Unforgettable female journalists in my career

Although LEKAN OTUFODUNRIN, media career development specialist did not have a female boss in his many years in the newsroom, various female journalists and media professionals played one major role or the other in helping him to achieve his career dreams.

“I definitely cannot name all of them, but in commemoration of the International Women’s Day  (IWD) 2019, I wish to pay tributes to some who I remain grateful for the roles they played at various stages of my professional journey,” Otufodunrin says as he lists them below.

Iyabo Kupoluyi

I hope I got her surname, which must have changed due to marriage, right. She was a co-intern from The Polytechnic, Ibadan and I from University of Lagos at the defunct National Concord Newspapers in 1984.

We learnt the rudiments of journalism together and attended ‘left over’ assignments for by-lines.

When I was reluctant to present our ‘amateur’ stories, she was the one that took them to the News Editor and as it happened on an occasion, we made the back-page lead.

With Iyabo’s restless companionship, journalism was exciting from the beginning and I got a glimpse of the future the glorious future the profession had for me.

Patience Akpan Obong

One of the most memorable reports I filed while I was a correspondent for The Punch in Ogun State was an interview with the first elected female Chairman of a Local Government in the country, Chief Mrs Titilayo Ajanaku in 1990.

The inspiration for the interview, beyond the general meeting with journalists, was the call from the then Woman  Editor, Patience Akpan, now an Associate Professor of Science, Technology and Society (STS) at Arizona State University .

The publication of the interview earned me some accolades and it was one encouragement I needed to conduct more interviews and write special reports in those days when State Correspondents strictly kept to filing news stories.

My recall to Lagos which was the beginning of my journey up the newsroom ladder was not unconnected with the interview and other features which I was told indicated that I was not just another ordinary reporter to be abandoned in the states.

You really deserve “Medals”, (the name of your old column you started writing in 1987 ) for that wake-up call.

Elaine Wright Colvin

Up till today, we have never met in person, but my contact with her online in 1998 has made a tremendous difference in my Christian media ministry.

As Founder/Director of the Writers Information Network then, Elaine introduced me to two international media organisations that have given me global exposure and continued professional relevance.

She registered me free of charge as a member of her network and sent me several editions of WIN Informer Newsletter that widened my horizon about Christian publishing and boosted my network.

Apart from other trips to London and Kenya, I was in Singapore last November as a speaker at MAI Littworld conference and I just returned from Ghana as a Board of Trustee member of MAI Africa for a planning committee meeting about a conference in November 2019. I have Elaine, who got married the year I was born, to thank for the link that has mattered a lot to my career.

She is still cheering me up on facebook till today with likes, shares and comments each time I post about my work.

Julienne Munyaneza

I still remember the smile on her face in 1987 at the London office of the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) when I introduced myself as a Nigerian seeking to be a member of the association.

As the Staff Liaison for Africa Region, Julienne, from Rwanda was glad to welcome me after years of desiring to have an active Nigerian member considering the prominent role played by Dr Christopher Kolade who once served as the International President of the association.

Julienne linked me up with the regional executive and ensured that I was invited to programmes all expenses paid. I currently serve as Secretary of the WACC Africa Region thanks to that warm welcome in London by Julienne that was the beginning of my membership of the association.

Remi Oyo

I never worked directly with her in any capacity, but Late Mrs Remi Oyo, former President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) strengthened my faith in the need for capacity development for journalists.

Most of the time I had the opportunity to chat with her, it was about how journalists can maximise available opportunities which assured me that my desire for the profession was worth all the efforts I was investing which has culminated in the establishment of the Media Career Development Network.

Rest in Peace my ‘in law’ as she used to call me because I happened to be in the same class in the University of Lagos with the husband in my undergraduate days. Mr Oyo was already a Manager in Berger Paints when we were classmates!

Jill Geisler

One of my career dreams has always been to visit Poynter Institute, a school for journalists in Florida, United States. It wasn’t until 2012 that the dream was fulfilled thanks to fellowship offered by The Media Project at the Institute.

Our lead facilitator was Jill Geisler who turned out to be a model for me in my desire to be a media career coach and mentor. Her presentation was all I needed to understand what it really meant to be a coach the newsroom.

I can’t forget how she spoke about mentoring being willing to ask colleagues in the newsroom “how can I help”. She told us about how one of her former editors used to encourage his staff before the went on air saying “bloom my flowers”

She explained the distinction between being a coach and a fixer among many other principles that have kept me going in my media career development specialist work.

I am always inspired to read about her training tours across America and like I once commented on a post, When I grow up, I want to be like you Jill.

Joke Kujenya

We come a long way before, when and after she was the only female news editor a national newspaper in the country.

We share a passion for media career development and in 2002 we teamed up to organise the first Young Journalists Conference whose participants have become top media professionals.

We have remained soulmates in the task of giving journalists necessary mentoring to excel in their jobs.

