INTERVIEW: Journalism not easy… it affects my social life, says Channels TV Kayode Okikiolu

Kayode Okikiolu has one of the most unique voices that you would hear on your television screen. A graduate of psychology from the University of Ibadan, the TV anchor works for prestigious broadcaster Channels Television and co-hosts one of the most-watched breakfast shows on the continent, ‘Sunrise Daily’. In this interview with TheCable Lifestyle’s TAIWO OSHUNLOYE, Kayode discusses his journey into journalism, the ups and downs of his career choice, his love for his nuclear family, and his fashion sense.

TheCable Lifestyle: How was growing up like?

Kayode: Well growing up was quite fun, I am the last child of seven children. There were a lot of drawbacks but more advantages because I had a lot of people to look up to and play with.

TheCable Lifestyle: You studied psychology, how come you got into journalism?

Kayode: I usually ask people who ask me this question why not journalism? I mean both professions are about people. However, since I have always had a unique voice, I started as a podcaster in church and then continued even when I got admitted into the university. Well I was posted to a radio station during my NYSC and I was also in the OBS during camp, I was studio manager.

So I was posted to Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation, Ebonyi, Salt FM and it was from there that things really picked up. Finished my service, and worked with Beat FM, but I guess we will get into that. Basically, psychology is about people, and journalism is about people. So I am still within the line.

TheCable Lifestyle: What has your career path and the journey to Channels TV been like?

Kayode: I think it has been fortuitous. I graduated from the University of Ibadan, went for service, and worked with Salt FM, Ebonyi state for eleven months, more like a year give or take. I finished my service and immediately I went to Beat FM. I just showed up and asked them if I think you need a newscaster and I just told them that I am the right person. Very audacious and bold.

So the next week, I was working there at Beat FM, Ibadan. I got the job and I was the newscaster for the station for two and a half years. And at some point, I got really tired because you know the job is quite crazy, you literally work round the clock. There were some things that I expected to be in place that were not really in place. So I said you know what, I am not going to do this job again, I’m leaving broadcasting and then going to explore other things.

I had a media start-up, so I started exploring music, production, and the rest. Then a lot of people started pestering me that they wanted to see me on TV not radio anymore. How about Channels Television? I think it would be great for you to be on Channels Television and I was like no, I do not want to do this again. But they did not let me rest. So to fulfill all righteousness — because at that time I was in Lagos — I came to Lagos from Ibadan, so on my way back, I just took a detour and I would not say I was lackadaisical about it because I just printed my CV in one page. I am not even sure if I put it in an envelope, I just approached the gate and I just dropped my CV there with the security and I walked away. The next week I got a call and the rest is history. So I would say it was providence that I am here right now.

TheCable Lifestyle: What do you think makes you stand out as a young journalist?

Kayode: Quite a number of things. First, I think it is a passion for excellence. I always want to do things the right way, not just the right way but the very best way. I want to do things differently and the beauty of our job is there are ethics, there are rules to it that can help you to do great.

More importantly, there are people to look up to people like my chairman Dr John Momoh, his wife Dr Shola Momoh, and a lot of other people in the industry. That helped me to hone my skills but if you do not have that passion to want to do things right, I think it might be tough for you to stand out.

I would say my passion for excellence and I think I am a bit hardworking, I will give myself that. That has helped as well, I barely sleep as much because we just launched ‘The Morning Brief’, our new breakfast show. I basically sleep by 2 am and I am up by 5 am at work. That is kind of like the cycle, so I think I am a little bit more hardworking than the average person and also I love people.

I think that it is something I like to tell myself and I think I got that from psychology and having a lot of siblings. I love people, I love to meet people, to work with people to get the very best from them and that has also helped me. Finally, I never try to look down on myself, I think it is important to always see yourself in that light. Never look down on yourself, if you love and value yourself, then people will value and respect you.

TheCable Lifestyle: What have been some of your career highlights so far?

Kayode: Quite a number, so I have been doing this work for a decade now or more. One of them would obviously be the fact that I have never had to look for a job, I think that is something to celebrate. I have never had a hustle in the employment market, so that is like a steady highlight. Specifically speaking, the fact that I got to our flagship news at 10 and before I was 30, I think that was a major one for me. So ‘News at 10’, ‘Politics Today’, and ‘Sunrise Daily’, I got to them before 30. I think that is a major win. I did not have to wait till I was in my thirties or forties to achieve that, so that was a major highlight for me.

