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Events Anchor, Prince LADEGA
Prince Oladega Ibrahim Kehinde well known as Prince Ladega is no doubt, one of the hottest and most sought-after events anchors in Lagos State. The wave-making Prince Ladega is a crown prince from Agboyi kingdom in Agboyi Ketu LCDA. His father is the present king of Agboyi, HRM Oba Monsuru Abimbola Adekanbi Oladega. Despite being born with a silver spoon, Prince Ladega is very hard working and dedicated as a journalist and broadcaster of repute. He is the voice behind the popular radio programme on Radio Lagos 107.5FM; “Ta lo wa lere”. The programme is usually held on every Saturday between 1:30pm and 2pm. His style and dexterity as an event compere is unique and endearing. His mode of introducing guests at events is captivating. Reason why he is fast becoming the choice MC to anchor many top events in Lagos. He is gradually taking over the scene of social events and many top Owambe parties in the state. His resume speaks volume of him as an event compere having anchored many top corporate, political and social events.
In the political setting, Prince Ladega anchors most of Honourable Femi Gbajabiala’s events till date. He was the man behind the mic during Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu Campaign programmes both in his first and second term bid. He was also part of the President Bola Tinubu’s campaign committee where he co-anchored some political events during the campaign.
Making reference to some of the many top social events Prince Ladega had anchored, what quickly comes to mind was how he dazzled as event host at events of prominent traditional rulers such as that of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Alara, Oba Alapomu, Elegushi, Oniru, Olofin, Onibeju, Ayangburen of Ikorodu and just to mention a few.
Two Sundays ago, City People reporter, JAMIU ABUBAKAR met the highly creative Prince Ladega at a top event and star-studded reception party in Lagos Island where he was delivering a master class performance as an event anchor. City People quickly approached him and got him to speak about how he kept his brand up there in a very competitive industry. He also revealed how working for Hon. Femi Gbajabiala shot him to limelight. Below are the excerpts:
Who is Prince Ladega?
Thank you, my name is Prince Oladega Ibrahim Kehinde. I’m a Prince from Agboyi kingdom in Agboyi Ketu LCDA. I attended Agboyi Primary School. I later attended CMS Grammar School, and Tomia secondary school. I went to LASPOTECH for my ND and HND in Mass Comm, and then Olabisi Onabanjo University for my Post Graduate studies in Mass Comm. I did my Advance Diploma in Human Resources and Office Management at UNILAG, diploma in film production from National Film Institute in Jos. I also did my Diploma in Basic and Intermediate Production in radio production from the National Broadcasting Academy. I’m a Fellow of the NIPR, graduate of Institute of Business Culture and Human Capital Preservation of Nigeria among many others. I’m a content creator and in-house producer with Radio Lagos Eko Fm for the last 17 years. I’m also a public analyst and an advocate of culture.
For how long have you been into events?
Have been into event compere business in the last 20 years. I started from school. I was the president of the department of mass communication and the President of the nation union of Lagos State students.
How do you find life as a journalist and event compere?
The two are interwoven, one required certificate the other required every day Training and mentorship. I have several mentors but I got most inspiration from Wale Hassan the former controller of programmes on Radio Lagos Eko Fm. However, my stage performance was built as an interactor President back then in my secondary school
It appears you are fast becoming the hottest in demand compere for top events in Lagos, how were you able to achieve this?
Yes, first I am a trained broadcast journalist, a content creator, my radio program was one of the most popular on radio Lagos in the last 27 years. It’s called ta lo wa lere on radio by 1:30-2pm every sat. The demand for Saturday comperes had caused the program set back for now. However, I am a Prince, my father who is currently the Oba of Agboyi in Agboyi ketu LCDA Lagos state HRM Oba Monsuru Abimbola Adekanbi Oladega. As a Prince, a politician and a trained communicator, I have the most quality needed in society engagement. I was able to achieve this through continuous training, networking as well as continuous mentorship.
Can you tell us a number of top events you have covered so far?
The top event, I think the Gbajabiamila Event sold me into a political gathering. I have been involved for the past 9 years. I anchor virtually all his events till today. I anchor Babajide Sanwo-Olu Campaign in both first and second term campaigns. As a member of the presidential campaign committee I also have the privilege to co-anchor some political events during the campaign both at state and national levels. I anchored all the late Senator Bayo Osinowo’s senatorial campaigns across the east senatorial district as well as the first term of the incumbent Senator Mikhail Adetokunbo Abiru. I anchored the biggest youth event for the President at the onikan stadium where Governor Babajide Olusala Sanwolu re-introduced me to the president. The Eko Youth for Tinubu was also co anchored by me. For royalty, it has been a very long list ranging from Ooni of Ife, Oba Alara, Oba Alapomu, Elegushi, Oniru, Olofin, Onibeju, Ayangburen of Ikorodu .. etc.
Which particular event would you say gave you the biggest break as a compere?
Working with Gbajabiamila as SA political in the south west was the biggest thing that ever happened to my career as a politician. I must say that one man got me closer to Gbajabiamila and that was his former Chief of staff when he was the speaker. Lanre Smart is one of the most fantastic team leaders I have ever met. He gave me the opportunity to anchor virtually all Gbajabiamila events and that gave me the opportunity to get closer to the current chief of staff to the president of Nigeria.
I understand you served as a media aid to Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, how would you describe your experience of working with him and his style of leadership?
Gbajabiamila is a very prudent leader, a seasoned administrator who understands the importance of followership and mentorship. Asiwaju remains his biggest mentor, he will tell us that every time we meet with him.
You once contested as a chairmanship of Kosofe LG under APC, but stepped down, how would you describe the experience?
I aspired for the House of Assembly position in 2020 when the late Tunde Buraimo passed on but I was prevailed upon by the leadership of the party to step down for the current House of Assembly member Hon Femi Saheed. I also wanted to contest the chairmanship but the late Bayo Osinowo asked me to step down for the current chairman, during is second term bid I also stepped down for him on the request of my father the Olu Agboyi HRM Oba engineer Monsuru Abimbola Adekanbi Oladega. The chairman is trying his best.
What are the lessons learnt?
Lesson learnt during that period was that in politics, listening to the voice of the leaders is like a stronger reassurance for you in the future elections. And it also makes you understand that there are no friends there are no enemies. What we have is permanent interests. And once the interests meet, you can always meet at any line. Then it also makes you understand the game better. So, subsequent outings are just like another stage where you pass the other ones, you have left the other things. I want to say being an MC has really, really helped my career. It makes me more popular than most of my colleagues. It makes me meet people. It also broadened my knowledge on public communications. I don’t need to be told when we have personalities in the gathering except those who are not within the confines of the state of the party. You know, even as a journalist; you must have noses for news and eyes for faces. Those are the basic principles I put together. Each time I see someone I quickly recognize the person and that’s it.
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