I picked interest in broadcasting as a child -60-year-old Okoka

I am Ilemi Okoka.  I am a grandmother, very simple. I was born in Kaduna. My father was a civil servant so he moved from place to place. I grew up in Ibadan, Ekiti and Ondo. I started my primary education in Oyo and then secondary in Ibadan.  I am from Ibuh, Oshimili Local Government […]

I am Ilemi Okoka.  I am a grandmother, very simple. I was born in Kaduna. My father was a civil servant so he moved from place to place. I grew up in Ibadan, Ekiti and Ondo. I started my primary education in Oyo and then secondary in Ibadan.  I am from Ibuh, Oshimili Local Government area of Delta State. I enjoyed the free primary education of Pa Awolowo in Ibadan.

 

Can you share with us fond memories of your childhood?

I was a member of the Junior TV club in Ibadan. I interacted a lot. I met a lot of children like me there.  That was when I started picking interest in broadcasting. There was this competition. You had to learn how to present your script in a few minutes and whoever was good enough will present that day on TV live. A few times I did that and it was fun. I was playful and I like to make people happy.

Who had the greatest impact on you as a child?

I think it was my mum, because she was there for us. My dad was there but because he was a civil servant, he was  always at work.  She impacted discipline in me. When you are disciplined, you don’t do many wrong things.

I also taught my daughter to be disciplined. I remember when she was in the university, I told her I did not want her hanging out like other children do. I did not want to pretend that my daughter who is in the university will not have toasters. I told her anyone she wanted to go out with; I want to see in the house. That way, she will not bring one person today and another tomorrow. So anyone she was going out with I knew. But the time she was growing up, she did not go out with many boys. She is happily married today with children.

What was your high part as a mother and grandmother?

It was when my daughter went to the secondary school. I have only one biological child even though I have many people around me. When she went to the secondary school, I wept. Supposedly, I thought she will weep and say she was going to miss home, but she was very happy to be in school. The realization that one day she was going to leave home finally dawned on me. That is something I don’t ever forget.

As a grandmother, that is more exciting. I went to the College of Education, Abraka and my daughter was very small then. The father could not cope then, so I gave her to my mum. My mum was taking care of her; I was not there for her. I just saw her during holidays. So when she started having her children, I was there. Everything I did not do for her, I did for my grandchildren. I bath them, clothe them, feed them, everything I did not do for her, I’m doing for them. It’s very interesting being a grandmother. I have two granddaughters and a grandson. I see them every day.

How did you meet your husband?

I was an athlete in school. I used to play hockey. I went to Benin and we were in camp. He was a lawn tennis coach and he came to the stadium where we were camped to play tennis. So he seized the opportunity to see a cousin of his who was playing hockey. And I think I just walked past them, and that was it. Then I was a pretty, figure eight girl then. The rest is history.  And he is late now.

What was your first day like in broadcasting?

It was not like a first day. I went there like an artiste. That was in Benin. We were auditioned twice and then my name was shortlisted. There was nothing to it. I was interested in doing something like that. I had been behind the microphone before then. It was just natural.

Who were your role models?

The only person I admired was Julie Coker.  I liked the way she went on air.

Why did you choose radio?

I like the mystery of radio. People hear your voice and they don’t know who it is. When they see you, they say ‘so this is the person’.   I like the surprise on their faces. That is the thing. I like about radio. But I have appeared on TV a few times.

When I was in Enugu working, I got into a cab and I was talking to the driver. And he said you sound like this person. And I said many people have said so. He said are you sure you are not the person? And I asked, do you know the person? He said “no”. So, how are you sure it’s me, I could just sound like the person. Then he said but the person works here, and I picked you from this radio station.  I like the mystery of radio that was why I chose radio.

How many years have you spent in broadcasting?

I started in 1979. I have spent 32 years in broadcasting.

What is your highest point as a broadcaster?

When people tell me they enjoy what I’m doing. When I started as a cub announcer, and we had to run shifts. I made sure I did not repeat what I said in my previous shift or programme. So, I was constantly thinking of new things to do. Then, there was no internet, so I had to do researches through books. We had to go to encyclopaedias and also journals. You mixed with people, you went to markets, went to clubs to see what was happening. You had to be current. You can be sure not everybody went to where you went to. So when you come out with something somebody has not read or heard, they are excited. So when people say you said this, and I was glad I listened to you, it makes the day for me.

What are other talents you wished you had?

I wish I can sing. I admire people who sing. In church, when people are singing, I’m crying. I wish I could sing properly.

If you had opportunity to live life all over again, will you be a broadcaster?

(Laughter). I will not change it for anything. I would still want to be a broadcaster. I will still want to be a trainer. I met many of my friends there. I had fulfilment there. Because I usually want to impact. We have a saying that, broadcasters are born, they are not made. You cannot make a broadcaster. If you don’t have it, you don’t have it. You can’t give what you don’t have. People have that set mind that when they come to the school, they want to sound like the Oyibo man. But what I tell them is that, I am not an Oyibo woman, but I am going to teach you the way to pronounce the words properly and how to present your different scripts. We have so many radio and television stations and they sound very fake. Trying to be what they are not.   You should read the way you speak.

When I was in Radio Nigeria, I was Deputy Head of Presentation in the headquarters. That translated that I was in charge of all presenters in Radio Nigeria. Anywhere I went to, I listened. If you were not good enough I was supposed to tell the Head of that station that the person was not good enough for Radio Nigeria. I usually advice that let such people go for training or step aside.  I like to train people.

What is the greatest lesson you have learnt on the job?

Good voice is not enough, you must have something up there (in your brain) to give to people. You have to know what to say and do. You don’t go on air because you have a nice voice then embarrass yourself. There was an incidence that happened after Mike Okiro was no longer the Inspector General of Police. Someone went on air to say the IG, Mike Okiro, that was long after he had gone. You have to be current.

Radio Nigeria is still the best in terms of presentation because of what we met and we try to leave that behind too.

Which living person would you like to meet?

I will like to meat Obama. I am so impressed with him.

If you were stack on an island what will you go with?

A bible and my coffee.

Do you have a favourite food?

If you want to kill me give me a plate of rice any time of the day, any day of the week. (Laughter) But anyway, if there is a poison; I will not be hungry for rice. That is my best meal with any type of soup.

What are the qualities you admire in women?

I like very intelligent women. I like women that talk intelligently and dress well. I like hardworking women who are on top of situations anywhere they find themselves. Example is Dr Oby Ezekwesili. I have interviewed her before. She did not have to consult any book to tell me the things she was telling me.

What are your favourite books?

I read any type of book. I like to read. I like Jeffery Archers books.

What is your advice for other broadcasters?

I will tell them to be passionate about the job. These days, we have broadcasters always on the phone saying today our topic is. Why must you always have topics for the listener? Why can’t you tell the listener what they don’t know about? You can have programmes that are Talk backs. It’s not always  that you should have a listener call you back. People are becoming lazy. It is just the lazy way of broadcasting.

What will you tell your fans?

For my fans, I love them. If you have stayed long behind the microphone like I did, you never leave the microphone.