-Popular Akure broadcaster, ‘MC Okanlawon’ speaks on his new DEE 19TV station.
Prince Adedayo Olaosebikan Oladeji, fondly called ‘MC Okanlawon’, is the son of veteran Journalist and Author, Otunba Dapo Olaosebikan.
This MC extraordinaire is the CEO of Okanlawon Media Hub and DEE 19TV. He is undoubtedly a fast-rising broadcaster cum MC who is making waves in Ondo State and its environs.
MC Okanlawon has been in the industry for 2 decades. He is a member of the Freelance Broadcasters Association of Nigerian (FIBAN). Recently, this turntable wizard opened an Online TV and Radio Station in the heart of Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Event Diary Lifestyle team was at the transmission station where they spoke with Prince Olaosebikan, as he opened up on his journey and vision for DEE 19TV. It is an interesting read. Enjoy it.
Let’s start by congratulating you on this milestone achievement of the DEE 19Tv online station. Briefly tell us, who is MC Okanlawon?
Thank you very much and I want to appreciate your support to our brand always. MC Okanlawon and some call me Ambassador Okanlawon, that’s my brand name. I am Prince Adedayo Olasebikan Oladeji, Chairman/CEO Okanlawon Media Hub and Chairman, DEE 19Tv. I was born in the early '80s. I am a native of Itapa Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State. I am the only son of my mother but not the only son of my father, I am the firstborn of the family.
How did you come about the name, ‘Okanlawon’?
In Yoruba land, the only male child in the family is always referred to as ‘Okanlawon’ and I grew up bearing the name. As we speak, many people don't know me as Adedapo Olaosebikan but if you mention Okanlawon in the broadcasting industry in Ondo and Ekiti States only few will say we don't know him. Okanlawon is my brand name that I got because I was the one male child of my family though my father later had a male from another woman by then, Okanlawon has become a household name.
Can you run us through your educational background?
To the glory of God, I had my first degree in Zoology from the then University of Ado Ekiti (UNAD) now Ekiti State University in 2005 and I was posted to Bayelsa State for my NYSC in 2006. I also attended the International Institute of Journalism, Berlin, Germany (her Nigeria Study Center) where I studied Investigative Journalism and I am not stopping there, my Master’s degree is in view. I am also a Pastor in the making, I just finished my Theology class.
You studied Zoology, how come you are in broadcasting?
I will say destiny has a way of playing itself. Though I have always had a passion for broadcasting, even from way back. I love listening to Baba Gboyin on the radio, I so much cherish his presentation but I fell in love with the profession more while listening to my Otunba Folorunsho Adebiyi, who later became my boss and I am proud to say I passed through him in this industry. On that fateful day, after listening to his programme, I turned to my father and said: “how I wish I was the one speaking on the radio”, and he said: “why not, you can also be one of them”. That response changed everything about me and I felt I need to go after my dream to become a broadcaster. On the other hand, my father, Otunba Dapo Olaosebikan is a veteran journalist, he was a former Editor at Vanguard Newspaper. He also worked with This Day Newspaper and he is presently working in Abuja. He is the CEO, Double Golden Nig Ltd, Abuja. He has also authored a couple of books. In a nutshell, I will say Journalism runs in the family. He is also a musician and I will say I took after him in all aspects including singing. His response to my comment of that day is what we are seeing today.
I trained as a broadcaster under the tutelage of Otunba Folorunsho Adebiyi of Progress FM, Ado Ekiti, and to the Glory of God, after years of training, I gained my freedom February 16, 2002. I left his place as a boy to become a boss. That was how I started my journey as a broadcaster to date. We compere programme for corporate events and social gatherings. In a nutshell, at Okanlawon Media Hub, our job is strictly media.
For how long have you been in the industry?
To the Glory of God, plus or minus I will say my journey started on the 16th of February, 2002, the same month and year I became independent to be on my own because, in broadcasting, you don’t count from the day you started rather from the day you have your freedom from your boss. In 2019, I celebrated 15 years in the industry. It was supposed to be 17 years, but for reasons best known to me, however, this year will mark my 20 years in the industry, all Glory to my creator.
You recently launched an Online Radio and TV station, what inspired you into this?
Before I could stand on my feet after moving to Akure in 2009, I worked with different media organizations, print, and broadcast. My experience with Honourable Charles Akinwon, the Publisher of Newslineage Newspaper as a reporter was awesome, he tutored me very well. I also had the privilege of working with my father and mentor in the industry, Ambassador Segun Babayemi, fondly called ‘Segun Babs’. My biography will not be complete without mentioning the name of this great man of integrity. Working with him exposed me more to the industry and I was able to mingle with the small and mighty in broadcasting across the globe. I also followed the likes of Mogaji Kola Olotu on social media and after meeting him one-on-one, my orientation changed because I was able to share my vision and dream with him and as a father in the industry, he encouraged me and I will say our discussion led to DEE 19TV &Radio Station.
