OPINION: Anthony Kola Olota: Boss And Consummate Broadcast Professional, By Ishaq Modibbo Kawu

Date: 2019-09-29

 I’ve just seen the sad story of the passing of our dear Boss, Mr Anthony Kola Olota. In many ways, this is a very personal loss for me. I was recruited by the defunct Radio Nigeria (NBC), as a Studio Manager (Trainee), on February 1st, 1977. The recruitment was a process that went through the late Head of Programme (North), the late Hannatu Ibrahim, and the new Head of Programme (Ilorin), the late Kola Olota. So in a most fundamental sense, Olota gave me a start in life, as a broadcaster. And what a man of exacting professionalism he was!

In truth, we FEARED Kola Olota, and looking back now, it was simply because I was just 16 years plus, when I was recruited as the youngest in Nigeria at the time, and he knew that my youthful exuberance had to be tempered within the professional ambience of Broadcasting. He understood talent, and a few months later, took a decision to convert me into an Announcer/Presenter and eventually a newsreader.

Olota ensured that I attended all the Presentation Courses and was very proud that I grew to become one of the best presenters in Nigerian Nigerian Broadcasting, of my generation! It was to his eternal glory, that he nominated me, at the age of 19 and a half years, in March 1980, to represent Kwara State as a newsreader on the National Network Service of Radio Nigeria. Under him I served as Continuity Announcer; Newsreader; Deejay; Producer and Presenter of several programs; Ceremonials and Sports Commentator and News and Current Affairs Analyst! Our relationship deteriorated at a point for several years, but thanks to Allah, we met again when I worked as Editor of Daily Trust in 2005, and remained firm friends.

I NEVER forgot that I was where I arrived, thanks to his generosity of heart and ability to spot potential. We worked closely in the National Initiative for Community Broadcasting. I was in the leadership and he was part of the advocacy work to start IGBOMINA FM. And it was one of those twists of history, that as DG of NBC, I was the one that finally issued the license for that station. Mr Olota kept in touch with me over the past few years; and in recent months, he told me about his ill-health;  and it is a tragic pity, that I was unable to see him as I had intended,  before his passing.

His last text came on Tuesday, September 17th; and it was to congratulate me on my wife’s nomination as Commissioner. Mr Olota was a close friend of my wife’s family. In Mr Anthony Kola Olota, we lost a genuine  professional broadcaster, of the old school, who understood the best and most exacting standards. He was very witty, and was fond of the most pithy phrase,  that often stayed long in the memory! Those who were cultured within the professional standards at Radio Nigeria Ilorin, which eventually became Radio Kwara, in March 1978, have lost a genuine boss and colleague. My heart and prayers go out to Mr Olota’s family and friends, and the  Kwara State that he served loyally and with his heart and head!

Thank you Boss for touching our lives!!!

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Playing Host     Isin     Maimunat Oloriegbe     Abdul-Rahoof Bello     Emir Of Shonga     Kwara State Health Insurance Agency     NIPOGA     Lawan     Dan Iya Of Ilorin     Sabo-Oke     Isiaka Alikinla     Oyin-Zubair     Bilikisu Oniyangi     Okeose Christian Cementary     Olusegun Adeniyi     Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication     Ella Supreme Tissue Paper     Kwarareports     Ladi Hassan     Olushola Saraki     Aso-ofi     United Nigeria Congress Party     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Chief Imam Of Lafiagi     Seed Technologies     Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi     AbdulRaheem Ahmad Shayi     Village Alive Development Association     Abdulkadir Jimoh     Abdulwahab Oba     Jawondo     Ilorin Anchor Men And Women     CLAY POT     Babaloja-General     Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye     Plat Technologies Limited     Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman     AbdulHakeem Ajibola Akanbi     Isau     Babata     Charcoal     Aso Ofi     Olajumoke Monsura Gafar     Manzuma     Olosi Of Osi     Students Union Government     Dunmade     Smart School     Tafida Of Kaiama     Budo-Egba     Saka Onimago     Dasuki Belgore     Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye     Segun Olawoyin     Sambo Murtala     GAMA     Owode Market     Farouk Salim     Osinbajo     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     Shagari     UNILORIN Alumni     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Mohammed Ajia Ibrahim     Tunji Olawuyi     Abdulrasheed Na\'Allah     Abatemi-Usman     Soffiyyallah Kamaldeen     Shehu Alimi Foundation     Ilorin Amusement Park     Amos Justus Sayo     Adedipe     Saka Adeyemo     Lawal Arinola Kudirat     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     Ishola Balogun Fulani     Matthew Babaoye    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

John Olajide Adedipe     Aro Yahaya     John Dara     Sa\'adu Gambari     Abdulrazak Shehu Akorede     Iyaloja-General     Amina Susa\'a De Ahmed     Ganiyu Taofiq     Aishat Sulu-Gambari     Ridwan Agboola     The Herald     Monthly Sanitation     David Oyedepo     Ilorin Anchor Men And Women     Opolo Global Innovation Limited     Dankaka     Buhari     HICA     Kolo     Ibrahim Issa Jetti     Fatimat Saliu     Adisa Logun     Sherif Sagaya     Bola Shagaya     Yahaya Dumoye     Abikan     Al-Hikmah University     Bello Bature     Vasolar Consortium     Baboko Primary School     Salihu Alhaji Musa     Ile Arugbo     Balogun Ajikobi     Ilorin Emirate     Ilorin East     Unilorin FM     Muhammed Danjuma     Ambassador Kayode Laro     Olumide Daniel Ibitoye     Ilorin Like-Minds     UITH     CACOVID     Joana Nnazua Kolo     Abdulkadir Orire     A.O. Belgore     Offa Descendants Union     Laboratory-to-Product     Aliyu Kora-Sabi     IsDB     Onilupeju Of Ilupeju     Micheal Imodu-Ganmo Road     Adekunle David Dunmade     Olaoye B. Felix     Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP)     Durbar Festival     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Oyedepo     Umaru Saro     Okin High School     HYPPADEC     Saheed Popoola     Shuaibu Yaman     Kwara State Government     Henry Olaosebikan     Ilorin Likeminds Foundation     Ajia-Bako     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     Marufat Oladosu     Tayo Awodiji     Aminu Adisa Logun     HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity     Elerinjare-Ibobo     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Abatemi Usman     Mahmud Ajeigbe     Alimi     Christopher Ayeni