‘How speech defect almost stopped my broadcast career’

Abimbola Otusanya of FAAJI 106.5FM, Lagos recalls her ten-year broadcast journalism journey which almost did not start due to a speech defect she was said to have had.

I became an undergraduate of the Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, at the University of Ilorin by mistake. That was 1997, four whole years after secondary school; to study Yoruba language with a touch of linguistic courses.

Post NYSC, I found myself teaching Yoruba Language in secondary schools round and about Ibadan, the year 2003 to year 2010: That was also by error of omission or commission! 😆😁. I endured 7 years doing what had to be done, not what I wanted to do. I never wanted to teach, even in my dreams, apology to my teachers and teachers.

In February 2010, by divine arrangements and positioning, I went for my first audition at Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), popularly known as Ile-Akede in Basorun, Ibadan. Oh, before that, in 2004, I had what I call a semi-audition at OGTV, Abeokuta. But this one at BCOS was huge, 151 potentials were auditioned and only 9 of the lot were found “trainable”. I was one. Opeyemi Adewale, get in here.

April 2010, I got an SMS inviting me for a #chat with the MANAGEMENT OF BCOS! 😗😗. That so-called chat changed my life! The 9 of us were invited. We met the BOARD members comprising of around nine veterans; in two groups of four and five, we went in. By divine arrangements again, I was the last of the second set of five to be interviewed.

Mid-way into my self-introduction, the Chairman of the board, the late Prince Atilade Atoyebi (God rest his soul) stopped me, and faced Aunty Laitan Adegbesan who led the audition team; he asked her why I was invited with my evident speech defect! Aye mi my life! Ki lo n je speech defect? Meeeeee?🙉🙉 . In my defence, she said I was one of the best nine in that audition and there were mixed reactions from the team on my case, and when they couldn’t reach an agreement, they included my name, leaving my Creator to do the rest of the job! And that HE did! Prince turned to me, and spoke gently, “Madam, you’re not supposed to be here because you have a speech defect that won’t allow you to go on air, but we have a reputation to protect, so I’m going to post you to our outstation in Ogbomoso as a “#PRODUCER”! A news I received with all joy.

Broadcast Journalism has been my dream from the first day in the University, so anything in that line was a sure deal for me. I began the process of moving from Ibadan to Ogbomoso, but not before I sought to know my speech defect. I met Aunty Laitan Adesesan, and she told me I have LISP! I never heard that word in my life: while she spoke, I kept nodding my head like the proverbial tortoise😂😊. She said God must have wanted me in Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State ( BCOS) because that’s the only way she could explain how my case played out. She encouraged me, told me they had a reporter who was a first-class stammerer when he joined the corporation but became one of the best, regardless.

On 4th of May, 2010, I reported at Ajilete FM, Ogbomoso, wearing my speech defect banner like an oversized sleeve. I was quick to tell anyone who cared to listen that I had a comma, little did I know an Angel was waiting for me in Ogbomoso. They call him Mr. Mi-do-mi-do, Head of Programs. When he saw my letter, he asked me if I believed I had a speech defect to which I answered in the affirmative! He said unfortunately, they had no use of a producer, what he needed was a Yoruba Newscaster, and seeing I was a graduate of Yoruba language, he would help me.

The Thomas in me didn’t want me to be great 😁😛, I told him I didn’t have a good command of Yoruba language (which was true, all the Yoruba I knew then, I picked from reading Yoruba bestsellers and watching movies, improved a bit because I was a secondary school teacher for 7 years). Lere Shittu told me as long as I was eager to learn, he would tutor me. And he did a very good job of it. The First Day I read the news, Mr. Lere Shittu as huge as he is, literally lifted me off my feet. He praised my MIC confidence and my firm voice; while pointing out the errors so lovingly. And so the journey began. Within 3 months, I had 3 news belts, and 3 programs— Ìlera Lọrọ̀, Ọ̀dọ́ Gbòde and Ọlọ́wọ́ Ṣíbí! Me? Emi?

With passion for doing what I loved and wanted, I strove daily to be better. I learnt and grew on the job. Not without the help of colleagues like Idowu Odediran, Niyi Ashafa, Bolaji Sanusi, Doyinsola Akinpelu, Ogunbadewa Toyin Black, and of course my beloved Aunty  Adefunke Adeife and Sule Adegbeye. Not forgetting the efforts of my bosses, Mr. Tunde Ajayi, Mr. Biodun Ipadeola, Alhaji Korede(Koro), Mr. Gbenga Adeleke, Uncle Oye…….

I thought that was the best of me, but God had an icing to add to my cake. One Monday, just after reading the 12 o’clock news, Prince Atoyebi came by the station, as we referred to Ajilete FM. we didn’t know he was in Ogbomoso, so he wasn’t expected, everybody around came to greet him, and we were quite many. As he saw Toyin Black who read the news in English, he commended her, next I heard, who read the Yoruba news? Your guess is as good as mine, I lowered my head and wished the ground would open up and swallow me. Uncle Oye was standing beside me, he answered the Chairman and pushed me forward. I was praying inside of me that Chairman won’t remember me but of course, he did! 30-something years on the job, he had seen it all!

What came out of his mouth, made me who I am today; he said, paraphrased, “that was you? I am impressed. Your delivery was perfect! I enjoyed the news!” And that day, Abimbola Otusanya was born! The very person who told me why I could never talk on-air ratified me a few months later. Isn’t that God?

I will not bore you with how I left Ajilete FM, after 15 months, or how I ended up in ASO Radio and Services on Katampe Hills, Abuja in 2012.

Fast forward to December 2012, I became a staff of DAAR COMMUNICATIONS, PLC, to join others nurture her baby FAAJI 106.5FM.

And in those 10  years, I have seen, the good, the bad and the ugly! But I have also seen the beautiful. The beautiful is what I celebrate today.

Exactly 10 years ago, I began my journey into Broadcast Journalism and I can say, I have enjoyed every bit of the journey. I am content doing what I love.

TO Prince Atilade Atoyebi, God bless you, Sir, for making God’s agenda for me come to pass. To Mr. Lere Shittu, my mentor, you are already so blessed, Ojo yin a dale. To superiors and colleagues at Ajilete FM, I appreciate you all, you made something pure of my raw gold. How can I forget Mr. Jide Abdulazeez, Mr. Biodun Ekunola, Mrs. Sola Fadahunsi, all of Aso Radio, Abuja who gave me a space on their seats, God prosper you more, Sirs & Ma.

To my bosses today, Mr. Olutayo Somide, Mrs. Ibiyemi Olufowobi, Mrs. Yewande Iwuoha; I say Many thanks for shaping and moulding me. I am still work in progress, and I’ll continue to learn from you all.

To all my colleagues, and the entire DAAR FAMILY, thank you for helping me get to where I am today.

To  my family, I love that you love what I do, and have supported me every step of the way.

To friends, fans and esteemed FAAJI 106.5 FM listeners, I thank you all, you made this girl, Abimbola Otusanya. Thank you for believing in me.

To my critics, your criticisms made me better, you made me discover there are more than one way to arrive a destination, many thanks for the constant reminder that I’m not perfect, which reins me in most often than not.

To everyone I met along the way, thank you for letting me learn one or two things from you.

God willing, I’ll be here in 2030, to tell of greater achievements.

To my Creator and the giver of all gifts, I sing:

I’m acknowledging You for who You are,

Dansaki Re, Dansaki Re, Baba!