Babajide is the first son of popular media professional, Mike Awoyinfa. He speaks about his father’s career with GBENGA ADENIJI
Please give a brief profile of yourself.
I am Babajide Awoyinfa. I work with the News Agency of Nigeria. I am the first son of Mr. and Mrs Mike and Olubukola Awoyinfa. I studied Political Science at the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State. I have two brothers who are twins.
Did your father influence you to choose journalism?
When I graduated, it was hard for me to get a job. I was at home for about a year. I enjoy reading and writing like my father. At a point, I applied to the NAN and I was invited for an interview. I passed the written test and oral interview. I must add that my father’s influence played no role in my getting employment at NAN. It was a job I got based on merit. I proved that I am capable of writing without leaning on my father’s journalism popularity.
Did your father persuade his children on their career choices?
No, my father did not influence the career choice of any of his children. For instance, Taiwo is an information technology expert while Kehinde is an engineer. On my own part, I chose journalism because I have a passion for it. Like I said earlier, I like reading and writing. These hobbies must have played a key role in my choosing journalism.
Your father is a notable name in Nigerian journalism, what kind of person is he at home?
My father is a calm man. He is also a shy person. He does not like facing the crowd. His best method of communicating is through writing. He is also a man that likes to keep to himself. He is current and tries to keep abreast of recent happenings.
Can you recall the places he took his family to for relaxation when you were growing up?
Yes, he used to take us to Whispering Palms, Lagos. We would have fun as a family; discussing and savouring every moment. We were always out to watch movies. But now that we are grown-ups, we do not have the luxury of such picnic. All the children are now busy trying to be on their own.
How does he relax?
My father does not relax. Whenever he is at home, he puts on his laptop and starts working on the headlines for the paper’s next edition. He will be thinking on the new angles to introduce to the editor to keep the paper ahead. When he was with The Sun newspapers as its managing director, he hardly slept. Even now, if he is not on Instagram, he will be on Twitter, Facebook or BlackBerry messenger. He is not an old school man. He belongs to the new school because he always updates himself. There is no question on anything that he will not show knowledge of; music, fashion, politics etc. He knows so much than us when it comes to music despite our deep knowledge of it. There was a day he came to me and said he just listened to the music of a Nigerian dancehall singer, Patoranking (Patrick Okorie) and that the musician would go far. I was shocked and asked him how he knew the singer. He told me that he listens carefully to his songs.
What part of his job do you find challenging?
The part I find challenging is his dedication to the writing of biographies despite his busy nature. He, with his late friend, Dimgba Igwe, had written a number of biographies for some prominent Nigerians. I hope to have the strength and skills to do same in future.
Is he encouraging you to continue with journalism?
Yes, he is. In fact, he told me to earn a master’s degree to augment my first degree. He also told me that to succeed on the job I must be passionate about it. My father said the passion would eventually assist me to make headway in it.
What special treatment did you enjoy in school because of who he is?
When I was in the university, he was the MD of The Sun newspapers. I was popular among friends who often requested me to buy them lunch or pay for things they bought. They thought my father was a rich man not knowing that he was just struggling. To them, he was one of the top earners in Nigeria and I must let them enjoy part of his wealth. I ended up acceding to a few requests which I could handle on my own. His popularity did not earn me any special recognition from my lecturers. I faced my studies well.
Did he visit you while you were in the university?
He never had time. It was on the day of my convocation ceremony that he visited. He was very busy throughout my university days. Even that day, no one knew it was him. He likes privacy. He does not like to announce himself anywhere he goes to. That day, only few people knew he was the one and immediately he exchanged pleasantries with them, he withdrew to his quiet nature.
What kind of music does he listen to?
He listens to all kinds of music. He listens to reggae, rock, rhythm and blues, juju, hip-hop and so on. He can wake up late in the night and listen to any of the songs. He also knows the lyrics of all the songs he listens to. His family is also aware of his love for music.
How did he react to the news of the death of his friend, Dimgba Igwe?
