook, Twitter etc, Blogs, Vlogs (You Tube) etc in creating a web presence on their products and services. They also suggested how everyone present can teach others on how to use the computer without necessarily spending so much money.
Group B raised the possibility of using the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with a view of raising awareness on the MDGs as an opportunity for youths in the media. The group’s focus was on developmental journalism. The group says through the use of social media, Web Radio, Blogs and the Print Media, the awareness of people in the society can be raised towards achieving at least 60-70% of the MDG goals by or before 2015. The group’s Facilitator and Editor of Timeless Newspaper, Mr. Ayodeji Jeremiah pledged the support of his newspaper to the cause.
Group C facilitated by Azzezat Sanni spoke on the need to promote community radio so that the voices of everyone can be heard. She also revealed that they plan to start advocating for community radio through her Touch of Spice radio programme; the group also intends to speak on issues that affect various people at the grass root level.
Other speakers at the two day event were Ms. Toyin Adesola (President, Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative, SAMI), Ifeoma Adibe (Founder, African Youth Empowerment and Change Initiative), Damola Taiwo (Unotech Media), Asim-Ita Emilia (Redstart/Future Awards), Ashaye Babatunde (E3 Media), and Anyaegbu Francis (Outbox Consulting).
In all, the two day summit made a call to all youths irrespective of gender, religion, tribe and class to take charge, be the change and make positive impact wherever they are especially in the policy making of their countries.
MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM THE SUMMIT
“Globalization is when Nokia sells more Cameras than Kodak and Canon.”
Dr. Tunde Adegbola (CEO Alt-i)
“Not everyone that writes is a Journalist; Journalism has its code of ethics.”
Mr.Lekan Otufodurin (Editor, The Nation on Sunday )
“The New Media, which I prefer to call Online Media, poses a challenge to the traditional media.”
Mr. Ayodeji Jeremiah (Editor, Timeless Newspaper)
“I suffered in this Lagos O!”
Asim-Ita Emmilia
“We should stop using the social media to tell people “I’m eating Burger”. It should be used to promote positive change.”
Mr.Lekan Otufodurin (Editor, The Nation on Sunday)
“If an angry person speaks, the anger is lessened and you know where he is going …In Nigeria, we have angry people whose mouths are tied.”
Dr. Tunde Adegbola, on the need for Community Radio.
“What the traditional media needs is news analysis not news reporting to survive.”
Mr. Ayodeji Jeremiah (Editor, Timeless)
“The question is how to get youths interested in making an impact, like when I told some youths about the Youth Summit, their reply was “Kini Big Deal?”
Peculiar, (Participant at the Summit)
“Don’t post what you don’t want your Grand-Mother or prospective employer to see on Facebook. In using the new media, the key word is ‘explore.’”
Stephen Oguntoyinbo.
“To succeed in using the new media, consistence is the key.”
Mayowa Adeniran, E3 Media
“Government should be pressurized to liberate the airwaves.”
Dr. Tunde Adegbola
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Awards and reality Shows
Between Awards and Reality Shows
Just recently I was flipping through one of the national dailies and I read some articles on award ceremonies and reality shows. Many things came through my mind and different situation came to play. Just about some days ago, it was announced on Silverbird TV (STV) that the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) executives had a meeting to warn companies and advertising agencies who run unrealistic adverts and promotions without fulfilling their promises to the consumers. It is an act of deception and does not show the integrity, loyalty and trust of a company to the consumers. There are many promos and adverts running on our TV screen that have no meaning or make any sense. That is not to say that some advert/advertising agencies are not doing well. If I must ask, what is the motive or essence of these reality shows and awards? I must say that in as much as we have good ideas and concept what do we plan to achieve? The trend especially in Nigeria is that once someone starts a concept everybody follows suit. One award organizers I must seriously commend are the FUTURE AWARD team, no strings attached or whatsoever. The more reason we are acclimatizing for a change of baton, a voice for the young people, a new way of doing things. Let me say it like the pastors, Brethren, the world is changing and things are taking a new dimension. After a reality show is organized, what plans have these organizers for the winners? You find out most times a lot of promises are made with a quarter of them almost not being fulfilled as if that is not bad enough, we also expect that atleast, since the so called winners are meant to reign for a tenure of one year which is the trend, we don’t get to hear anything about them or their growth and development in that line of achievement. What most of the organizers are after is the money they can make out of the winner rather than making the winner get a stand and establish his/herself in the line of career or become a star/famous as it is one of the major reasons a lot of people enter for these reality shows.
