The
name Moses Olafare is not strange in the Nigerian media space. He started as a
journalist who reports crime and did well on the job before venturing into
other businesses. Mr Olafare is the director of media and public affairs who is
passionate about the public perception of his principal. He has represented the
Ooni at several events and is doing a good job in protecting the good name of
the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
He had a brief chat with City People’s DAMILARE SALAMI (08155134152) and NURUDEEN SALISU. He talked about his life, growing up years and his role as the spokesperson of the number one monarch in the Yoruba nation. Below are excerpts from the chat.
You
were a major media player when you started, can you tell us about your journey
to the top?
I
started journalism professionally in 1999 through Vanguard media ltd., the
publishers of Vanguard newspaper. I was a crime reporter and a member of the
Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAON). At that time, I also got
involved in so many activisms and human rights matters and at a point, it sadly
became imperative for me to dump one for another. Sadly again I would say that
the necessity of a reasonable decision made me dump journalism. Not that I
dumped journalism per se but I had to leave Vanguard newspaper while I
continued in my private business capacity as a media consultant. I registered
Acme Media Consultancy which I ran and I still run even though not very active
these days. So I started my journalism with Vanguard newspaper and I later
delved into many things which include security management. I’m also a security
consultant; I’m a certified security person through the Institute of Security
of Nigeria (ISN) and today, to God be the glory, I am back to the profession I
once left. I function today as the director of media and public affairs of
Ooni’s palace.
There
is a question on the minds of many Nigerians. How did you meet the Ooni of Ife
before you emerged as his media aide?
It
was divine or let me say it was pre-designed by God. I met him for the first
time after he had already been crowned the Ooni of Ife. And that goes to tell
you that I might not have been a part of his journey to the throne and that’s
why I said it is a predestined arrangement because you hardly find a situation
like this. If you are not part of the struggle that leads to such victory and
you are chosen from the tons of people who are interested in the office. I got
a call one day that giving my record of displayed patriotism to the course of
the Oodua Nation and particularly Ile-Ife where I come from, there are people
who believe in my ability in the area of media and information management for
the throne and my name was mentioned to the Ooni-elect who also requested to
meet me and we had some interaction. He told me that he fell in love with me
and that he is spiritually connected with me. And so far so good, I don’t think
that we have ever had any regret being together as father and son cum
employee-employer. As his son, I have enjoyed so much from him as a father and
I will never think of ceasing to be his son. I can’t ever imagine that and as
one of his principal officers here, I enjoy a good working relationship with
him and so far, he has never expressed any regrets having me around him. Of
course, nobody is perfect and I am not, I’ve had my challenges and shortcomings, but even in the face of those shortcomings and challenges, he still
finds me very responsible.
What
was growing up like for you? Take us back to your childhood days…
I
was born and bred in Ife, I grew up in Ife and had my primary and secondary
education here in Ife. I attended CAC primary school in Iloro and St John
Secondary school also in Ife. Though I started education late, I bagged a
diploma in Communication Arts at the Lagos State University (LASU) and from
there, I proceeded to Vanguard newspaper where I had my internship. I was later
retrained at the Vanguard newspaper. Because I was covering crime as I said
earlier, it exposed me to security management and I had to do some professional
courses on security management so I got certified. Then I proceeded to Unilag
for advanced diploma certification in Security Management. I also attended OSU
now Olabisi Onabanjo University OOU, for a Post-graduate diploma in security
management. Then I bagged a Master’s degree in public administration at The Republic of Benin. Of course, I started my Ph.D. too but I couldn’t continue due
to time constraints but I hope to go back to complete it very soon.
Tell
us more about your parents and their impact on your life…
Like
every child would like to praise his parents who have brought him up properly,
I will also do the same because I am also a beneficiary of that parental system. I
have good parents who in their own humility and modesty trained me in the best
way they can to become what they wanted for me. My dad is Mr Richard Akinola
Olafaire and my mum is Princess Adetoun Riskat nee Ademiluyi. She is a direct
granddaughter of an Ooni that reigned in this palace between 1910 and 1930. He
is Ooni Ademiluyi who preceded Ooni Adesoji Aderemi. I was properly trained, so
whatever I am today is a product of that proper training they gave me.
How
has working with the present Ooni influenced your person?
I
work with the Ooni as the director of media and public affairs which means I am
his spokesperson. There is no way anyone working in this capacity will not be
as famous as his principal because there is nowhere they will mention my
principal and a reference will not be made to me. So working with the Ooni has
given me a wider recognition and has exposed me farther than the way I was
before I took the job. And as I said earlier, I have been enjoying a good
working relationship with him and I have benefitted a lot from him morally,
spiritually, financially and materially. What I have benefitted is
unquantifiable; you know, when you have a principal that you can always proudly
refer to as a benefactor because he is generous to a fault. He is somebody who
wants to see you progress in all of your endeavors wherever you may or may not
need his assistance. He is someone who sees you in the spirit whenever you need his assistance. He
just asks you and even when you deny that you need that thing, he will still
give you because he has seen it. So in all ramifications, I will say that
working with him has benefitted me very greatly.
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