With over 30 Radio stations in Lagos presently, the latest radio owner in the city of Lagos is no other than the all popular media guru, kenny Ogungbe of the Kennis Dynasty. Though the music guru just started his Radio station 7 months ago with 6 months of strictly music airplay, he has nudged a step further into keeping entertainment at its peak in Nigeria by commencing his radio programs on his new station with 3 different belts spread across the course of everyday, The #KennisInTheMorning, #AfternoonDrive and #EveningDrive shows. Your Number 1 soft-sell magazine with 2 decades of robust celebrity reporting visited the new radio station and had a quick chat with the pioneering 4 OAPs of the station. Sit back, relax and enjoy as City People’s publisher, SEYE KEHINDE and his Showbiz reporter, DANIJI EMMANUEL unveil the latest voices in Lagos airwaves. Another exclusive from your leading soft-sell platform: City People Magazine. Get to meet them.
FUNMI JEAN
FUNMI JINADU, who cut her teeth in radio broadcasting at BBC Bristol, UK and an active member of the National Union of Journalists, United Kingdom is One-Third of the fast rising morning show on radio in Lagos, #KennisInTheMorning. Funmi Jean as she is known on the Brand New Kennis 104.1FM decided to switch sides and show off her entertainment and music loving side on radio by leaving her previous station and joining Kennis FM.
Let’s meet you
My name is Funmi Jean and I’m a radio head. I love radio so much. It’s what I have always wanted to do.
How did broadcasting start for you?
When I was in the University pursuing my first degree, during my 3rd year, I had to choose between Public Relations and Broadcasting and I chose Broadcasting because I watch TV, especially CNN and I always wanted to be like the presenters for I thought it was glamorous, so I got on radio. When I got on radio, I noticed it wasn’t as glamorous as it looked on TV. So, my first job I couldn’t even be a radio broadcaster then, so I got dumped in marketing. I decided that maybe I needed more education, so I went to the UK and gota Masters in Broadcast Journalism, and that was where it started proper for me, because at first I volunteered at a community radio station that was basically serving the Bristol Black community, so I worked there for 2 years, volunteering for free.In my University at the time, we get BBC mentors because the course then was in affiliation with BBC at the time, so I got to work with the BBC and I got a mentor there and I got to work with them there like twice and it was like the peak of my career, I was excited about it and coming back home, I was like it’s time to work, so I worked in a couple of places and when I heard of Kennis FM, I was excited and I said I need to be a part of this because it just sounded like a dream, everything that I have always wanted because I am a big fan of music as well and this is someone I have always watched on TV and I just felt like this is a place to learn, this is a place to work with him and it’s been marvelous. I met him and I couldn’t believe that I have met him because he was so humble and working with your boss everyday might be difficult but working with Keke is so much fun. I am so much excited about working with him and Kennis FM. If you hear us on radio, you would literally know we are just having fun and getting the job done.
Tell Us about Your Show
My show is called #KennisInTheMorning. It’s basically myself, the boss himself GCOB Kenny Ogungbe and Sheri Coco. The 3 of us come together and present the show. The show is basically Traffic, Weather, that’s what we start with. We do Breaking News, Sport, Business and International News. Everything you need to know. It’s a complete package. What we do is we come up every half hour to give you different updates as you go to work and at the same time we have a DJ we mixes everything. I bet you if you listen to #KennisInTheMorning, as soon as you get to work everyone would be asking you, “Why are you so happy today?” because there’s so much joy and it’s so contagious.
If it wasn’t radio, what would it be?
I don’t know, to be honest, I have been a radio head for so long, so maybe I would still be in entertainment but I would always be a radio girl.
Tell Us About Your Background?
I am from Lagos. My mom is from Ogunstate; my dad is from Lagos state. I am from a family of 4. I went to Primary and Secondary School in Lagos. I went to Babcock for my degree before I went to University of the West of England in Bristol for my Masters. I did Masters in Broadcast Journalism while my Undergrad was in Mass Communication. I’m a radio head.
