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.

Yusuf Ali     CCT     High Court     Azeez Salawu     Abiodun Oyedepo     COVID-19 Palliatives     Fatai Adeniyi Garba     Malete     Shururat Olatinwo     Gobir     Yahaya Muhammad     Shuaib Olarongbe     Lanre Olosunde     Joseph Yemi Ajayi     Ibrahim Kayode Adeyemi     FERMA     Ayoade Akinnibosun     Lola Ashiru     Yusuf Lanre Badmas     Rafiu Olasile     Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     KWATMA     Sheikh Ridhwanullah El-ilory     Rafiu Ibrahim     Samuel Adaramola     Isaac Aderemi Kolawole     Orisa Bridge     Barakat Community Secondary School     Akanbi-Oke     Ahmed Saidu Rufai     Egbewole     Usman Yunusa     Adamu B. Yaqubu     Ahman Pategi University     Muritala Awodun     Monkey Pox     Kwara 2015     Sabitiyu Grillo     KFA     Mustapha Olanipekun     Alapado     Mohammed Ghali Alaaya     Ariyo     11th Galadima     MATTA Girls Foundation     Gbenga Awoyale     Bello Abubakar     Oluwole Dupe     Ekiti     SSA Youth Engagement     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Communication Network Support Services     Ganiyu Abolarin     Obayomi Azeez     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Kwara Central     Olumide Daniel Ibitoye     Federal Allocation     Kayode Alabi     Alagbado     LEAH Charity Foundation     Ajidagba     Volunteers Of Ilorin Community And The Emirate     Gambari     Bello Bature     Kwasu     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Adamu Attah     Ridhwanullah Al-Ilory     Najim Yaasin     Olaiya Lawal     Maja     Mohammed Alabi Lawal     Aliyu Muhammed     Leke Ogungbe     Muhammed Taofeeq Abdulrazaq     Kale Belgore    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Ibrahim Sulu Gambari     Awoye     Asa LGEA School     Musbau A. Akanji     Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji     Issa Baba     Solomon Edojah     Bayo Ojo     Baba Issa     Mohammed Ibrahim     Nigerian Correctional Service     Ayoade Akinnibosun     Kassim Babamale     Oye Tinuoye     2023 Elections     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Agbarere     Mohammed Lawal     Aro Yahaya     Olaosebikan     New Model Police Station     Abdulrahman Onikijipa     Edret Sabi Abel     Pategi     Tosho Yaqub     Olumide Daniel Ibitoye     Ilorin Likeminds Foundation     Kola Ologbondiyan     Illyasu Abdullahi     Christopher Odetunde     Bureau Of Lands     JMK Construction Company Limited     Ilota     Olosi Of Osi     FOMWAN     N-Power     Olatunde Olukoya     Sabi     Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi     Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi     Shettima Of Ilorin     Alabi Lawal     Boko Haram     Kunle Okeowo     Government High School (GHS), Adeta     Emir Of Yashikira     Nagode     Kwara State Television     Haliru Dantoro     Isapa     Rotimi Samuel Olujide     Folorunsho Erubu     Gbenga Awoyale     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Kwha.gov.ng     Kwara State Branch Of The National Library     Aliyu Muhammed     Chief Imam Of Lafiagi     Shola Odetundun     Ilorin Curfew     Muhammad Fawaz Abubakar     Tuesday Assayomo     Sunset Workers     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Wole Oke     Olateju Lukman     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     Isiaka Yusuf     Owode Market     Abdulraheem Yusuf     Apata Ajele Secondary School     Babatunde Ishola Babaita     Hamza Usman     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     Yusuf Lanre Badmas     Bola Ahmed Tinubu     Kehinde Boyede