Beautiful, Intelligent, Stylish Proactive, best describes Funmi Wakama, the former Chief Press Secretary to Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. With a vast experience that spans 23 years in broadcasting, the media expert who holds an exalted position as the first ever female Chief Press Secretary in Ogun State and Nigeria, is one of the great hands who worked with Gov. Amosun’s government during the 1st term.
The stylish lady whose glamorous years in TV has paid off with her unique sense of fashion is 50 but looks nothing close to that.
Happily married with 2 boys, it was an elated Funmi who created time off her very busy schedule to talk about her life and career in an exclusive interview with City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE last year.
How was it working with Gov Amosun for 4 years?
I thank God for the wonderful opportunity of working with the Governor, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who in his quest to get the best hands to work with him, without any prior relationship, sought me out. It is actually less than two months shy of four years. How time flies!
It is indeed a privilege to have passed through this ‘Political College’, under the leadership of His Excellency. I also thank him for the opportunity to serve my State, in this capacity. Maybe you don’t know this; I am the first female Spokesperson or Chief Press Secretary as some would prefer to call it, in Ogun State and in the whole Country to a serving Governor. And that makes me feel so proud.
To work with him, one must be full of Energy and Vitality and believe me when I say this; there are days when we are in the office till 1:00 am and sometimes beyond and I don’t mean receiving visitors at the Government House. You must be on top of your game because he does not suffer fools gladly. You must be full of energy like I said earlier and be ready to work.
He is a man driven solely by his passion for delivering the dividends of democracy to the good people of Ogun State. Let me mention here that in addition to appointing the first female spokesperson, I am his first appointee, because the Chief Press Secretary announces the other appointments. On our first day at work, The Governor and his team from the Transition Committee inspected the entire secretariat.
Yes, you need to know the Oke Mosan Secretariat to appreciate this. As a TV gal, who had no knowledge of what I was in for, I was all dressed up and in a pair of Stiletto shoes, thinking it was going to be ‘all about Media Relations and Management’, don’t forget that I came in from a background of glitz and glamour, having worked in the Television Industry for twenty-three years. I have since found out that it is not a Tea Party. That man is a workaholic and can kill! (Laughter). Like Albert Einstein said, “ The only source of knowledge is experienced”. I had to do my job as Chief Press Secretary, sometimes do a bit of Protocol, security and mind reading ( Laughter). You must be able to think on your feet, and anticipate his moves ( which I call mind reading), really.
That man is a workaholic and can kill! (Laughter). Like Albert Einstein said “ The only source of knowledge is experience”. I had to do my job as Chief Press Secretary, sometimes do a bit of Protocol, security and mind reading ( Laughter). You must be able to think on your feet, and anticipate his moves ( which I call mind reading), really.
How did you react when he offered you the job?
Honestly, my first reaction was how did he know about me? I then called my husband to inform him. At the dinner table, we discussed it extensively, looking at the implication on the family and how I would cope since we had never lived apart. It was of course imperative for me to do a lot of research on him. I asked questions from those who should know and everyone kept saying “ oh, he is a very decent, hardworking professional, thorough , who is well focussed” and I have found all of that to be true. What they probably forgot to mention is that the man is a workaholic.
What were you doing before you took up the appointment?
I was the Media Manager, Programme and Outreach, International Republican Institute (IRI), an Agency under the United States Government (USG) USAID, programme, in Nigeria. I took a leave of absence from the NTA, having served for over two decades and risen to the position of Manager News. I felt I needed to do something different.
What lessons did you learn on the job?
The lessons are too numerous to recount in just one lifetime ( laughter).The first thing I did was to shed the toga of being a celebrity and know that I was there to serve the good people of Ogun State. To project and promote the activities and image of my principal, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Two, know that I was and would be meeting with people from diverse background and exposure. It is a mixed bag really of the good, the bad and the ugly. Some, who used to admire one back in the days, would now want to lord things over you, because you are below them in the Organizational structure, or the mere fact of all being political appointees.
But for me, I have had more than my fair share of publicity and glamour that being in the background does not bother me a bit. In fact, I relish now being incognito but some “diehard fans still recognise me, squint and ask “Are you not so so and so? But for me and at all times, I look at the big picture and focus on my principal.