We didn’t just start the planning, we have been on it since 2019 but it was actualized in 2022, we have test run it and we have started full operation. We are aiming for corporate bodies, individuals, political and religious groups, e.t.c to key into the vision. It’s a huge dream and I know with God we will achieve it.
What are the challenges you encountered in the process of establishing the Online Tv and in your 17 years as a broadcaster?
Life itself is full of challenges but the ability to manage your challenges makes you a superstar. My challenges are numerous but I thank God, who has been faithful to us. One of our major challenges is that no one was ready to help us, especially in this part of the state (Ondo), less attention is paid to the media industry, especially FIBAN. We have to make things happen ourselves compared to places like Ibadan, Ogun, or Lagos State. Though we still have the few ones who assisted and I am using this medium to appreciate them. Another challenge is that an idea one has and it can’t be utilized at the time, it is better kept to oneself because if care is not taken, one might not be able to achieve it, even if one has millions of naira, he might not be able to achieve it due to the kind of people in one’s life. In my case in 2019, I shared the dream of my Online Tv and Radio station with a friend, and in a twinkle of an eye, my friend has started it because he has the money, but I thank God for today.
Also, another major challenge was the finance to get the gadgets for the station to start. It was not easy and to have workers who are devoted to work, many of our trainees are not willing to serve us as we served our boss back then. I remember attending an event with my boss and we made well over seventy-six thousand nairas (#76,000), I was the one who counted it and I was given #500 naira for my transportation, I wept that day but I was determined to succeed in this profession. Try that with our apprentices of today, I bet such boss will not live to tell the story. As I said, the challenges are many but God has been faithful to us.
How did you come about the name DEE 19Tv?
DEE 19Tv is an acronym of who I am. The ‘De’ stands for Deji. I was born in December and my birth date is the 19th. So plus or minus I combined my name, my birthday month, and my date of birth together to make Dee 19Tv.
What should your fans expect from you and your new online station?
We have come with a full package of an educative, informative, and entertaining programme for our audiences. DEE 19TV is an Online Radio Station and Television, by the grace of God we will be operating as a normal broadcast station, and to start with, we are broadcasting live for 5 hours non-stop with various programmes from different presenters. We will also be packaging documentaries and they will be aired on our platform and other platforms. They will come as recorded and live, depending on our clients. As I said, we have not come to stay, we are in for full business. We have a lot of programme for our clients and they shall be unfolded as time goes on. DEE 19Tv is a platform to discover our God-given talents. We have come to stay by the grace of God.
Going by the economic situation in the country, how were you able to raise funds for the project?
You see, for anyone to succeed in life, such person needs to make a move when you take that step, your effort will be crowned but if one is waiting for someone to come and help before he or she makes the move, I bet it that such person can be in a place for 20 years waiting but the moment you attempt, mercy will speak for you somehow, somewhere and somebody will come to your aid and help you. As an MC and broadcaster, I had savings but my savings were not enough to achieve my vision, so I took a risk in other to achieve my dream. 2021 was a good year for us at Okanlawon Media Hub, but we are determined to do better than the previous year, which is what gave birth to DEE 19Tv with the help of our fans across the globe. We are also ready for live streaming of events for our clients, the equipment is ready. We have come to make an impact in the industry and not play.
Who are your target audiences?
Dee 19TV is a mix grill online Tv & Radio Station. We are open for all, irrespective of age, we have children's programmes, we have programmes for the youths and adults. We have Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and other languages. Aside from that, we have Sports segment for Sports lovers, we have a News segment. We are partnering with other media platforms for a recap of all News to be aired every Friday, regular News runs to Fridays. We will have uncommon News. Our focus is to cut across everybody and our doors are open to religious bodies, the church should bring their church programmes to be aired on our platform, the Muslims should bring their call to prayer to us, Ramadam lectures and others. We have the experience and we are ready to expose it. We still need money and I believe God is able and faithful.
Why did you float the Online station?
There is no gainsaying the fact that the entertainment industry is growing day by day with lots of talents been discovered every day, but the avenue to use and or expose these talents are little. In Ondo State today, we have less than 10 radio stations with 2 television stations. This is coupled with the fact that one can’t just walk into any of these stations all in the name of having talent, it is either you have a sponsor to buy air time for you or you buy it yourself. This and other reasons prompted us to establish DEE 19TV, we are giving them the opportunity to discover and execute their talents with no cost. Having passed through the field, I felt this is the only way I can give back to society.
.png)
0 Comments