SHERI COCO
After losing her sister to fake drugs, Sherifat Olamide Yusuff is a girl that went through so much in life and now the odds are in her favor. She wanted to impact a medical change in Africa by studying pharmacybut certain circumstances of life led her into broadcasting. “I didn’t choose radio, radio chose me” is this presenter’s response every time you ask her how she ended up in a studio or behind the console. Sheri Coco as she is popularly called has more to say in the brief interview below.
Let’s meet you
I am Sheri Coco. I moved back to Nigeria recently. I lived most of my life in the United States. I did 1 year of my primary school in Nigeria then I lost my sister and my parent got scared and moved me to the United State. I came back for my Secondary School and went back to the United States again.
How did you coin your radio nick?
Sheri is short for my first name, Sherifat. I am Sherifat Olamide Yusuff. Everyone calls me Sheri except for my grandmother who calls my full name, so the name Sheri Coco just stuck.
How did radio come about for you?
I always tell people, I didn’t chose radio, radio chose me because I got a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and after that I went to Pharmacy School but while I was in school, I needed money to survive, so I worked a lot of odd jobs at radio stations and I never planned in pursuing radio long term to be honest, I wanted to be a pharmacist because I lost my sister to fake drugs and I was hoping to make a change with pharmacy and medicine in Africa but like I said, radio just chose me. It was like God just called me to use my voice to inspire the youth in any way possible on Radio.
How does it feel bee on the #KennisInTheMorning Show with Funmi Jean and Kenny Ogungbe?
Funmi is more reservedand GCOB is like the don. I feel like I am the one that has less filter when it comes to the things that we say. Funmi is more reserved, you know British people, and while we Americans just say it the way it is. So I think it’s a lovely blend that we have here on the show.
Tell us about your background?
I grew up in New York, schooled a little in Nigeria, did 1 year in Primary in Surulere, went back and returned to have my Secondary school and returned to the United States again. My parent is from Ogun State. My dad is from Abeokuta and my mom is from Ijebu ode. That’s basically it.
Any plans to return to pharmacy?
I didn’t chose radio; radio chose me so I would just use the God given gift to impact the youth in any possible way.
ALEX SWISS
Alexander Attere has a huge passion for radio broadcasting. Ever since he was young, riding in his father’s car listening to the local talk shows on the radio, he has always wanted to be able to express himself in a way that could only be a dream for some people. That dream was being the host of his own show. A show where anything could happen, where he could make people laugh and provoke conversation at the same time all while bringing his own style of comedy and cynicism to the program. Today AlexandarAttere known as the man with the many AKAs but popularly called Alex Swiss Paperchase has all that on the Kennis 104.1FM and she shared briefly with us how it all happened.
Let’s meet you
My name is Alexander Attere, I am from Edo state, and my dad and mom are both from Edo state. I have always wanted to do radio all my life. I had my secondary school education in Kings College, Lagos. What really attracted me to radio was the fact that I used to live on the Mainland and I schooled on the Island, so going from the Mainland to the Island every morning, whether you like it or not, you have to listen to the news, since everyone in the car was listening to the news on radio. So, for 6 years of my life, I was listening to radio. Then, I had a particular radio program that I loved, and it used to come up every Sunday morning, and we used to attend SherperdHill Baptist Church in Obanikoro then, so my best friend and I would sneak out of Church to the car park and turn the car radio on just to listen to the show. From then, I knew this was what I want, even at home while others are watching TV, I would hold my radio box close and be listening to it and everyone would be like you and this your radio. My Dad wanted me to be an Engineer, he was always on my case, do your mathematics and all. I went to University of Ilorin where I studied Chemistry and I didn’t want to do Chemistry when I graduated, so I found my way in the circle of entertainment. I was one of the most popular or biggest entertainment personnel in Ilorin back then. So, I kept finding myself in the circle of entertainers and I told myself why don’t I go back into what I really love, and that was radio, so I went for an interview in a radio station in Ilorin and they picked me and that was how I started. They put me on the drive time show and I became a brand in Ilorin. I heard about Kennis FM and I never knew I was going to meet him (Kenny Ogungbe). I was like wow, this is the man I always see on the Television, and he is the godfather of entertainment in Nigeria and so on. Anyways, my Boss in introduced me to him and I told him, “wow, I used to see you on TV and now I am meeting you in person” and he was so down to earth and told me to just do my thing. We spoke and he told me to do a recording and I did the recording and sent it to him and I didn’t hear from him for about a while and I thought to myself, maybe Baba Keke doesn’t like my voice and all. After a week, I got a call that he wanted to see me and I was wowed. I left Ilorin for Lagos the next day and that was how I started with Kennis FM.
