At the recent City People Awards for Excellence held in Lagos, Television Continental’s (TVC) Presenter, Bukky Sowemimo-Samuel, won the TV PRESENTER OF THE YEAR AWARD and her station was adjudged the TV STATION OF THE YEAR. Since she bagged City People Presenter of the Year Award, a few weeks ago, the entire media has been awash with the news of the Fireworks presenter, who is one of the most dreaded reporters because of her pugent style of questioning that is not only incisive, but very probing, which can make an interviewee to involuntarily perspire.
She has interviewed many serving governors and politicians of note. City People’s Assistant Society Editor, ABIOLA ORISILE, interviewed her at the event. She spoke about life as the Presenter of Fireworks. Excerpts.
You just won for yourself Presenter of the Year Award, how do you feel bagging this award as it is in a very tough category that is stiffly contested?
I am elated. I’m grateful to God. He is always miles, steps ahead of us. You expect God to take control and He takes absolute control. It was unexpected. I am equally happy and over joyed. I didn’t expect it. It is an unexpected blessing. My birthday is coming up this month and my birthday gift came early.
You are the presenter of one of the most popular chat programmes called “Fireworks”, how did your journey to TVC start?
It started when I joined TVC in 2008. Prior to that time, the producer was presenting head to head on radio. He wanted to continue with that same type of programme on TV and I think about a year after, he got an appointment with Abia State Government as a Special Adviser and then Esho Momoh took over the programme and later me. I am the 3rd presenters in-line to present Fireworks. I am however, the first female. Before I took over, I was always seen as a potential presenter of a Political programme. I think Mr. Dele Alake told me, ‘you can do this Bukky’. I always did interview programme, One-off at that time. I was reluctant at that time to take up fireworks as I didn’t want to take up the challenge. A year after, we started a TV station under one umbrella and I just prayed about it because then I was promoted to News anchor desk. But I was not enjoying it despite that I longed for it. I wanted a bigger challenge, so I prayed again. I didn’t lobby for it. I didn’t go to anybody. I didn’t go to any manager, asking to present Fireworks. I wasn’t even aware that Fireworks had been rested. I just told God that I wanted a challenging role.
The producer of the programme came to me one day and said you have been drafted to be the presenter of the programme, Fireworks. I was happy. That was in 2013. Mind you, when I started, I didn’t have the fire, the guts. I was not aggressive. I was more intimidated than be the intimidator. So, my producer would say, Bukky you can do this.
He would write on paper and pass it to me, ask him, did you steal money? He would bring question and hang it in front of camera for me to see. This was the challenge and I didn’t know where the courage came from and I began to ask tough questions. Mind you, a tough question comes with good research. My producer told me when I started that there was a limit to research, he could do for me as I was expected to do most of them myself. Even then when he drafted the research questions, it didn’t go the whole hog. I also needed to do research on the kind of responses I would get from the interviewee. Then, I didn’t even anticipate where they were headed. Expecially, when you are interviewing somebody who is knowledgeable about planning, economy and so on. So it takes much research. My husband is of tremendious help to me too. He helps me with research. Sometimes, we do the presentation at home first. He would help me with possible responses I may get.
All this helped me. Overtime, I developed the courage and acquired experience and also brought on some kind of knowledge into my presentation. I know when to lay ambush, what to ask to trap a politician whom I interview.
What has presenting Fireworks brought to you?
It has brought fame, and a few contacts here and here. Many of people who I know now who are at high places that I can call not necessarily for favour, but I can call on behalf of someone.
I have made many connections that would go a long way. For all this, I am grateful. It has also got me respect from the rich and mighty. It has got me respect even among colleagues. For this, I am grateful. To crown it all, the experience. You can not buy experience in the market.
How many prominent Nigerians have you interviewed since you started?
I have interviewed more than 200 prominent Nigerians since I started 3 years ago. Fireworks is a programme that you can never forget. It is something that you can always refer to.
How challenging is presenting the programme?
Very challenging as you must keep reading. But when I started what I could say was challenging was when I interviewed PDP’s governorship aspirant, Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi. He is a very tough person to interview as he is very knowledgeable about Lagos economy. If I take him on now, I think, he could no longer intimidate me. I am looking forward to another opportunity to interviewed him. In recent time, there was another tough one, though it has not been broadcast, it was Senator Nyabaribe Abaribe. He was very complex. Interviewing his was challenging because the issue at stake was not my area of core interest. I am more of a political reporter, so the field was challenging. There was less of Fireworks. But every interview is very enlightening not only to the interviwer, but to the interviewee.
What has presenting Fireworks cost you?
That is why I didn’t fail to acknowledge the efforts of my mother and husband while collecting the award. Those weeks I have to be away for days. There are days my children are left with nanny and my husband. There was a day I was arriving home and my neighbour said your nanny was taking my baby outside. When I got home, I asked her and she couldn’t answer. I asked her again and she couldn’t say anything. So I told her to go. These are some of the risks of the job. I am able to do this not because I am the best mother in the world. My husband also assists me on my job. He is my pillar of support.
How long have you been married?
It will be 7 years by October this year
How did you meet him?
His sister and I work in the same organisation but I met him through his brother. We got talking, but he was in a relationship. We started talking and texting and he came to myoffice.
How do you juggle the tasks of a mother and a journalist?
I run shift unless on days that I have to be at different locations to record interviews. I also take my off days during holidays.
People would want favour from you, thinking you are highly placed, how do you cope?
I don’t push them away. I just try and let them understand. I try and help if I can help. I also help those who are in need. I explain to them when I can’t help.
What prepared you for this role?
It is a journey of 15 years. I started even before I graduated. It is a family of journalists. My mother is a retired Journalist. My father a Journalist turnedLawyer. My brother a Journalist-cum-Banker. So, I don’t know how to define it. It is divinely ochestrated by God. It is natural. When I left secondary school, what I wanted to do was study Theater Art and become an actress, but my mother said over my dead body will my child become an actress. I was in a theatre group for a year, while studying History at Lasu. So, it is divine. My mum worked at Eko FM and she took me to Eko FM when I was in 200 level. I learnt everything on the job.
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