Date: 2014-06-21

Speaking with much respected compere, Ronke Bello, is al­ways a delight. Intelligent, highly exposed and evidently blessed with the gift of the garb, Bello has the most interesting an­swers to questions. In this in­terview with KEMI YESUFU, she talked about her career, her interests in promoting leader­ship and why she just might not be contesting for public office soon.

Today, you are one of the best comperes in the country. What attracted you to this career?

Let me say it started with me knowing that I wanted to be in the field of communication. I always liked to talk and communicate with people. I did my National Youth Service at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Ilorin. It was my first stint with broadcasting. I had my first degree in Theatre Arts; this prepared me for a career on stage. The first event I handled was the summit of the Organsation of African Unity now the African Union which had about 53 Heads of State in attendance.

You started on the big stage. Your very first event being a meeting of African Heads state and governments, which you anchored, few months after completing your NYSC. You were quite young, how did you pull through such a major ceremony?

I was twenty-one. In the Arts, as same with leadership, a school of thought believes that artistes are born, leaders are born. I agree that people are born with innate traits. Because as a youngster, I was the type of person you find in the debating club, quiz programmes, performing on stage. So, I conquered stage fright quite early. Having stage training makes you understand that the event is not about you, but the audience. You shouldn’t allow butterflies in your stomach get in the way of your performance. Yes, I was twenty-one years then, but God chose it that I would be the one standing in front of African leaders. As I said earlier, I did my research, on almost all the countries, what is complimentary to them and what is offensive. It is difficult for you to have anchored state events, as I have done over the years without practising some form of international diplomacy. You have to come prepared, intellectually, your appearance, how you carry yourself,

it is a total package.

Have you had low moments at events?

I will say I have been blessed. I have been fortunate to handle events where majority of the guests are VIPs. The mistake people who handle events make is their trying to be Jack of all trades. You can never catch me doing comedy or cracking jokes while handling events. I am not a comedian. Even before I went into the academia, I have always had a serious disposition to life. Some people might say that I am a bit too serious, but I am just being myself. And starting out with a distinguished audience of visiting African Heads of Government, I have stayed within that prism because I love to discuss topical issues. A lot of research goes into the scripts I use as guide during events. So, rather than a cold reception; I have had several commendations from leaders and other top personalities for a job well done. Yes, there are few times I wish members of an audience would clap more often, not for me but other people participating in the event. But I understand that most of these personalities due to their positions in society usually have a lot on their minds and this makes their clapping frequently something you don’t expect to happen.

Earlier you said it is wrong to mix comedy with the job of Master of Ceremonies? Do you see good comperes coming after your generation?

My anchoring events brought me into the limelight. But you also know that over the years I have achieved even wider acceptability as an author and an academic. I worked hard to obtain my PhD. So as it is now, I look at the country’s future beyond my calling as a compere. Coming to your question about the younger generations, I would rather be bothered about raising leaders in every sphere not just a generation of gifted comperes. Don’t forget that like any other field there are many people posing as comperes. People know who has what It takes to coordinate their event but they sometimes settle for cheaper alternatives and when someone like you see the cheaper alternative, you begin to worry about the dearth of quality presenters. The reward system in Nigeria is somewhat warped. So why should a young person strive to be the best in his or her chosen field? We have to stop the dangerous trend in which society rewards people arbitrarily. From what we see on daily basis, it is like society is telling the younger generation that they don’t have to work hard or invest in making themselves world class professionals.

What’s your advice for those aspiring to be comperes?

The first step is discovering that you have a gift. Second, you must have passion for what you do. You also need a lot of discipline. There is also need for you to specialise in an area for which you’ve got the flair. I don’t do comedy. I am a compere, the hard talking type. I stick with what I know how to do best. My advice to those who love this job is that they carve a niche. Don’t try to be too many things at the same time.

Do you consider yourself a celebrity?

If I am a celebrity based on what I have tried to do by touching lives in the small way I can, then it’s okay to be a celebrity .

How do you cope with the attention of influential men whom you are regularly exposed to at the high profile events you anchor?

No, no, no I will not answer this question.

You are a woman, a pretty one for that matter. Your looks are the first thing people will notice about you, the other qualities they get to know much later, through interaction….

Because I am at events to do a job, and that is precisely what I do. People admire people, so there is no harm in admiring others. I guess it’s the same way women admire male comperes who are good. But as a professional, I make sure that is where it ends. For me if you are successful at what you do, your gender should not matter. The pursuit of success is what drives me on.

Have you made personal sacrifices in your pursuit of success?

