50 gbosas for the ultimate broadcaster, Oluwatosin Dokpesi

“A good head and good heart are always formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something special” – Nelson Mandela.

Late South African president and anti-apartheid hero, Nelson Mandela, abhorred flippancy. His pronouncements have turned out to be words on marble. The above expression of this great son of Africa fits those with a mission in the continent.

          Perhaps, many are aware that the Managing Director of Africa Independent Television, AIT, Dr.  Oluwatosin Folake Abimbola Dokpesi, falls into this category of people Mandela had in mind, whenever the subject of discussion is journalism of social relevance. This brand of journalism could only be driven by thorough and politically conscious professionals who see themselves as crusaders for the good of society, agenda setters and sticklers for media ethics.

          Tosin, as she is fondly called in Nigerian media circles, did not originate the journalistic philosophy known as social relevance. That credit belongs to the New Trend Movement within the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in the 1980s and 1990s. But she is one of its foremost exponents. While she sermonises that a media outfit must be run as a big business, she also believes that the outfit must enjoy unfettered independence. That is not all. She wants media professionals to be truly professionals in words and deeds as well as develop unquestionable appetite for skills acquisition to enable them fulfil their mission in society.

          For Tosin, broadcast journalism is not just a calling but a passion with aplomb. Indeed, she is giving broadcasting her all without negative thought. Her credo is shaped by a selfless consideration for the good of society. Anything to the contrary is instinctively offensive and repugnant to her cherished rules of conscientious journalism or journalism of social relevance. She has so far spent 26-years of her adult life as a broadcaster.

          On Friday, July 12, 2019, Tosin stepped out in style to celebrate her 50th birthday. It was her finest hour. Family members, friends, associates, school mates, numerous admirers and, of course, members of the DAAR  family converged on Guzape in Abuja to honour her for her accomplishments so far. It was time for joy. It was a moment for celebration. Gangan (talking drum), iya ilu (mother of all drums), sekere, trumpet and flute, all combined to provide good music for admirable dancing steps.

          Oluwatosin, which means God is worthy to be worshipped and praised, has every reason to be joyful. First, her birthday symbolised the age of full adulthood – the golden age of 50 years. Also, the golden age is a unique opportunity which only a few are so privileged to so have in a country ravaged by malnutrition, poverty, insecurity and where hospitals are mere consulting clinics.

Aside from all these, it is heartwarming that Tosin is alive to celebrate her birthday this year having escaped death by the whiskers three years ago. The date was Saturday, June 4, 2016. Her husband and media mogul, High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, was a target of an assassination squad, precisely a gang of four bandits. The gunmen trailed his vehicle to a private hospital in Abuja and accosted the vehicle. The windows of the vehicle were tinted. Dokpesi was not in the vehicle. But his wife, Tosin, with two of her relatives, a driver and police detail were in the vehicle.

          Tosin had just left the vehicle and gone inside the hospital, having complained of serious stomach cramps, when the attackers moved in and released a hail of bullets. The attack left a police detail, Sergeant Den Gaius, dead, riddled with bullets.

          And so both Tosin and her husband escaped the assassins’ bullets. Friday, July 12, 2019, her 50th birthday would have been all gloom had the bandits had their way. This miraculous escape is a source of joy for this beaming lady of the tube on her birthday.

What is it all about Tosin that excites others? Is there goodness in her to appreciate? Is her story outstanding with positive values to share with others?

In her early life, Tosin had a flair for the sciences. She actually went ahead to earn a degree in zoology. Her unalterable destiny made her to discover sooner, her love for broadcast journalism. She returned to her alma mata, University of Lagos, to horn her skills in broadcasting. Today, she is glad that her abandonment of sciences for broadcasting was worth it after all.

          Tosin’s career began in Multimedia Limited as a TV presenter. She later joined Clapper Board Television in 1994 as a presenter. In 1996, she joined DAAR Communications Plc. It was in a new era when bold moves were taken to end the worrying monologue in the polity which government’s hold on broadcasting represented. The company launched Raypower 100.5FM on September 1, 1994. It was the first private radio and broadcasting outfit in Nigeria. With the resounding success of Raypower and in a manner reminiscent of the activities of pathfinders this was followed up with the setting up of AIT, the first satellite TV channel in Nigeria which hit the airwaves on December 6, 1996.

          In the last 23 years she has operated in various capacities as a programme officer, programme anchor, newscaster, head, domestic and international operations and top level managerial positions.Presently, Tosin is a Managing Director, AIT, a subsidiary of DAAR Communications. In this capacity, she is wearing two caps.

With all the talents that it pleased God to give her, she is participating actively and constructively in all activities and strategies that will elevate DAAR to its targeted stratosphere. Daily, she exhibits the commendable panache of a modern day corporate manager with deep commitment to team work, strict but compassionate and acceptance of honesty, boldness and sincerity as strong virtues. Simply put, she is not bossy.

Of all her traits, some stick out like a pot belly on a skinny man. She is very humble, religious, accessible, kind, caring but forthright. 

But her role in DAAR Communications is not limited to just occupying a managerial position. She has been part of the pioneering efforts to turn an idea into a reality. That is not all. As wife of the founder of Raypower AIT and Faaji FM, Tosin has been playing a supportive role to High Chief Dokpesi.

As one of the fathers of Nigerian journalism, Lateef Jakande, once said, journalism trains practitioners to become leaders and administrators. One can say that Tosin is now a leader and administrator in the media industry. But at 50, the velvet voiced broadcaster is still dreaming. She is not under any illusion that, as reggae musician, Jimmy Cliff, sang several years ago, there are still more rivers to cross, to attain and remain a professional prodigy and icon. 

Happy and memorable birthday, Mama Tee.

Bodunrin is a journalist with AIT/Raypower FM, Abuja.

Leave a Reply