On awards, most awards are given based on achievement and “clean” success story which the world I suppose knows already but what is the trend today, it is a way of compensating or watering the ground for one deal or the other. Come on, why are we loosing the essence and value of so many things in life? Everyone is organizing awards all over the streets of the world but what do we hope to achieve with it. It would have been good if the right set of people grab the award but the reverse is the case. We celebrate and promote those who ruin and destroy the lot of the people all in the name of politics. Even at the so called reality shows, those who deserve to win most times never emerge winners and at the end of the day, the so called runner-ups make it even better than the winners. When will we start to get it right? Awards are meant to be deserved and worked for. It is not what you get on a platter of gold. That is why good things don’t come easy or cheap. Imagine some people putting together a reality show, a competition, where people are suppose to show their creativity and skills to vie for a price but before the end of the contest, did I say before the end? Before the competition even takes place they (the organizers) are already warning the selected contestants and informing them of the winner and sounding a note of warning to the so called winner stating that he/she must not contradict or go against the warnings. Who are we deceiving? Why is it a reality show or a competition for crying out loud? If am right the meaning of competition has not changed in the dictionary except the world or a professor has carved another meaning for it. Why won’t people like the late legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi not refuse awards from the Federal Government a number of times but rather have the ones from the masses, the general public who recognize and appreciate his sincere contribution to the development of the society? Those involved in this game know themselves but those of you in the business either for or against have a taste of it every day of your lives.
No party is left out of my worry. The companies and organizations who we expect to be socially responsible to their consumers finds pleasure in giving sponsorship to awards and reality shows that cannot give a clear or convincing motive, what am I saying, even those who have sincere and convincing ideas are thrown into the thrash can or given promises which they never fulfill and when they even try to, they give nothing close to a quarter and yet want to claim franchise for the major sponsors of the award or reality show. So why is it my idea? And why are there corporate social responsibility departments in a company? Don’t get me wrong, it is not about dolling money to everyone who comes to ask for sponsorship, it is about recognizing a project that has a future and plan rather than frivolities.
No doubt award ceremonies and reality shows are good for one reason or the other to show appreciation, recognitions and prowess of individuals who have a dream to become one thing or the other and have contributed greatly to the growth and development of our beloved society but we need to do a check of the quality, organization, plan and future of it all. No one is saying everybody should not organize any kind of awards or reality show but let the credibility, motive, and sustainability be clear to all. Tell us your plan for the contestants and stick to it. Let us know your confirmed sponsors and be sure that you have everything and on the part of the sponsors, be sure that you can give and fulfill your promises. Don’t take praises for what you cannot do all because you want your name or company’s name to be recognize or identified as a socially responsible company or popular for supporting their consumers. Who are you deceiving? Nobody! The moment you disappoint, the word of mouth advert will sell more and you have your integrity at stake.
