UNDER 30 AND KILLING IT

I met Emmanuel in my undergraduate days at the university. We were both two youngins hungry to make a mark. He was in the early stages of building his “oyamag”; an entertainment and lifestyle website. He was also one of my early employers. I remember vividly when I got my first job with him. I was to interview comedian; Omobaba. He literally just threw me in the game; such was the confidence he had in me. Thankfully I didn’t screw it up.

Emmanuel has gone on to graduate from the university, working an 8-5 and recently starting his own award platform in 2015. This interview was to catch up with him on what he has been up to lately and how far that genius brain of his has gone. I hope you enjoy this smashing interview with this week’s “Under 30 and Killing It”.

1)         TD- Tell me about yourself.

             Emmanuel - My name is Olabode Emmanuel Olawumi; I am a graduate of Dramatic Arts from the     Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. I am an ambitious young man who hopes to leave an indelible mark in the sands of time.

2)      TD- What do you do?

Emmanuel- I am a writer, an actor, and a media entrepreneur. I am passionate about the media and entertainment industry. I am the founder and creative director of OYA MAGAZINE and OYA AWARDS. Our dream at OYA is to become a leading global media brand that inspires and celebrates African youth through contemporary undertakings and platforms.

3)      TD- why did you start oyamag?

Emmanuel- Well, I would say, we have left where we used to be and we are working hard to bring our dreams to life. The journey for us is yet to start. We are still learning, creating networks and understanding the nitty-gritty of the business.

4)       TD- tell me about your award show; Oya Awards. 

Emmanuel- OYA AWARDS started as a student’s award in OAU in July 2015 as a platform to celebrate young people making impact in their community. Last year, the second edition held in Lagos. This time it was broader and bigger. We spread our tentacles to cover a bigger and national demography. The 2016 edition had winners like, Mazi Ukonu of Recycle Points; fashion designer and entrepreneur, Ejiro Amos Tafiri, music star, Falz; Actor, O.C Ukeje; My Streetz Magazine, the most consistent music magazine in Nigeria; among others. We had Co-Founder of Red Media Africa, Debola Williams as the key note speaker. His message hit the right nerves in the hearts of everyone who listened to him. We had media support from big brands like Ynaija, Olorisupergal, Vanguard, GoldmyneTV, The NET NG, Penzaarville Africa, Smiley Events Africa, The Media Guide NG, Olodo Nation, to mention a few. We also got sponsorship from Suss Productions and Blinks Studios.  It was our first event in Lagos. I commend my team for taking that bold step and we intend to leverage on it for this year. We also hope to have more sponsors on board this time. Our dream is to make OYA AWARDS the biggest platform that celebrates outstanding young achievers in Africa.

5)      TD- what kind of content does your platform seeks to deliver? 

Emmanuel- Simply put, we deliver content that informs, entertain and educates the audience.

6)      TD- what challenges have you faced in your work? 

Emmanuel- Major challenge is getting funds.  Another is high cost of running the brand, considering the economic situation in the country. However, we see these things as factors that challenge us to solve problems and think outside the box.  We are pushed to be more creative, to evolve and to add value. The essence of business is adding value. The reason people trust you with their money is because you add value. Having a great team is one of the challenges young brands face, but I have been blessed with the best people since we started this brand.

7)      TD- do you have an 8-5 job?

Emmanuel- I work with a brand called Suss Productions as the Digital Media Strategist. Suss Productions is a content creation company and they also offer pre-production, production and post production services. I also act as the Production Assistant on one of their shows; The Sauce.

8)      TD- what do you think about the youth of our time?

Emmanuel- We are hungry for success and we go to any length to achieve our dreams. We are go-getters. We are resilient and dogged. Despite the current woes of this nation, we wake up every day to make the world we live in a better place. 

9)      TD- do you subscribe to the school that feel been an employee is not a glamorous thing anymore? What is your opinion about traditional employer and employee relationship using our time as a case study? 

Emmanuel- If all of us become employers, who will be the employees? We all have different calling, strengths and dreams. Some of us are called to be writers, others are actors. Some are born to be directors; others choose the path to be a cinematographer. While one person handles make-up, the other person provides costume. There is a Gaffer (light man) and we have the sound engineer. There is the producer, the marketer and the distributor. All are working towards one goal; to make a blockbuster movie. You have to #RunYourRace.

About traditional employer and employee relationship, all I will say is that it boils down to personality. We have the good boss and the bad boss. We also have the horrible employee and the amazing one.

10)   TD- who inspire you in the area of your focus?

Emmanuel- Tajudeen Adepetu (SOUNDCITY), Chude Jideonwo and Debola Williams of RED MEDIA, Mo’Abudu (EBONY LIFE); THE NET NG’s; Ayeni Adekunle and others have achieved unprecedented heights in this industry. I hope to take it further from where they stopped. 

