REWARDING YET CHALLENGING: MY ROLE AS PIONEER PROVOST OF CREST MEDIA ACADEMY - TEMITOPE DARE
In this interview, Temitope Dare shared her journey in establishing Nigeria’s first privately-owned media academy in Ondo State, the challenges and successes she has faced, and her vision for expanding its reach across the country.
We also delved into how her diverse experience as a Senior News Editor, Reporter, Event Compere, Voice-Over Artist, and Media Partnership Consultant informed her approach to training the next generation of media professionals.
Can you tell us about yourself and background?
I am Temitope Dare, fondly known as Ajoke Diamond, and I hail from Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area in Kogi State. I have a degree in Industrial Mathematics from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and I have over 12 years of experience in the media industry, and I have had the privilege of working with some of the top names in the industry. Currently, I'm pursuing a degree program at the National Open University (NOUN) and I have also attended the National Broadcast Academy for my broadcasting certification. I have worked with the Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Ray Power FM in Akure, Ondo State and Ibadan, Oyo State, where I took on various roles as a newscaster, presenter, producer, and special projects executive. I also served as the Head of News, Programs, and Special Projects at Music and Culture 106.5 FM in Ondo State before working briefly at Adaba 88.9 FM in Akure. After that, I worked as an Assistant Director at the Directorate of Media and Corporate Affairs of Achievers University in Owo, Ondo State before I joined Crest 106.1 FM, Akure, in March 2020. I am proud to be the pioneer Provost of Crest FM Media Academy. In addition to my roles as a newscaster, reporter, news editor, presenter, and producer, I work as a project consultant. I am passionate about child rights advocacy and I have partnered with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in South West Nigeria. Also, I am the founder of Alphacrystal International Limited. I strive to inspire others and make a significant impact in the Ondo State media industry. Prior to my current appointment, I served as the Head of Crest FM's Business Development Unit.
How did you find yourself in broadcasting?
Do you feel fulfilled as a broadcaster?
Yes, I feel fulfilled as a broadcaster. Fulfillment for me doesn't end with what I have personally achieved in my place of work, but in the people that have been able to replicate some of my visions and goals and with being part of a team. I have always been part of something good everywhere I have worked. Where I found myself today is also an opportunity that I chose to make the most of.
Can you share the experience of your first day on radio with us?
I was nervous on my first day on radio. I had prepared, and I had enough information, but I was nervous, and my hands were shaking. In those days, there were no facebook live, or YouTube live, it was purely private. All I needed to do was keep my voice steady and concentrate on the information I was passing out. I had done rehearsals, I had practiced, all I needed was stick to my script and talk my script. We refer to it as talking the script. All I needed to do was talk my script and stay on point, but I was sweating and I was nervous, but the job was done. After the first time, the tension eased. It's no longer new to you after the first two times, but the biggest is the first time. No matter how prepared you are, the first time you would feel like 'I have to get it right.' There is more pressure on you, not just from external factors or from people around you, you will put pressure on yourself because you want to do well. But preparation is always the key, and believe in yourself. Always be prepared and ready for opportunities. No one will believe in you as much as you believe in yourself. Have faith in yourself and always be ready. Be passionate about everything you do, put your heart into it so that when you walk away, you will feel fulfilled that you did your best.
What has been your experience as the pioneer Provost of Crest Media Academy?
Being the pioneer Provost of Crest Media Academy has been both a rewarding and challenging experience. When you're tasked with creating something from the scratch, especially in an institution that didn’t previously exist, you're responsible for setting the standards that will shape its future. I had to establish a solid foundation and create a template that reflects the broader vision of Crest Hills Media Group and Crest FM. This means ensuring that the Academy embodies the same core values of integrity, inclusiveness, and the pursuit of excellence that Crest FM stands for. It was essential for us to create an institution that welcomes people from all walks of life regardless of age, tradition, beliefs, or religious inclination. Every graduate should leave the Academy, not just with technical skills, but with the understanding that they are part of the larger broadcast journalism community that Crest FM represents and practices. It’s fulfilling to see that the Academy has already nurtured individuals, who have come back to work at Crest FM in Akure and Ibadan, contributing their newly acquired knowledge to the media industry. Crest Media Academy is the first privately-owned media academy in Ondo State, and the impact we’ve had so far makes me hopeful for its future growth. The vision extends far beyond Ondo State, I envision the Academy expanding into other states and regions across Nigeria with the goal of establishing it's presence in every part of the country. The demand for skilled media professionals is high, and we believe that by providing quality training, we are equipping individuals with the tools they need to make a meaningful impact in the industry. Watching the academy grow and blossom has been a deeply fulfilling journey for me, and I look forward to seeing how it continues to evolve in the years to come.
What inspired the idea of Crest Media Academy?
At Crest FM, we wanted to create a brand that connects with everyone regardless of tradition, religion, gender, age, or language. Our goal is to build something inclusive, a brand that speaks to people from all walks of life; whether they are in the middle class, the elite, or anywhere in between. The common thread we identified is that everyone has a desire to learn. Learning is universal, and it's something we all do everyday. We also recognised the need to educate people about broadcasting, TV, radio, journalism, and writing. Many people listen to news, call in on radio and television programmes, and engage with media content daily, but they don’t always understand the intricacies behind it. We thought, 'Why not equip them with knowledge about how the industry truly works?' In today’s world, where fake news is rampant, it’s critical to teach people about the rules and ethics of the media such as fact-checking and responsible communication. Crest Media Academy was born from the idea of offering structured learning to help people engage with the media intelligently and ethically.
How has the academy grown since its inception?