The day he lost his twin brother (that’s how we refer to the late Igwe) was a very sad day. We were in the UK to attend the graduation of one of my brothers. We were going for a picnic in the morning of that fateful day when I heard my father shouting, “What happened, what did you say?’’ on the telephone. He was talking to somebody in Nigeria. I rushed out and asked him what happened. He only said, “I don’t know what happened. Dimgba is dead.’’ We had to call the person back and she told us to call somebody in our house because someone had just died. We called a cousin of mine who was at home and asked him what happened at home. He said there was no problem. We told him not to end the call and go to Dimgba’s home nearby to find out what happened. He later told us that Dimgba was dead. The shock was too much for my mother to bear. She started crying while my father was just saying, “My pillar is gone. I am finished.” Everybody was just shouting and we were cautioned not to invite the police into the neighbourhood with our noise. My family was wrapped in grief. Since I was born, that day was the saddest moment of my life because we lost somebody who was dear to my family. My father did not cry but he was really sad that day. I have never seen him cry.
What is his normal schedule?
He wakes up at 6am to prepare for work and returns around 8pm. When he gets home, he resumes reading and writing.
What comes to your mind about him each time you read his column?
The headline he casts for his column draws attention. He has a knack for casting good headlines. He also starts his column in a very dramatic way. He does it in a way that even a layman will understand what he is saying. He carries everybody along in his column because he treats contemporary issues. He writes like a preacher. I never get bored reading his column. I laugh each time I read him because his style is great. I am trying to emulate him because what I do now is purely reporting.
What is his favourite meal or drink?
My father likes Semovita and okro soup. He also enjoys red wine but he stopped drinking a year ago. Sometimes, he can take a little to help him sleep but he does not take beer.
How does he like to dress?
He dresses like a typical Yoruba man. He wears native attire but also likes English dresses.
Who are his friends?
My father has no friend again. He lost his best friend recently. He told me that my mother and his children are now his best friends. He was very close to Dimgba Igwe that it would be hard for anybody to replace him. Their relationship was so deep that we were suspecting if what they had was more than friendship. They were very fond of each other. They would sit in a corner in each other’s house depending on who was visiting the other to talk. Nobody can understand Awoyinfa like Dimgba Igwe did. We are however happy that the two of them broke ethnic barriers to be intimate. It is something I think Nigerians should emulate. It will further progress our nation.
Is he into any sports?
Yes, he used to jog from his house to the bus-stop every morning. Everybody in the area knew him especially as he always wore a Chelsea or Nigerian jersey while jogging on the street. But since his ‘twin brother’ died, he started jogging within the compound of his house. They used to jog together until the unfortunate incident caused by a hit-and-run driver. He does not want to jog outside so that people will not pity him when they see him jogging alone. My father blamed himself when the driver knocked down his friend that he could have saved him if he were around. We had to tell him that Dimgba Igwe’s family also wanted to save his life too like he wished. Hence, he should stop blaming himself or thinking he could have saved him if he were around at that time.
What are the ideals you have learnt from him?
My father is a very calm man and I have imbibed that too. He is also very honest. My father can never cheat anybody. I have learnt that from him too.
How sociable is he?
He has a bad social life. He knows that himself. The things that keep him sociable are the social media.
How does he handle disagreements with his wife?
I have never seen them disagree. My father has never laid a hand on his wife. He once called us to say that we should never beat any woman no matter the provocation. We have learnt a great deal from that advice. My mother is very agile and occasionally if she is upset, my father knows how to calm her down. They are compatible and that is the reason we live as a happy family.
How has his name helped you?
I get opportunities when people know he is my father. A boss of mine once told me that he learnt so much when he worked with my father. I was so happy with that testimony but I don’t allow the respect and love people have for him to get into my head.
How comfortable is he?
He is comfortable in his own way. He is neither rich nor poor though some may think he is a wealthy man. The little he has he invests on our education. He can deny himself anything to see that his children achieve their educational dreams. There was a time one of my brothers told him he would like to take groundnuts to the UK when going back to continue his studies. My father drove out to buy it and I was surprised that his children sent him on an errand and he went. But that is my father, one cannot predict him when it comes to what he can do to show his love for his children.
How did he discipline any of his children who misbehaved?
My father verbally corrected us whenever we did something wrong while growing up. There was a time I did something wrong. He expressed his disappointment through verbal outburst. That day, I wished he had beaten me because his words were harsher than the cane. My mother was the one who used the cane when we did wrong.
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