An Economics graduate from the University of Lagos, the witty IK Osakioduwa discovered his love for the arts as a youngster. He developed it further as a master of ceremonies, through a stint in the advertising industry and most notably as “wild Child” on Rhythm FM. Now he is plying his trade with M-Net, the African continent’s high-status broadcaster.
Can you let us into the financial details of your new deal with MNet as a Studio 53 presenter?
That is confidential stuff. Well, it is a pretty basic contract for presenters, the same with the contract they have with every other presenter they have anywhere else in Africa. They showed us the outline of what it is they pay their presenters. They pay us the same amount they every other presenter. It is a pretty unbiased contract and a quite comfortable one. MNet tries as much as possible to make sure we don’t spend any money of your own in achieving the results that they want. Our clothing is sorted out, likewise, a lot of other things. We are not really going to be spending our money.
What exactly is your job description as a Studio 53 presenter?
We will be showcasing Africa. Studio 53 is about showcasing Africa to Africans. We are trying to make Africans realize that you don’t have to travel outside of Africa to go on holiday.
What effect do you think the Studio 53 job will have on your social life?
My social life will become a lit bit more active because I have to cover certain stories, go to certain places that I wouldn’t visit under normal circumstances. The aim of Studio 53 is showcasing Africa to Africans. In doing that, I have to look for the beautiful places in Africa, particularly in Nigeria to visit; for instance, the hot places in the entertainment industry. If I am talking to a Kenyan, I want him to visit Nigeria for his next holiday, where are the places I want him to visit? So, it affects my social life. I now have to go out a lot more to see what is happening around the country. The eating places, the relaxation spots. So, it does affect one’s life. On a lighter note, people treat you better when they realize you present for Studio 53 because they kind of hope that your next story will cover their event.
Lets talk about broadcasting, how did you come into the industry?
I started out with Silverbird. I had just gotten out of school and was just wondering what I was going to do with myself and I wanted to use my talent all the same I studied economics at the University of Lagos I finished in 2001, and I worked with Silverbird for a year and half, and then I had to go for NYSC, I was posted out of Lagos. So, I left and when I came back, I worked for DDB, an advertising firm for a year. After that, I decided the only place I could only feel at home was with Silverbird or with Rhythm FM, I came back to Silverbird and Silverbird was gracious enough to have me back. I have been there for about 8 months now.
The studio 53 job, how did you come about it?
Well, there was an audition that they held and there were a number of people that came, over 250 people were present. We had the first stage of the audition of we were scaled down to eleven people, but only 8 of us turned up and that include my co-presenter and I (Kemi). From that eight it was decided that we are the choice presenters.
Your experience during the audition, what was it like. Was it your first time ever, or did you pass through the same thing before joining Silverbird?
To join Silverbird, you have to go through some sort of an audition. I had a number of auditioning before getting into Silverbird and apart from that, you had to submit a demo, which is like a pre-recorded show. I had done an audition before, a TV audition.
Even though, I had a background in the entertainment industry it was a new experience for me also. The Camera did make me nervous.
You say you are a graduate of Economics, not mass communication or theatre arts, so, how have you been able to crossover successfully into broadcasting and the entertainment industry. Do you have a role model at the home front?
My family is full of engineers and science students I was already branded like a rebel when I decided to study economics. But, no family members know that I wasn’t cut out for the sciences. You know, in every family, you have that one child that is different from the rest, that is me in my family. I have always recognized that any greatest gift is to talk, so, when I opted to work, I did not want any regimented thing like a bank job and the only entertainment industry where I will be able to earn a living from talking.
We learnt you went to South Africa for training, what did you gain from the experience?
It was fun, but a tasking and rigorous training. For instance, we got to South Africa at 2.00am and by 7.00am they were already banging on our door that it is time to go, time for our first meeting, time for our first task. It was everything from presentation style on TV to makeup classes. Now, I am a Good in make up. We were taught presentation on TV, styles of presentation, how to handle yourself behind the Camera, what works well behind the Camera, down to things you should say and things you shouldn’t say, to go about what you want to say the most effective way. It was a pretty comprehensive training, were taught everything.
Given what you saw in South Africa and your knowledge of what is on ground in Nigeria, can you attempt a comparism of broadcasting in these two countries?
I will say we are not on the same level as South Africa. I wont lie to you. The studios are much more advanced than ours. You literally flip a switch and the whole studio will change its colour and ambience to fit the character of the programme. The studios are much better equipped than ours here. But, I will say this; I don’t think Nigeria is very far off. It is not so much that we lack equipment now; people seem to be investing so much in equipments. But the technical know-how, I mean how to use the equipments. For instance, to do our first set of stories, MNET didn’t bring equipment from South Africa. Nigerian equipments were used. You will notice from the coverage when you see it that it is just the same standard. So, it is not that we lack all the equipment that we need to do our jobs; it is just the technical know-how, how to maximize that is the problem we have.
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