Lekan Otufodunrin pays glowing tributes to the Chief Executive Officer/ Executive Director of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Motunrayo Alaka who clocked 40 on May 25, 2021
Some years ago, I applied to implement a media training project on the platform of Media Career Development Network, then known as Media Career Services.
Unknown to me, my bid was against a more formidable organization, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, headed by Mrs Motunrayo Alaka.
Painfully, but not surprising, I lost out in what would have been our first major funded programme, but I was not ready to let go completely.
Even if my organization was not going to facilitate the project, I was still interested in being involved in some of the activities, especially as a mentor for some of the participants.
To accomplish my goal, I ensured that I was the first editor to arrive at the consultation with media managers, instead of not honouring the invitation because I lost the bid.
When the event was over, I asked Mrs Alaka if she was aware our organization competed for the project and she said she knew.
How about having me as one of the trainers and mentors?, she responded unhesitatingly that I was number one on the list for consideration.
True to her words, she signed me on for what turned out to be my first formal engagement as a media mentor in addition to training which I was already doing before then.
Since then, I have lost count of how many programmes, Mrs Alaka has entrusted me to serve as speaker, trainer and mentor.
The Female Reporters Leadership Programme Fellowship in which I have served as trainer and mentor in the past three editions stands out in my media mentoring experience.
I have had an awesome mutual-learning experience with top facilitators and participants that has ensured continuous engagements and networking.
Watching Motunrayo running her organization efficiently and listening to her insightful perspectives on media issue have encouraged and inspired me in many ways that have kept me focused on my dream of building our media mentoring organization.
When I needed counsel to make up my mind about becoming a full-time media career development specialist, the advocate of Intentional Career development repeatedly assured me “Uncle Lekan You will be okay” and I didn’t have any doubt I had someone to guide me through.
Having unhindered access to one of the foremost media capacity development expert, not only in Africa but globally, is a privilege I do not take for granted. I thank her for the support that has kept me going and her kind words about me and my work like she did during my birthday online birthday event.
Her Twitter handle @D_Encourager is apt. She has been a source of great encouragement to me and many others who care to pay attention to her high sense of duty and insistence on best practices.
As she marks her 40th birthday, I join in congratulating the amazon who we all have to thank for her outstanding contributions to enhancing media capacity development and the others she does for humanity, including being a Pastor.