Tell us about your show
My program is about entertainment basically. The idea is to ease the stress off people listening while they drive home from work. You know, after work when you tired and all and you are drivinghome, you need someone to ease the stress and make you laugh with good music on the side, I think I am that guy. Baba Keke studied me from day one and placed me on this belt.
What was it like leaving Ilorin and getting into Lagos airwaves?
It’s a different ball game I’m not going to lie, but the love has been enormous and I’m loving it. It’s a bigger crowd here in Lagos and leaving Ilorin for Lagos, I knew I had to up my game and I’m doing just that. I’m ready for it, I know what they like and I’m giving it to them. This is Lagos and I’m ready to give them everything. They love me already, especially my voice.
Tell us about your background
I was born in Obanikoro. I had my Crèche from Herbert Nursery and Primary which was owned by the Vice president’s mother at the moment. I later went to Kings College on the Island and University was in Ilorin. I am from Edo state
DJ BUTTER
As DJ in a city overridden with techno and house DJs, its little surprise that DJ Butter has received little recognition among the mainstream. Along with most of the other DJs in the industry with an international experience before returning home, DJ Butter has found herself the object of substantial interest following Kennis 104.1FM launch in Lagos, Nigeria. Born Olawunmi Seriki, the female DJ and OAP is on her way to marking a mark in the Nigerian Entertainment and Broadcasting industry simultaneously.
Who is DJ Butter?
I’m an OAP and a radio DJ on the Brand New Kennis 104.1FM.
Tell us about your show?
Well, Mr. Kenny Ogungbe gave me the autonomy to make my show what I want so I come to be more pop culture. So I give them Pop, More music and music news and also, because I am a DJ, on the last hour of my show I do what I call the #DJButterJamSession. My show is called the #AfternoonDrive and it runs from 12Noon to 4PM every week day.
How are you enjoying the experience on Kennis FM?
Ilove it, we are brand new and a force to reckon with, and so, everybody needs to watch out.
How did you get into Radio?
I stumbled in radio because I stumbled into Kenny Ogungbe. We metback when I was in school when I was in Houston and we spoke and I DJ’ed for one of his concerts and when I got back to Nigeria, I reached out to him, he gave me the opportunity and that was how it started for me. I started off as a DJ, so been a radio personality is kind of coming after but I love doing both of them, I love that I can merge both and it’s awesome.
Tell us about your early years
I was born in Lagos Nigeria but I moved to the States when I was 14 years. I got my high school diploma there and after that I went to college and got my bachelor’s degree in Business. That’s all about my growing up years in the states in a nut shell. I moved back to Nigeria in 2013.
How did you get into DJing
I have a thing for music. It started out while I was in college. I would love to think that I have a good ear for good music, when I hear a good song; I would love to listen to it. And in Houston we didn’t have a lot of Nigerian DJs that were good and I knew all the good songs so I was like I need to go play in these clubs so people can enjoy good music and that was what brought the motivation and I basically taught myself how to DJ, it’s self-taught and that’s about how it started.
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