BEVERLY HILLS, April 19, (THEWILL) – Media entrepreneur, Bashorun Dele Momodu needs no introduction when it comes to celebrity, luxury reporting in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large. He is an accomplished man having successfully redefined this genre of journalism. His brainchild, Ovation magazine, birthed while in exile and the medium, through which he reports luxury living by very important personalities, has traversed uncharted terrains and has stood the test of time. The coverage of many A list events will not be complete without it gracing the pages of Ovation. As the magazine clocks 25 years, the onetime presidential aspirant speaks with Shade Metibogun about the journey so far and the future of the celebrity magazine. Excerpts.
How does it feel having come this far, sailing the Ovation magazine ship for 25 years?
I am grateful to God; it’s a mixed grain of sadness and happiness for me. Sadness in the sense that I had to run from my own country to take solace in another country for three years. It was during that period that Ovation International was established. Happiness for me because I was able to come back to Nigeria. Anybody who is into publishing knows that it is a roller coaster journey. It has not been easy really but we thank God for how far we have come. We have the Ovation International TV, The Boss Newspapers and Ovation International magazine, all under Ovation Media Group. It was turbulent when we started however; we are still managing to carry on.
Are you throwing a party to celebrate this laudable feat?
No, there is no time for partying, there is COVID-19. And why waste money when there are so many things we need money for. So, no we are not going to do any party.
Does Ovation magazine still print monthly especially now that many publications are leaving the print media to embrace the online platform?
We still print. We are still with the same company we started printing with at inception. They are based in London.
How did journalism start for you?
I started as a writer in 1981; I studied Yoruba at the University of Ile-Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University. And I proceeded for my Masters in Literature in English in 1988. Out of joblessness, I tried to get something I can report every weekend, and then I came to Lagos, and got my first job at Concord Newspaper. I got sporadic promotions when I started, I came in as a staff writer in 1988 by February 1989, I was moved from the African Concord to be one of the pioneer staff of Weekend Concord. Within two months there, I earned double promotion. From a staff writer, I became an editor. Six months later, I jumped to news editor. Two years later, I left to become the editor of Classique which made me the highest paid editor in the whole of Nigeria in 1991. I started a Public Relation outfit but years later, I set up the Ovation Group.
Have you been tempted to call it quit in the last 25 years?
Yes many times. Anybody who has done this job and wants to do it well will face a lot of difficulties but God has been extremely kind to me. I have attempted stopping because of lack of money to print, lack of money for cargo. I was living abroad and I had to shuttle between Nigeria and London. It was quite demanding and also expensive. Lack of money to pay people that were working with you, a lot of factors contributed to the desire to quit back then but then, my whole life depends solely on reporting. This is what I have been doing from inception and I am addicted to it. The love for publishing is absolute for me. I love this job. I guess this has kept me going when it became very tough. But now, I don’t have the intention of dropping it anytime soon, I love the job.
What are your succession plans?
Succession is not something that is very difficult. We have succeeded in training and working with few people who can successfully take over from us. Michael Effiong, the Editor, is very loyal, for his dedication and loyalty over the years, he is a natural successor. I also have a son who is a journalist and a photographer. I am sure he will be able to work with the team. He has honed his skills in some places. He is the managing editor of Glam Africa. He shuttles between Nigeria and London, he is really doing a lot now. He was invited by Nduka Obaigbena to work with Arise TV not too long ago.
You have traveled far and wide, you have also worn many caps such as being a teacher, reporter, columnist, and politician. How did all these experiences shape you and your life’s philosophy?
The greatest exposure you can have is to be multi-faceted. I have been very fortunate that right from my young age, my best friends were always older than me. From Chief Omoboriowo, MKO Abiola, Mike Adenuga and the rest of them – they are all distinguished Nigerians whom I was exposed to and they were able to influence my life. You must be focused, consistent and tenacious. You must never let anything hold you down in life. In life, some people are going to love you or hate what you do but most importantly, the best way to punish your enemies or detractors is to remain successful. I have been to all the continents of the world, in fact, it is what gave me the encouragement and the confidence that I can run Ovation. Nigerians think leadership is about politics. Leadership is about managing people and resources.
