Did you receive only on-the-job training or attended other courses in journalism outside the newsroom?
I attended a course in 1966 organised by International Federation of Journalists and African Journalists Institute at the end of which I bagged a diploma in Journalism.
I also obtained a certificate in Labour and Industrial Relations from the International Institute of Labour, Economic and Social Development, Lagos. Aside other certificates in journalism and labour and industrial relations I also did correspondence courses in these fields. I attended seminars both locally and abroad. One of the courses I did overseas was at Hungary in the Eastern bloc in Europe. I had to travel through Ghana after I had obtained a West African passport through the assistance of the late Dr. Tunji Otegbeye.
Do you have children who take after you as a journalist or any who pursued your earlier ambition to study medicine?
None of my children studied medicine. The only one who is a science student read computer science. He is presently with Eko F.M. radio. I have no children who showed interest in journalism. Only the one at Eko FM is near it. He reads news at the radio station.
Can you recall some lessons journalism taught you?
There were many lessons the profession taught me which, if I had been in another field or profession I would not have had the opportunity to know. The exposure I had would not have been there.
I travelled far and wide. In Africa, I went to countries like Egypt, Sudan. I visited all West African countries. I was also in Ethiopia, Kenya. I travelled to many countries in Europe including Germany, Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, Hungary etc. I attended many conferences under the auspices of International Organisation of Journalists, IOJ, and International Labour Organisation, ILO.
The profession also exposed me to reading. I love reading a lot. My library is stocked with books I bought overseas. Each time I travelled, I used to buy one book as a remembrance of my visit to the country. This gave me a wide range of knowledge. Another gain I can easily remember is leadership attribute. The profession prepared me for leadership positions.
I had the opportunity to participate locally and internationally in highly-placed discussions on trade unionism and at government levels.
Can you tell us some of the reasons you will roll out the drums to mark your four scores on Mother Earth?
Sure, I have a lot of reasons to thank God. I have been involved in seven motor accidents both in Nigeria and overseas. God has been kind to me. I give thanks to God for sparing my life. Some people were involved in only one motor accident and they died. The last accident I had, seven persons died on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway. I thank God for sparing my life.
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