As colleagues in The Nation, she was one of those who gave me the support I needed to succeed as Sunday Editor.

My sister in the Lord, popularly called JK thank you for making me OK through the years.

Betty Abbah

She read one of my Stop Press motivation newsletters and sent me a mail about how she has been encouraged to stay on in the profession despite the challenges she and her colleagues were encountering in the defunct Newswatch magazine. 

Over the years, Betty, an award-winning journalist and foremost gender activist has played major roles in advancing my media projects.

She has always been a ready resource person at my media trainings and a Board of Trustee member of the Journalists for Christ fellowship I founded.

All we need to hold JFC’s meeting in Betty’s office whenever our usual venue is not available is a phone call. Drinks and sometimes food are guaranteed.

One of the highlights of my profile is my membership of the Board of Trustee of Betty’s NGO, CEEHOPE.

Thank you for the continued trust in Uncle Lakan .

Motunrayo Alaka

If there is someone that should be ‘blamed’ for my surprised exit from the newsroom to become a full-time media career development, it should be the Centre Coordinator of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism. Mrs Motunrayo ‘Intentional’ Alaka.

More than any other person, she has given me all the opportunities and encouragement I needed to test run my mentoring, coaching and facilitating skills. 

Courtesy of Motunrayo, I have among other training programmes being a mentor to 33 amazing female journalists on the Female Reporters Leadership Programme (FRLP) from across the country and Ghana.

The FRLP fellows and participants in WSCIJ programmes have enriched my network in the media and experience and I remain eternally grateful to Mrs ‘Intentional’ (her regular keyword for address issues) who in the moments of my worry about taking the final decision to take the ultimate plunge into Media Mentoring and Coaching assured me I will be ‘fine’

You right. All is well and I am glad, I can always count on you.

 Yemisi Otufodunrin

Hmmm.. baby girl of yesterday, the expected journalist turned accountant but with digital ink flowing in her blood.

She has taught Daddy many things about scaling up his analogue media practice and being business-like with his skills.

Our numerous discussions on modern media practice resulted in a book I titled New Age ‘Journalism’ Conversation with my Daughter (What I am learning, and you can learn from a digital native).

Until she resumed in her present workplace, she proudly offered to serve as a staff of Media Career Service and prepared ground for the smooth take-off of Media Career Development Network.

She remains MCDN’s remote staff and keeps sharing necessary ideas and suggestions in accordance with the checklist we drew up together before now. Without any prompting, I can trust Yemisi to despite her busy schedule send me excellent graphic designs of any major programme I plan to hold.

People ask me if I pay her for her numerous services. It will interest them to know that I have instructed KPMG to pay on my behalf.

Thank you Omo Daddy to sharp!

Jennifer Ehidiamen

Helper of my media vision. She helped me to fulfil my dream of having a real youth write a youth column the Sunday Nation when I was the editor.

She saw the future in Media Career Development Network and never ceased to support in every way possible; Idea sourcing and sharing, books to read and the design of the first www.mediacareerng.org

She has also been there for Journalists for Christ with her active participation and continued support.

Not even her relocation outside the country has stopped her from seeking for MCDN to take its rightful place in media development, not only in Nigeria but in the continent.

Her response to the registration and take off MCDN is indicative of her joy of seeing her desire come true….”Woohoo! Greater things here and ahead. Congratulations.” I feel your heart leap for joy for what we laboured together for through the years.

Thank you, Jennifer, for not despising the days of little beginning.

Toyosi Ogunseye

I have lost count of how many times I have written or spoken about her career exploits.

I first met her when she came to drop her application for the Young Journalist Award in 2014 while still a student and freelancer for Sun Newspaper. 

Her record-breaking accomplishments have remained for me a good example to always cite at every opportunity I get to talk about maximising media career development opportunities.

In her attestation in my book Becoming the Journalist You Ought To Be, Toyosi wrote about me “ He has remained a source of encouragement through the years”

The Head of BBC West Africa also remains my own Woman Crush journalist.

I am a Bloomberg ALI Media Fellow today because Toyosi agreed to recommend me for the fellowship.

Thank you for confirming that excellence journalism is not about how long, but how well.

Ronke Otufodunrin

Ronkusbaby. The main woman. Where do I start? From the very beginning. From the blind date that brought her my way when she was a Mass Communication student in Abeokuta at the then Ogun State Polytechnic. 

Apart from God, her love, care, understanding, and support are the secrets of whatever I have accomplished in journalism. She has always been there for me through thick and thin.

Journalism can be soul-wrenching, but my Ronksubaby has kept me going from one adventure to the other, no matter the outcome.

The dedication of one book I once read was “ To those who marry journalists, they have my deepest sympathy”. Ronkusbaby does not need the sympathy of the author, she understands what it takes to be the wife of a journalist who someone once said has an ‘infectious love’ for journalism.

Thank you, my dear. Thank for your prayers, thank you for making it possible to be the Journalist I really want to be.