Former On Air personality with Adaba88.9fm, Breez fm and suncity fm Ondo and CEO, The Green House Restaurant, Mikigist Media had his doors open for family and friends who came to celebrate him at his United Kingdom residence on his 48birthday which usually comes up every 12th of June. One of media team members at Mikigist.com, Moyo Simon spoke with the soft spoken Michael Malomo. Enjoy the story.
Mikigist.com: Happy birthday to you sir!
Michael Malomo: Thanks Moyo, it’s nice having you guys celebrating me.
Mikigist.com: Being here for 48 years, I’m sure means a lot to you, Can you share your experience about life briefly sir?
Michael Malomo: Thanks Moyo, This question is so wide that I doubt if I can cover every aspect of my life experience but I will only try to capture my experience so far with some few simple terms.
mikigist.com : That’s OK sir
Michael Malomo: I have experienced the good, bad and ugly, just like everyone living on the surface of this earth but where mine seems to be different is that, I didn’t enjoy luxury when I was growing up, in fact, there was a time I was living away from my parents.My Dad as at that time was a military man and my mum a petty trader, and we were living in Kaduna.Myself and my elder brother were sent to live with my Dad’s younger brother in the village then. The man had then as his occupation, bricklaying and farming and just because these two occupations were what our uncle was doing, we had no choice than to join him in farming. At that point, we were restricted to farming, may be due to our age then, you know how stressful bricklaying work could be, so this man did not involve us in his work, he only trained us on real farming. And the fact that the community might raise eyebrows due to the fact that we were underage then, I remember my elder brother was around 12 years old then and I was around 9 years old. Those periods were periods I wouldn’t forget in a rush. We didn’t enjoy that bond with our Dad and mum for too long before the separation. I don’t know why my Dad took that decision to bring us all the way from Kaduna down to our village, where life was quite different from the kind of life we were exposed to from childhood. But all glory to God it paid off,because most things I know about my cultural values today, came from that experience.
Mikigist.com: wow thank you sir, but you don’t look or sound like someone who went through such an experience. Sir, did you attend any school in Nigeria?
Michael Malomo; Definitely, I did a larger part of my education in Nigeria before I moved to the United Kingdom, in fact I worked in different places at different capacities before I moved here. After attending our primary school in the village, my Dad retired from the Army and came to Ilorin. My Dad, mum and other siblings relocated to Ilorin and we eventually joined them. It was indeed a joyous moment for me. A reunion time. We came to a place known as Amilegbe in Ilorin,and that was how a new life started. We started schooling and life became much more beautiful for all of us. And the first school I attended then was Oke Suna primary school and from there after some time I moved to St Barnabars primary school and from St Barnabars, to Bishopsmith memorial college, where I became the headboy of my school and thereafter,I proceeded to the University of Ilorin where I did my first degree in Linguistics and Nigerian languages. There were some delays and events where I had to wait for months, repeated classes and other frustrating stuffs but to the glory of God, here we are. (Smiles)
Mikigist.com: Wonderful, it was in deed a layer of experience. Sir, before now, you were known to be a journalist/broadcaster..can you tell us how the journey started and why you decided to change your career as a journalist?
Michael Malomo; Humnnn, thanks for this question Moyo, I have been a radio/Television person person since I was young. I remember growing up, my Dad of blessed memory used tomake it compulsory for us to stay awake till 9pm to follow the then NTA network news…lol…despite the fact that I didn’t know what for, cause I was still young and despite the fact that I loved watching Television and listening to the Radio, I only enjoy watching TV when there was any drama. Then I remember the likes of Baba Ray Eyiwumi,Awada kerikeri group, that’s Oga Bello, papy luwe, sabitiu and mama Awero….you know, the ojojolu theatre group, oyin Adejobi, isho pepper and the likes, these are what I enjoy watching on the television then, the village headmaster, tales by moonlight, the new masquerade and all. I also loved watching wrestling and probably a bit of Jimoh Aliu’s works, aside all these may be music of Tosin jegede, funmi Davies and others. Staying tuned to the NTA network news then for me was a punishment because I wasn’t interested. But Daddy would tell us then to watch the bews and learn. Along the line I started liking the news and I became used to it. The likes of Tokunbo Ajayi, Cyril Stober, Eugenia Abu, Kalu Otisi, Namsel Nimyen, Ruth Benamasia Opia and other beautiful voices endeared my heart to broadcasting. I saw these people as models, I wanted to be like them, I loved the way they came forward with the news and mentioned their names. With the little encouragement I received from my Dad, I started nurturing my desire, so I told myself, this is what I wanted to do and I sticked my head into it. After university, I was posted to Ado Ekiti fir my NYSC and that was how the journey proper started. Though before then,while I was studying at the University of Ilorin, I used to go to Radio Kwara where we were presenting Radio drama and other stuffs then but I commenced this job officially when I was posted to the broadcasting station of Ekiti state.BSES then in 2007 if I’m not mistaken .I was at the Broadcasting service of Ekiti state.BSES for one year after which I preceeded to Lagos to look for a job.while at BSES, I met some beautiful souls. The likes of Uncle Kola Ajumobi, Segun Omolayo, Jide Ogunluyi, Segun Ogbimi and Mr Layi Oyawa. As a matter of fact, Mr Layi Oyawa and Mrs Yomi Oshuntokun were the ones who came to audition me at the ise Orun camp. That was the turning point for me and after the one year mandatory service I got a job with Adaba fm Akure, that was my first official job and after working with Adaba for 6 years, I left for Breez fm ijoka Akure and finally to Suncity fm Ondo.It was really a mixture of different colours and shades in a given bag for me from Adaba to Suncity Ondo. It was pioneering galore but all together, it was a brilliant and nice experience.
Mikigist.com: wow what an experience. Before I let you go, I still have some more questions to ask
Michael Malomo: Go ahead Moyo
Mikigist.com: sir, today as we know you, You are a
health worker in the UK, have you abandoned broadcasting?
Michael Malomo: Thanks Moyo, I have not abandoned broadcasting at all, as a matter of fact, when I came into this country in 2018, I entered through the study route. It was after the study visa that I got work my work visa
Mikigist.com:sir, do you want to tell us about your family? Michael Malomo: I’m married with children, two of them are here with me in the UK.
mikigist.com: what’s your
favourite colour sir? I love white and black, then Red. mikigist.com: Your favourite food
Michael Malomo : I used to have but now….
Mikigist.com: what’s your advice for young people:Michael MThey should be focused andch consistent.
Mikigist.com: Thanks for your time sir
Michael Malomo: its my pleasure 🙏