The aforementioned individuals and more people like Mofolusade Sonaike of Mumpreneur NG, Jire Kuforiji (Veteran Broad Caster), Sola Obagbemi (RED MEIDA),  Shayo Oke-Sobo (Suss Productions), Abiola Orimolade (Black & Bold Magazine), Sesan Adeniji (MY STREETZ MAGAZINE), Jasanya Olamide (The PRholic), to mention a few.  It is a long list. I am inspired by successful people.

11)   TD- kindly tell me your opinion on the role of mentors in the development of a young person.

Emmanuel- Mentors are your guide; they make life easy for you. People say experience is the best teacher. What they fail to mention is that the experience of others is a great teacher. You don’t have to experience it. You can learn from your predecessors. Mentors don’t let you make the same mistake they made. They also help you connect with the right network.

12)   TD- what is your 5 year plan?

Emmanuel- If you had said dream, I would have told you it is to become the number 1 media brand in Africa. But, since you said plan, I would tell you that is personal for now. You know what they say about not counting your chickens before the hatch?

13)   TD- what part of the media are you most uncomfortable with and how do you intend to change the narrative?

Emmanuel-  Errm; none that I know of right now. I will only advocate for excellence in all things.

14)   TD-what do you do for fun? 

Emmanuel- This is a difficult question. I once told my uncle I read books for fun when he asked me the question. He felt I was acting efikoish, but the truth is, my work itself is fun. If I am not online, I am thinking of ideas. Other times, I am on set. Work is fun and fun is work. However, I like surrounding myself with positive, happy and energetic people because I am a restless person and my morale is very high. Notwithstanding, I love my solitude.

15)   TD- thank you for doing this with me.

Emmanuel- Thank you Tunrayo. I am in love with your blog already.

You can keep up with Emmanuel by connecting with him via his Instagram account on @olabodeeo.

IS THERE A PERFECT WAY TO REACT TO RAPE?

“…A rapist had gone into a couple’s apartment armed. He ordered the woman to strip, asked her husband to bend in a “table” position. He then asked the woman to lie on top of her husband while he had his way with her”.

I have heard a couple of incredible stories involving criminals before, but nothing compared to this. It was cruel and inhumane. To say I was grossed out is an understatement. 

The above stemmed from a conversation I was having with some other women; I was listening majorly. So the conversation progressed into the atrocities committed by criminals. I was told to man up, that stories like these were not unusual in the court room. As a good Lawyer, I will have to learn to separate emotions from work; at least to ensure justice for the victim if anything. 

At this point, we were comfortable with ourselves. Then one of us lunged into another story; a couple of undergraduate students had planned going for a party. It was a typical “gbo gbo big girls” scenario if you caught “Jennifa”. While on their way, their vehicle developed a fault, they had to stop on the road in the middle of the night to fix it. The driver of the bus (hired) was fiddling with it as if anticipating something. Then another vehicle crossed them. They were robbers (or so it seemed). They ordered the ladies out of the vehicle, raped some of them and left some. They were devastated. They didn’t return to campus. It was too late, and they might as well go for the party as planned. So they headed to the party, drank, cried and partied the night away. They returned to their campus as if nothing had happened.

I thought it was weird they didn’t return back to school nor reported to a police station. One of us inquired as to why that was not their cause of action. She laughed, as it turned out the ladies that were raped did not want others knowing what happened to them so they pretended as if nothing had happened. She knew because she saw them. We all nodded, almost as if we agreed the explanation was good enough.

When I reflected on this later, I was conflicted. One as to how a girl now woman experienced an ordeal like that and has over the years come to terms with her own basic way of dealing with grief; even if not hers. I thought maybe a part of her felt she was lucky or maybe she thought the other girls deserved it. She wasn’t shy to tell us she was dressed in baggy pants and blouse, the other girls; in their skimpy party clothes. Perhaps if they had covered up more decently, the robbers would not have been attracted to them. This was my inference from her attitude.

However, this article is not to bash the lady for her response. I am more curious as to why the most immediate response to rape is usually to keep it “hush hush”. Does reporting the matter to authorities really serve any purpose to the victim? Alternatively, should the decision to quickly move on from the ordeal be judged as not good enough as I was quick to do myself?

What then is a universal reaction to rape that aims at really helping the victim?

MY TWO CENTS: DONALD TRUMP; PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

On November 8 2016, Donald J. Trump won the American presidential election under the Republican Party. He defeated his opponent; Hillary Clinton, former First lady and Secretary of State of the United States. 

Statistics showed that Hillary Clinton won the popular votes by a landslide, but unfortunately, that wasn’t enough as the numbers actually needed is that of the Electoral College.

It was unbelievable, there was an outcry. How can Donald win? Donald the chauvinist, sexist and racist, but Americans had spoken. They wanted Donald.  The “popular” voters were furious. Even non-Americans were sad. It was a gloomy day for the world. 