I would not go into some of the specifics because some of the interviews I have had were with politicians and I would not put anybody in bad light. But I think generally speaking with newsmakers, and being able to ask them the questions people want to know about and not being afraid to ask questions, that is another highlight for me. You know when I am on air, I just switch. Sometimes I am watching myself and I am like goodness what are you up to? Why are you doing this? But I think that has been a major highlight, you can ask any question, put anyone to task politely, and get the answers.

TheCable Lifestyle: Aside from the highlights, what have been the major challenges faced so far?

Kayode: There is still a long way for us as a nation, our democracy. The context in which we all operate as journalists is a very tricky one. Nigeria is a very beautiful country, I can say that anywhere. I have never had cause to say let me leave Nigeria, there is still a long way to go for us. So I think the major challenges are working in that context as a journalist. Our job is to get information but getting that information can be tough, it can be really tough. Even though there are laws to back you up, it is always a tough one against the tide.

I would say every day is a challenge for me as a journalist, not the same way other journalists in the world are challenged because the system itself is a bit tricky. So you have to do extra to get the news, you have to do extra to get the confirmation, you have to do extra to get the backstory, to get the respondents, to get the politicians to speak. Sometimes to even get the story from the people, so that has been the major challenge for me and I would also say security for journalists. The work I do, I limit my going out, I limit my exposure so those are the major challenges.

TheCable Lifestyle: Do you have any secret tips that you adhere to before going on air?

Kayode: I pray, I am a Christian and I believe in Jesus and I am unapologetic about it. Then I go through my scripts because it is important before you go on air. Then I encourage myself and I tell my team members, let us have a great show, something more like a pep talk. So I tell them let us have a great show, God is with us, and we are going to have a great show. Essentially we do that before we go on air and I do my tongue twisters as well so that I don’t get caught up in the script.

TheCable Lifestyle: What are your thoughts on the future of media and journalism in Nigeria?

Kayode: I think we are already in the future or at least having some taste of the future. Decentralized journalism, citizen journalism and the rest. I think the future would be I do not want to say less serious approach to journalism. So this is what I mean, there is always a sense that traditional media is hard and there is always a difficult approach to it, so people would rather find other ways to consume news. They look to blogs and other media platforms because it does not seem as hard for them.

I think the future naturally would be a less hard approach to journalism in our context, in our nation Nigeria. Of course, AI would play a huge role, it already helps me go through a whole document in just a few minutes or seconds just looking for keywords with the use of AI tools. Obviously, there is also the downside, I am still battling certain people putting out my image and videos, they make it look like I am advertising hypertension drugs, an online gaming app, and the rest. I know that would be a major challenge for journalism and it has started already.

TheCable Lifestyle: How easy is it to combine journalism with raising a family?

Kayode: On a scale of one to ten, I would say it is really tough, I honestly would not want to put a figure on it. That is the toughest thing for me and I was going to say it then but it is really tough because you are working 24 hours. I mean I just had to take my wife to the hospital, and I had to take some time off to accompany her. Sometimes you will find out that you are probably missing out on some of the important things.

Thankfully I am blessed with a wonderful wife and two daughters. My daughters are in school, they are in their early stages, so I find myself missing the important moments. Maybe it is a meeting that you have to attend as a parent and my wife tells me that the meeting was today and I am like oh my goodness! I thought it was next week. Or maybe there is a party, thankfully I attended their Christmas party and that was a major one for me but it was tough.

Managing your marriage, your family and the job is really tough but the beauty is that you can always be conscious about it and that is what I am learning to do. Be very present and conscious so when I am home, I try to leave my phone and my computer and just listen to my wife or listen to the children or find time to pick them up from school every other day or every other week. It is really tough, very tough honestly I will tell you that we move as we say.

TheCable Lifestyle: Journalism is a tasking and time-consuming job, would you say there is no space for a social life as a journalist?

Kayode: There is that tendency actually to not have a social life. I barely reply to messages or sometimes I reply to messages after a while. You know my friends see you as detached or far off, so I really do not have friends with whom I hang out as you would in other professions. Like every night, you leave work and go have fun but as for me, I leave work and I am working literally at home, I am sleeping and I am working.

Sometimes I dream about my interview questions and I wake up and I am writing the questions. So yes, it really harms social life. I really hope that people can understand that it is the job we have been called to do and cut us some slack. A lot of people think you are proud because you are not able to reply to messages, I mean people call you or message you while you are on air. I can not pick up your call while I am on air, I can not reply to your message either, so it takes a while for me.