For anybody pursing success, to achieve success in a Godly way, meaning that you don’t want to cut corners, I have had to make tradeoffs, not sacrifices. And tradeoffs are not things that cannot be fixed because, it is very challenging for a career minded woman, especially in Nigeria to be a wife and a mother all at once. I once told the audience while delivering a lecture, that it doesn’t matter how you are being blessed, just be blessed. There is no logical way in achieving life’s goals, there is no rule that says, do this or that, before, you do this or that. Sometimes in life, blessings come in what may seem an anti-clockwise direction. You may want to have your degrees first, build a career and settle into marriage. Marriage may come first for you and then you get your degrees. For me at every point, I have to be comfortable with what I am doing. A woman’s life is very much for those who can juggle a number of things at the same time. Because when all things eventually fall into place, you want to be the loving wife, the caring mother, and the efficient worker. That is why I often say women are strong. I don’t believe that life is one fast trip. It should be unraveled stage by stage.

For all those who saw the big names at your book launch years back, they will say fame and influence comes with your job. But for you what makes you happy about being a compere?

Entertainment, sports, politics and any kind of career that keeps you in the eye of the public opens doors for those involved in it. Just as there are pecks for being a celebrity, there are also the down sides of being well known. For me, it’s all about not letting fame get into your head. I am a Christian who tries to do what is right by God. So I try to stay on the straight and narrow path. Yes, I enjoy goodwill from people I’ve worked for but I never abuse it. Besides, people find it hard to forget the negative things a famous person did and this makes it important that one keeps away from things that can tarnish your reputation. In other words, I don’t do what I do for fame, money or power.

You have known Nigerian leaders for about two decades. Yet your second book “Standing Tall” wasn’t complimentary to these elite. How did your friends in government react to the book and how would you rate its acceptance?

“Standing Tall” is a product of my frustration with the reign of leadership by default in Africa. As I said in the book-leadership cannot be borrowed, it is not inherited and it cannot be stolen. Leadership is earned through hard work. Africa will remain in the doldrums if we don’t halt the trend where leadership is by default. I dealt with the issues affecting the continent through various perspectives, like when I tackled the issue of leaders reading speeches without knowing how it was prepared. Leaders have to contribute in the preparation of the speeches they read anywhere. Remember that speeches are often used to make policy statements. I also raised the issue of leaders being selfless; it is time African leaders put the people first. For my friends in government, they were amused by what they said was the audacity I had to ask for certain changes from Nigerian leaders. A few of them asked if I know how many speeches they have to present in a week and how I expect them to read every single one of them while still carrying on with governance. I also talked about the need to identify new leaders. In Nigeria we often hear complaints of leaders being recycled. This shouldn’t surprise anyone because Nigerian leaders hardly think about having worthy successors. It is high time a new generation of leaders emerged. The system should be redesigned to accommodate them; the parties should look towards having a new generation of leaders. It shouldn’t matter if they don’t have money to give the party or they don’t have a godfather to make things work for them.

Have you thought of contesting for public office to help push for change in the style of leadership in the country?

I am a card carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But I didn’t join the PDP because it is the ruling party. I didn’t join the party so that I can be given a juicy appointment, either. Rather, I joined the party with the intention of contributing to its intellectual base. I wonder why people think politics is all about running for public office. You can be a leader without being in government. Again, you have to look at how the game of politics is played in Nigeria. When people ask me to run for office I often ask them some of the questions I have asked myself, for which I have answers. I don’t think I can tolerate the mudslinging that characterises our politics. I don’t think I am the kind to throw money around like politicians do. So having rated my capabilities with reality on ground, I don’t think I am prepared for politics Nigerian style. But I hope that the new national executive of the PDP will carry out the reforms party members have been asking for. Unless our political parties are reformed, the political system will remain the same without ideology.

You have a PhD, which bestows on you the dignified title of Doctor. Why did you choose to add chief, with your acceptance of the “Erelu of Mopa” title?

Is there anything wrong with being Erelu of Mopa?

The question is not a critical one; I simply wish to know your reasons for accepting the title.

I think that it is a blessing from God. Whatever you put in life consistently eventually comes back with a reward. Before the title of Erelu, I had a number of awards from the community. Mopa is a small community that has produced great men. The late Chief Sunday Awoniyi was the Aro of Mopa, we have the Daniels, and we also have the Adejos. In 2007, our royal father engineered a generational shift. I was among the younger people given honorary titles. I am truly honoured by the title. Before it was me, for myself. Now, with the title I represent a community. A lot of people look up to me as a role model. I have to lead by example.

The common notion is that men are intimidated by successful women. Would you say it is the case with you?

This is the notion and I wouldn’t like to take the liberty to say that men are intimidated by me. If a man is intimidated by a woman’s IQ or her academic qualification, so be it. I have no apologies for investing in my education. If you are talking about relationship, I would say men should take their time to find out the woman behind the success and the larger-than-life image. A man who is interested in me should take the time to find out the personality behind all the flattering descriptions of my person in the media. Behind the accolades is a simple girl who is loving and who can be loved. No woman, including me, should settle for a man that doesn’t have the time or patience to discover the woman he wants to be with. Whoever can discover the real me has won a prized trophy. With all sense of modesty, I can say I am a trophy wife.