The question that plagued the mind of most non-Americans was what the fate of immigrants will be. I mean, we all had one or two people living in the US, some legal others not so much. 

As for me, I was as sad as any other person; you would have thought I held a blue passport. I was disappointed at how low the world had stooped. That we will see a wrong right in our faces and not have the guts to stand against it. What was more apparent to me however was that one cannot change the true nature of others. Ultimately, they go with their intuitive beliefs. 

So the memes followed, petition, protest, boycotts and the list go on. Deep down, we all knew it was an exercise in futility, it was the dawn of a new era, and as always, the world would adapt. 

Then came the day everyone dreaded; pro-Clinton supporters anyway; January 20, 2017. It was Inauguration day; the day Donald Trump gets sworn in as the President of the United States.

 I had been following the story on the Internet, people discussing what they would rather be doing than watching the inauguration or attending. I was indifferent. My indifference made its own choice anyway when I returned from work and saw the ceremony on the television. I was pissed. This is really happening. I said I was not going to watch. I refused to be one of the statistics when they calculate the people that tuned in to watch the broadcast. Who was I kidding though? I am not American neither is my anger going to remove him as President and install Hillary. So I returned to watch later.

The ceremony was over at this point though and what I caught was the part where the commentators were comparing Trump’s inauguration with that of Obama. Unsurprisingly, they said the turn out for Obama’s was greater. 

Needless to say Obama was a man of the people and he had, still has tons of supporters. I can’t forget quickly the number of farewell greetings I read online, after a while I stopped reading and just scroll through (even the voltron in me has a saturation point). So I digress, apologies…

Back to Trump, I caught highlights of the ceremony; when he took his oath of office; stern face and all shades of seriousness. He almost looked the part. Not even I could envy the look of admiration on the face of his wife; Melania. 

 For the first time, they looked real to me, like a couple truly happy for the others achievement. That part didn’t look scripted.

 I may be bias anyway; Melania stole my heart from earlier when they met the Obama’s in that blue number from Ralph Lauren. 

 

I think like Michelle Obama, we are going to love her fashion choices. I may just follow up on their Presidency because of her. She is gorgeous. 

Donald did not surprise anyone with his first act as President. He reportedly signed an executive order to repeal Obamacare; the affordable care Act signed into law by former President Obama. Trump will have the Act repealed without proposing an alternative plan for the people. The Republicans have hated that one since the very beginning, so no shock there either.

Not to seem like a Trump hater in this piece (yes I know that is a far reach). This article is very much an opinionated one; notwithstanding, I look forward to seeing how Trump tackles terrorism. If he put his money where he mouth was, then I am sure a lot of people including me will look past his indiscretion and wish him a successful presidency.

God bless America and God bless the world.

CAREER TIPS: TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF

 When prospective employers ask you this in an interview situation, your response is not the following:

1)      Reciting the content of your curriculum vitae (CV). Chances are, it had already been looked through. Just provide the basics as much as possible.

2)      Seriously, do not tell them the number of kids your parents had and how tough or fun growing up for you was. Leave that childhood stories for when you finally get the job and have to entertain the company at one of the office dinners you are bound to attend.

3)      Do not imply the job is one of convenience for you. This may frighten them to think you may pack your box and leave at any moment. Always show a prospective employer you are committed to your work and will not leave them high and dry.

Your response should be about:

1)      Your professional career- how you got into it, a little about what inspired it and how you have been able to grow at it.

2)      Your most recent role- it is important for this to be similar or in line with the new role you are applying for.  

3)      Your greatest strength- explain your strongest quality that you possess  highlighting how you have used it for past roles  and how confident you are of its usefulness  in the future if you get the job  applied for.

MAKING THE ROUNDS: SELENA GOMEZ IS A TEASE IN NEW SNAPSHOT

2016 was a tough year for the singer as we saw her battle Lupus, depression, public melt down with ex; Justin Bieber and cancelling her tour. If this image is any indication, she seems ready to take 2017 by fire. 

The Singer’s sultry picture was shared by Fashion Photographer; Mert Alas. This comes after her romance with Canadian Singer; the weekend was revealed. She does have a thing for Canadian candies. 

Selena and The Weekend pictured kissing..

Selena and The Weekend; the beginning of a new romance...

It gets nasty…

Her new beau; The Weekend used to date Selena's girl pal; Bella Hadid. 

Selena Gomez, Bella Hadid and their friends pictured together before the boy drama

The two dated for two years and had just broken up towards the end of 2016.

Bella and The Weekend while they were still together at the 2016 Grammy's

 Bella then unfollowed Selena Gomez on Instagram as soon as the story broke. I wonder if Taylor Swift can bring back the squad with her magic.

All dramas aside, I think this is a classy way of taking a nude, if there was ever a thing as such.