One of the hallmarks of Ovation magazine is the Ovation Red Carol. What was the idea behind it?
In 2017, we felt we had done a lot with the brand; we wanted to give back to society so I approached a lot of people to see what can be done. I approached Leke Alder, a very good friend of mine. He sat down with his team and he came up with Ovation Red Carol. It is meant to give hope to the hopeless. We have given donations to schools, and we have affected people in fashion, agriculture. It is the largest pan African carol concert; it’s a celebration of African music, fashion, culture and other aspects of life. The Ovation Red Carol is also a platform for fundraising for various initiatives. It started in 2007. We have done it in both Nigeria, and Ghana. However, we missed two editions, when I was contesting for election and because of Covid19. I am fulfilled because I have impacted a lot of people in entertainment, we have been able to promote a lot of artists and comedians. We have had people from South Africa, we brought artists from Kenya, it’s been really big. Since 2007 till now, we have spent millions of naira, between 250 and 300 thousand US dollars.
Can you compare journalism when you started to what it is now?
Everything has changed, times have also changed too. I am happy that I quickly embraced the change. When I contested for election in 2011, I became so active on the social media space that I had a lot of followership that has helped me to remain very relevant among journalists of my age. The social media campaign that I ran during the election back then, I converted the platform to that of my business, which gave me a lot of edge.
Do you mean those who are not so relevant now were affected because they didn’t embrace social media?
A lot of journalists didn’t embrace social media on time and some even refused to embrace it. The social media has a lot of advantages, you can do your TV on it, send breaking news on the go, cover events live and broadcast it immediately. My advice to them is to embrace the social media, and then they should reduce their print publication. Social media makes it easier; you can reach people faster with your news unlike before.
You court controversy with the people you interview and the stories you do. Is this intentional?
No, it is not intentional. The job of a journalist is to report the good, the bad and ugly, more so, Ovation is a lifestyle magazine, it deals with newsmakers, lifestyle of the rich and famous, that is my job, it does not preclude me from criticizing people and the society. Just like an artist, they will sing praises of people on weekends at their stage performances but it doesn’t mean they wouldn’t still sing about the ills in the society. I am a liberal person, I don’t judge, I present the truth to people and they make their judgment about it. Most people will come to my social media space to abuse me there after but I just have to do my job. That is it.
About the abuse and criticism you get on your social media space, how does it make you feel?
If people don’t criticize me, it means they are not following me. A lot of people are ignorant, that is why I respond to them. I respond so that I can put my side of the story on google. When people repeat things often, it sticks, I remember when Bukola Saraki was the senate president, he was accused of misappropriating funds but he was able to tell us his own side of the story and even gave us proofs too. For me, I make it a point of duty to respond to people. If the issue will affect my person, I will definitely respond, that is why people respect what I do. People are bitter nowadays that they criminalize success; they even go as far as abusing those of us who are still struggling but I must say it is just my principle to respond to them. Some people will say I promote the government. Tell me, if people are getting married, wouldn’t I promote them? If the people in question are in government, will I say because I don’t want to promote the government, I wouldn’t cover the wedding? I am not running a charity. People just get bullied and intimidated anyhow on social media. For instance, Hello magazine will put David Beckham on the cover of their magazine and make good money but I cannot try it in Nigeria. Put any of those celebrities on the cover and you may regret it.
What was your motive for venturing into politics?
I went into politics because I was tired of lamenting about the situation of the country. I came back disappointed but fulfilled. I now know what it means to run for a political post and win an election in Nigeria. When I see the youths going into politics, I already know the outcome and I try to advise them but they wouldn’t listen. Anyway, experience is the best teacher. If you think because you are popular on social media, you would contest for a political post and win, that will not reflect at the polling unit, it does not. Nigerians are not ready to change, that is one thing I have come to realize.
Any regrets that it didn’t work out as planned?