Crest Media Academy has now graduated 130 individuals in five sessions. Our students come from all walks of life. We have university graduates, retirees looking for new opportunities, teachers, religious leaders, and professionals such as lawyers and doctors. They are all eager to improve their public speaking and media skills. One of the strengths of our academy is its inclusiveness: anyone with at least a school certificate can enroll. This ensures that even those who didn't have the chance to pursue higher education can still gain valuable media skills. The graduates from the academy are from diverse groups; some want to polish their diction, others are already in the media industry and they want to deepen their reporting skills. The key message we emphasize is that continuous learning is essential, especially in the media industry. Whether someone studied linguistics, industrial mathematics, or mass communication, we encourage an open-minded approach. Our program focuses on practical skills, but it also includes personal growth and understanding the media role in shaping the society. By promoting collaboration and respect for diverse perspectives, we aim to empower people to positively impact their communities through effective communication.
Can you tell us more about the variety of participants and their motivations?
We have had five sessions with 130 graduates. Many of our participants are based here in Akure. Some are fresh university graduates, who are currently unemployed, while others are retirees looking for meaningful ways to stay engaged. For instance, teachers who retire often feel like something is missing because they have been lifelong learners. We have had religious leaders that want to improve their public speaking skills, individuals seeking to perfect their diction and elocution, and professionals such as lawyers and doctors that are eager to learn more about media communication. We accept a wide range of participants with the minimum requirement being school certificate. This ensures that even those without tertiary education can benefit. We have also had PhD holders, master’s degree holders, and professionals from various fields who want to refine their communication skills. We have had traders, fashion designers, and even people that want to become events hosts or MCs. They all share the desire to learn how to communicate better in front of an audience. We’ve also seen interested people who are already working in the media but want to improve specific skills such as news reporting or writing. The media industry is open to individuals from diverse educational backgrounds, not just those who studied mass communication. For example, I didn’t study mass communication, I have a degree in industrial mathematics, but broadcasting welcomes people who are willing to learn and adapt.
What advice would you give to those that are interested in the media industry?
In the media industry, willingness to learn everyday is crucial. If you're not eager to learn, it’s hard to succeed. The industry demands versatility, adaptability, and openness to different styles and approaches. Once you have the basics of speaking, you can train yourself to improve. I attended Radio Nigeria Broadcast Academy in Lagos State years ago, when I was eager to expand my knowledge. Even now, I’m completing a postgraduate program in mass communication at the National Open University because learning never stops. After this, I will go for another degree, and acquire another skill. In our workplace, we encourage continuous education. Some are pursuing master’s degrees, some go for first degrees in other fields, but the point is that learning is a continuous process. We need to teach people that media is more than just talking on the radio, it’s about critical thinking, personal development, and positively impacting others. Media is brain work, it’s about understanding and accommodating different styles and perspectives, respecting the rights and privileges of others just as you would your own.
What are some of the challenges of your job?
My number one challenge is time. Time is 24 hours in a day, and 7 days in a week. Sometimes time is not enough. No matter how you try, organize and plan, there is still stuff left to be done, there is a lot to do, but not enough time to do them. The second challenge is information. You find it frustrating when you find out that people don't have access to information. When you try to tell them this is information ABC, you find out that there are people that don't know what preceded ABC. You know you still need to go a little further. I'm not talking about the media academy now, but when you speak to people on radio, when they call in on a programme, when people find out that you work in a media organization and they ask questions, I feel like everybody should look for precise and efficient information. Correct information should be disseminated at all times. I understand that some people do not have access to proper information. Another thing is that we all need to be conscious of the information we pass to people. I have more people now that are fact checking for the military at Crest Media Academy. We have other people that are aware and conscious. You need to be conscious of the things that you read on the social media, watch on the TV, tweet on X, and write on status update. Some of these information are fractions of the truth, and some of them are not correct. Some of them are gimmicks. All of us need to be conscious of the kind of information we allow ourselves to have access to.
Where do you see Crest Media Academy in five years?
I see Crest Media Academy beyond Ondo State. The academy is only situated in Ondo State now. We have students from Abuja, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Ibadan, Osun and Ogun States. We have had people from Akure, some of them are now in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. We have people that have learnt and they have gone out. Some of our former students have been employed in other media organizations. We have also had people from other media organizations within Ondo State, who come to learn. We have had people from outside the country, who came to learn here. At the end of the day, I see Crest Media Academy growing bigger and moving to different parts of the country. Hopefully, may be in all the states in the South West or if it is regionalized, may be one in each region, but I see Crest Media Academy growing beyond the single classroom we have in Crest FM Radio House. We have a hall in Akure that contains 300 people. I see it bigger than those 300 seats we have in the classroom. I see Crest Media Academy growing bigger than this. I see Crest Media Academy growing bigger, having up to 500 or more graduates and creating more opportunities for people. The sky is just the starting point for Crest Media Academy and Crest Hills Media concept.
What's the difference between Temitope Dare and Joke Diamond?
My name is Temitope Ajoke Dare. Due to my resilience and the fact that I do not give up on anything, I encourage people not to give up too. Some years back, my friends said that I had become refined like diamond. Everyone knows that diamond is burnt from stone. The more the pressures of life hits you, the better you come out. You should come out better. A diamond is formed after pressure, heat, and the weather conditions have beaten up a rock. Diamond is found on the ground, for it to come to the surface of the earth, it means much have been done, so my friends started calling me Ajoke Diamond. It was a thing that I felt shy about. It is a complement really, they started calling me Ajoke, the Diamond and then it stuck on me. My name is Temitope Ajoke Dare, but my friends call me Ajoke Diamond because of my resilience.
How do you unwind?
I love listening to music and I like researching. Researching in the sense that I like discovering new things, but to unwind, I like to listen to music, engage in cooking and havin interactions with people that reason like me, people that we think alike and I like to listen and learn from people.
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