I really wish they could cut us some slack especially people within our social circle out there that have a lot of expectations from us. I am sacrificing a lot, it is tasking, it kills your social life and you have to find a way. Either with your colleagues or the people at home but basically, be very intentional because you are nothing without the people.

TheCable Lifestyle: You have a unique fashion style, you are always in suits of different designs and colors. What inspires this?

Kayode: Let me say this, I have just about ten suits right now. I give my suits out from time to time. I try to keep my wardrobe lean but I am glad that despite that people think that I have a fantastic fashion sense. Amazing, that is what God can do because maybe you will see blue today and when I wear it again, you will see another color. I am just trying to look good on television and besides I am a young person and I have a beautiful wife who helps me with my fashion sense. Sometimes she is like these colours do not match so that helps me a lot.

I have to give it to her and I have a fantastic fashion person who makes my suits, most of my suits are made because of my unique body stature. Besides, no one wants to go on television not looking good. Naturally, the job comes with that and I like looking good.

TheCable Lifestyle: We have already established that you studied psychology, but if not journalism, what other career path would you have towed?

Kayode: That is a question I have always asked myself. Journalism is a lot of things put together, you are like a filmmaker as a journalist. You could be a lawyer as a journalist because you do a lot of research and ask questions. You could either be a detective or a fashion person as a journalist. But if I was not doing that, I would probably be making movies, and writing music.

I think the top on that list would be a detective. I know my wife would see this and she would be like Kayode no way but yes, maybe a detective. Not because I love Sherlock Holmes but just to approach investigations differently. We could do a lot, I know we have brilliant investigators in Nigeria, but I am sure we could do a lot with crime-fighting as relating to cases.

TheCable Lifestyle: Can you tell us five things/people you cannot do without?

Kayode: Aside from God, my wife, I hate to say this but my phone. I should not be saying this but yes my phone for obvious reasons, because of the stories and information. I am actually a minimalist, I believe that you can do without anything in life. This is no order but my daughters, they come after my wife. Let me just say the people in my life, I cannot do without them. Maybe last on that list would be my scooter, I ride on my scooter and that is what takes me to work and back.

TheCable Lifestyle: What is your take on the ‘japa’ syndrome that currently rising in the country?

Kayode: I think everybody has a path to follow, now if your path is genuinely anywhere that is not Nigeria. I say genuinely because many people want to leave because everyone is leaving, some do it because they are tired, but there are a lot of people that have things here in Nigeria. I personally believe that I am one of them, I think the most I have done is to travel to one country outside Nigeria.

Would I say it is deliberate? Yes because when it is time for vacations it is usually a war between my wife and I on whether we should go or not. We chose to stay back in Nigeria first because we are trying to help the economy with our little and all. However, my take on it is if your path is genuinely pointing out of Nigeria, then go for it. I mean I work with people outside the country from time to time, so I am japa-ing while still staying in Nigeria.

Particularly young Nigerians, if you want to go there to gain experience, please do but we still have a lot to do when it comes to building our nation. I am not begging anybody to stay back but please do not leave all for us to build. Let us all work together.

TheCable Lifestyle: What is your advice to intending young journalists who want to be like you?

Kayode: You can learn from Kayode Okikiolu but do not be Kayode Okikiolu. I have a unique voice, people admire my voice but you might not have that voice. Do not let that discourage you, do not let that be your disqualification, some people do not have the voice that I have and are doing well in journalism. That is why I said you can learn from me and my mistakes, but do not try to be me.

My other advice would be do not be afraid, always be courageous, that is what will get you far in life. The fear would come but do it despite the fear because sometimes you are scared to ask the questions or you feel you are going to get in trouble. Do not let fear cripple you, take that risk, write that email, go for that interview, and do not look down on yourself.

Do not ever compromise, trust me there are a lot of things that would make you want to compromise especially on this job. But do not ever compromise because that is what will stand you out. Never compromise for money or anything, just stick to the job.

TheCable Lifestyle: Where do you see Kayode Okikiolu in the next 10 years?

Kayode: 15 years in marriage, my daughters will be teenagers already but aside from that, I am not just a journalist, I call myself an innovator. I look forward to championing the media innovations in our sector. I am mentoring a lot of young people this year so I look forward to mentoring more young people personally. Also, be part of building an industry that is not only confident in Africa but the world at large.