Just recently I was flipping through one of the national dailies and I read some articles on award ceremonies and reality shows. Many things came through my mind and different situation came to play. Just about some days ago, it was announced on Silverbird TV (STV) that the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) executives had a meeting to warn companies and advertising agencies who run unrealistic adverts and promotions without fulfilling their promises to the consumers. It is an act of deception and does not show the integrity, loyalty and trust of a company to the consumers. There are many promos and adverts running on our TV screen that have no meaning or make any sense. That is not to say that some advert/advertising agencies are not doing well. If I must ask, what is the motive or essence of these reality shows and awards? I must say that in as much as we have good ideas and concept what do we plan to achieve? The trend especially in Nigeria is that once someone starts a concept everybody follows suit. One award organizers I must seriously commend are the FUTURE AWARD team, no strings attached or whatsoever. The more reason we are acclimatizing for a change of baton, a voice for the young people, a new way of doing things. Let me say it like the pastors, Brethren, the world is changing and things are taking a new dimension. After a reality show is organized, what plans have these organizers for the winners? You find out most times a lot of promises are made with a quarter of them almost not being fulfilled as if that is not bad enough, we also expect that atleast, since the so called winners are meant to reign for a tenure of one year which is the trend, we don’t get to hear anything about them or their growth and development in that line of achievement. What most of the organizers are after is the money they can make out of the winner rather than making the winner get a stand and establish his/herself in the line of career or become a star/famous as it is one of the major reasons a lot of people enter for these reality shows.
On awards, most awards are given based on achievement and “clean” success story which the world I suppose knows already but what is the trend today, it is a way of compensating or watering the ground for one deal or the other. Come on, why are we loosing the essence and value of so many things in life? Everyone is organizing awards all over the streets of the world but what do we hope to achieve with it. It would have been good if the right set of people grab the award but the reverse is the case. We celebrate and promote those who ruin and destroy the lot of the people all in the name of politics. Even at the so called reality shows, those who deserve to win most times never emerge winners and at the end of the day, the so called runner-ups make it even better than the winners. When will we start to get it right? Awards are meant to be deserved and worked for. It is not what you get on a platter of gold. That is why good things don’t come easy or cheap. Imagine some people putting together a reality show, a competition, where people are suppose to show their creativity and skills to vie for a price but before the end of the contest, did I say before the end? Before the competition even takes place they (the organizers) are already warning the selected contestants and informing them of the winner and sounding a note of warning to the so called winner stating that he/she must not contradict or go against the warnings. Who are we deceiving? Why is it a reality show or a competition for crying out loud? If am right the meaning of competition has not changed in the dictionary except the world or a professor has carved another meaning for it. Why won’t people like the late legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi not refuse awards from the Federal Government a number of times but rather have the ones from the masses, the general public who recognize and appreciate his sincere contribution to the development of the society? Those involved in this game know themselves but those of you in the business either for or against have a taste of it every day of your lives.
No party is left out of my worry. The companies and organizations who we expect to be socially responsible to their consumers finds pleasure in giving sponsorship to awards and reality shows that cannot give a clear or convincing motive, what am I saying, even those who have sincere and convincing ideas are thrown into the thrash can or given promises which they never fulfill and when they even try to, they give nothing close to a quarter and yet want to claim franchise for the major sponsors of the award or reality show. So why is it my idea? And why are there corporate social responsibility departments in a company? Don’t get me wrong, it is not about dolling money to everyone who comes to ask for sponsorship, it is about recognizing a project that has a future and plan rather than frivolities.
No doubt award ceremonies and reality shows are good for one reason or the other to show appreciation, recognitions and prowess of individuals who have a dream to become one thing or the other and have contributed greatly to the growth and development of our beloved society but we need to do a check of the quality, organization, plan and future of it all. No one is saying everybody should not organize any kind of awards or reality show but let the credibility, motive, and sustainability be clear to all. Tell us your plan for the contestants and stick to it. Let us know your confirmed sponsors and be sure that you have everything and on the part of the sponsors, be sure that you can give and fulfill your promises. Don’t take praises for what you cannot do all because you want your name or company’s name to be recognize or identified as a socially responsible company or popular for supporting their consumers. Who are you deceiving? Nobody! The moment you disappoint, the word of mouth advert will sell more and you have your integrity at stake.
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