•Ace Broadcaster, TAIWO AKINSOLA Tells City People
His name is big in the broadcasting world. He is a big presenter on Radio. He is one of those they refer to as Apede. That is the best way to describe Pastor Taiwo Akinsola, the ace broadcaster who many call Omo Baba Woli Ni Ilasamaja. That is his nickname on radio. And he has worked with many popular radio stations, like FRCN and Bond FM, where he made his mark as a master broadcaster.
He made his name with Radio Nigeria 3 which later became Bond FM to accomodate all the tribes. The 3 programmes that brought him to fame are Lalale Friday, Iriri Aiye & Koko Inu Iwe Irohin. He has been in the radio business for the past 42 years. The journey started 6th November, 1980 when he was 20 years old. He retired from Radio Nigeria in 2005 when he was 45 years, after he had put in 25 years in service. After that, he started freelancing with other radio stations.
He is now the General Manager of Fresh FM, a brand new radio station which is part of Ayefele’s Fresh FM group of 6 stations which cuts across the South-West. The station started in June 2022 and since then, Taiwo Akinsola and his team at Fresh 105.3FM Lagos have taken the station to greater heights.
Unknown to many, the fact that he is called Omo Baba Woli Ni Ilasamaja is because his dad had a church at Ilasamaja called Alpha & Omega Church of Chirst, Aladura, Ilasamaja, Mushin, which now has about 100 branches all over the world. He has since taken over the running of the Church as the General Overseer.
Last week, City People spent sometime with this experienced media guru to have him share with us, his success story in broadcasting, Anyone who knows Pastor Taiwo Akinsola will tell you that he is one professional who is passionate about what he does. How has the journey been, we asked him? (He smiles) “Actually, the journey started in 1980, when I joined Radio Nigeria. Nov. 6th, 1980 to be precise. That should be about 42 years ago. And since then, I have never done any other job than broadcasting. Radio Nigeria 3 was established in 1987. I was the 2nd voice on the station. Radio Nigeria 3 is now called Bond FM. Before then, I was broadcasting in English but when it got to 1987, I was told by the Management of Radio Nigeria that I just had to change, that you are from Oyo State. You should be able to speak Yoruba very well. That is how I shifted to Yoruba presentation. In 1988, I was given a national award. In 1988, 1989 and 1990, I received awards. And since then I have been enjoying it. To be frank, I don’t have anybody that I could say is my boss that taught me how to speak on Radio. Yes, I was trained, when I was in Radio Nigeria, as a young guy then. I joined when I was 20 years. That was in 1980. I came into Radio Nigeria, did some trainings, went to training school then, my teacher was Soni Irabor. And my immediate boss when I joined Radio Nigeria 3 was Bisi Olatilo and we were together for a long time.”
“When I started, it was because I just had passion for it. That was it”. How did his favourite nickname Omo Baba Woli Ni Ilasamaja come about, we asked him? (He laughed) “It is very interesting. In 1988, 89, 90 when we just started, I was a very good fan of Shina Peters. I was a good fan of Adewale Ayuba as well. I remember Shina Peters was always playing at Stadium Hotel. That is where he was doing Jump every Friday. I usually present a programme on a Radio, in the morning, called This Odd World, Iriri Aiye. It was a scary presentation. So that night, we were at Fadeyi. I went there because Shina Peters was playing. Shina Peters now sang a song praising me. He said Taiwo Akinsola, from Radio Nigeria 3, this and that. So, 3 young women approached me and they said, “oh, you are Taiwo Akinsola” and “I said yes’. “Haaa! You are wonderful. Come, you are a child of the world. Let us empower you because the work you are doing is mystical somehow. So we need to empower you spiritually so that you will be able to continue the work you are doing and you will get fame”.
I said listen, “I am the son of a prophet. We don’t do this. I am a church goer. I said Yes, I work on radio but at the same time, I go to church. I am a Christian to the core”. So, the following Monday, I was on duty and I just said to myself, I need to tell people. I need to scare them away, I said, my name is Taiwo Akinsola, Omo Baba Woli Ni Ilasamaja. I did that to scare those women away, so whoever has the idea of proposing such thing to me will now know that Taiwo Akinsola is a Christian and Omobaba Woli. That is how the name came out. That first day I said it Mr. Olatilo and others came and said “that is a good identity for yourself”. That is how I started. Many don’t know that my dad is a real prophet, C&S. I was born in church. I am still in C&S. I was born in church. I am still in C&S till today. My dad was a prophet, serious prophet. I am very proud to say he is my dad.”