Not at all, I have learnt a lot from the experience. I started the whole idea and I was able to see the end. Many started that race with me but they didn’t see the end. My name was on the ballot, so anywhere I go, people recognize me as a former contestant. I have also come to realize that the Nigeria of today is not ready for change. I have seen the attitude of young people who desire the change desperately. Call them tomorrow; they will complain that you don’t have the experience.
If you are given the opportunity to contest again, will you?
No, I am not interested in it unless it falls on my laps on a platter of gold. The odds are too much against people like me.
Not much is known about your wife
I have spoken about her many times, she is from the Adaramaja family in Ijebu Igbo, and she is on the quiet side unlike me who is everywhere. She is a chartered accountant but now she is into business. Her mother is a big-time business woman, my wife took after her. We got married in 1992 and we have four boys.
Ghana is like your second home. Do you still have investments there?
Yes. I have my home in Ghana. I almost know Ghana more than Nigeria. I have a home in Nigeria and London as well. My family lives in London.
The controversy between you and Davido (Davido saying ‘Dele na my boy’) may have been resolved but why didn’t you feel the need to caution him at that time, especially because he is like a son to you?
The tongue and the mouth fight. Husband and wife also fight too. We had our misunderstanding and it has been amicably resolved, we are very close now. Everybody knows that I am one of his biggest fans. He is smart and hardworking. We have a daughter with him. His first child Imade is our daughter. We are very close, I am a member of their family, and his dad sees me as a family member. It was just a misunderstanding that went beyond the roof. We thank God that we were able to put things in place. He has even come after the whole episode to perform in one of our events, so we are good together now.
Of all the personalities you have featured in Ovation magazine, who stands out the most to you and why?
I don’t think there is any personality we have featured that didn’t stand out. Having said that, the first person I would pick is Chief Anthony Oladeinde Fernandes. We did a lot of stories about him and we also covered his burial. I will also mention late Chief MKO Abiola, Globacom boss, Chief Mike Adenuga, Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola and some other personalities.
If given an opportunity to interview a personality over and over again who would that be?
Dr Mike Adenuga jr. As close as I am to him, I have not been able to interview him directly. We will sit down, talk about life but not as an interview. He is a very knowledgeable man; there is no field of endeavor that he doesn’t know something about. He has been extremely good to me. It is like 30 years now that we have known each other. He is very smart, extremely wealthy but he does not display it like others would. He doesn’t get into unnecessary fights and he is media shy. He always tells me not to accept or refute any story, he will say you are just giving them the opportunity to talk more. And Adenuga is a very generous man, he gives in such a way that you will be frightened, that is who he is.
What would you consider your greatest achievement in your career as a journalist?
My ability to network and I will also say access. Everyone knows I have met a lot of world leaders, captains of industry and the fact that I have influenced a lot of younger generations.
Who has impacted your life the most among the personalities that you have interviewed?
Many people have impacted my life, not necessarily the people who I have interviewed. Everybody knows that MKO Abiola has greatly influenced my life and that of my career. I started my journalism journey in his company and I have worked so closely with him. Chief Deinde Fernandes, Alike Dangote. I have Chief Akin Omoboriowo, Chief Alex Duduyemi, Chief Philip Fatoye, Bode Olajumoke. Femi Otedola, has been my friend for over 30 years. My elder brother, Prof Oladele Ajayi, his life transformed mine. My sister, Feyisara Adeniran, my life prayer warrior mother Esther Ajayi. I am a very lucky man; a lot of people love to identify with me. I have Prophet T. B Joshua, he has been my brother for many years, he invited me to Israel sometime back. I have some younger generations who have impacted my life as well, the likes of Ayo Animashaun, Michael Effiong, my egbon, Mayor Akinpelu. The list is endless, that is why I said I am a very blessed man, I am a man of the world. I am a chief in Liberia. There is nowhere I will write the story of my life that I will not mention Kunle Bakare, Sir Shina Peters, Bisi Olatilo, Chief Ebenezer Obey, Dayo Adeneye, Kenny Ogungbe, I also have some men of God who have impacted my life as well, I have mentioned some of them, Pastor Tunde Bakare and Evangelist Telemi.
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