I remember why I had to leave my family behind in Abuja and live in Abeokuta. I think of the value addition to my CV and credentials if I am able to endure and breast the tape. I have also learnt that just as I was greatly once admired then on the tube, others would dislike me for no just cause. I make allowances for such people and still relate to them in the course of duty. It’s just human nature! In addition, another challenge for me, is that unlike in the public service where I come from, there is a hierarchy, line of communication and a chain of command.
Here, things are a bit fluid. Add to that the fact that you weigh your thoughts properly before you speak. It is a political environment and you need to factor other considerations into the equation. I have also learnt how to manage my time, which is a scarce resource here. He could have as many as five, six or more assignments in one day and you need to decide on which ones to send for publication and which ones are non-perishable such that they could be stepped down for another day. It is not as easy as it sounds.
In addition, another challenge for me, is that unlike in the public service where I come from, there is a hierarchy, line of communication and a chain of command. Here, things are a bit fluid. Add to that the fact that you weigh your thoughts properly before you speak. It is a political environment and you need to factor other considerations into the equation. I have also learnt how to manage my time, which is a scarce resource here. He could have as many as five, six or more assignments in one day and you need to decide on which ones to send for publication and which ones are non-perishable such that they could be stepped down for another day. It is not as easy as it sounds.
Le’ts talk about Funmi Wakama. Who is she?
I was born Olufunmilayo Yetunde Coker in 1966 in Lagos. Do the Arithmetics, that means I will turn 50, next year. Olufunmilayo Yetunde Wakama, as she is now known, is a graduate of Mass Communication from the Ogun State (now Moshood Abiola) Polytechnic. She also went through the portals of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos as well as the University of Abuja, obtaining respectively in these institutions; a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and Masters in Public Administration.
I must mention that in my educational cap is a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations from the Business Education Examination Council, Lagos. Then known as Funmi Coker, my exceptional industry and dedication to duties did not go unnoticed both within and outside the NTA. I won at different times, the Divisional Best Worker Award; Best Worker Award and the General Manager’s Commendation among others. In 1991, under the then Col. Raji Rasaki’s administration, I was appointed Member, Advisory Committee, Lagos State Government Commission on Women.
In addition to several awards and commendations in my kitty, is a special recognition by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as a Special Celebrity Marshal, Woman of the Media by National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Female Leadership Forum and other awards too numerous to mention.
You have had a very successful career on TV. Tell us, how you got into Television?
I began my career in Journalism in July, 1988 at the then Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Channel 7, Lagos, that was after completing the mandatory one-year industrial training programme. Let me veer off a little, I had a stint in Advertising at Promoserve Advertising, on Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos. Then, Prince Kehinde Adeosun, “the man with the golden voice”, was Chairman; Mr Allan Olabode, was the Managing Director and Mr Lolu Akinwunmi, was in the Creative Department.
I had my first break in broadcasting on Radio with Prince Adeosun, when he asked that I be paired with him to do a Radio commercial. A Bright-eyed young kid that I was, I got into the Studio, ARREM Studios, in Surulere and did my bit. It became an instant hit and everybody wanted me; Insight Communications, Rosabel, etc.
I guess I made a bit of money from those commercials. Back to how I got into Television Broadcasting, I got invited by a family friend to an audition at NTA Ikeja, Channel 7 to be precise. Fortunately for me, the Controller Programmes, Mrs Shade Bankole, entered the Control room where the audition tape was being previewed and requested for me.
She in turn handed me over to Mrs Seyi Olusanya; the Head of Presentation, who became my mother hen and took me under her wings. I sat with her for just three days in the studio where she put me through the rudiments of Television Broadcasting. Believe me, she put me on air in three days and a Star was born!
The rest like they say is now history. Upon return of the country to constitutional democracy in 1999, I was posted to the Lagos State Governor’s office, Alausa, attached to the then Lagos State Deputy Governor, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, with oversight responsibilities to Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa. Mr Dele Alake, was the Commissioner for Information and Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, was the Rt Hon Speaker of the LSHA at the time.
I was later transferred to the Lagos Network Centre. I recall how I was an audition for the Network News by Mrs Elizabeth Nze-Uzuokwu, who was the Head of Presentation, NTA Network News. After a few days, she called and said I was to take the news the following morning on a new Programme that was to debut on the Network Service at 7:00am. I was, therefore, the first News Anchor on AM Express, which became an instant hit among Television viewers in Lagos. Late Uncle Yinka Craig, was the Producer/Presenter, alongside Marian Arthur, now Mrs Anazodo.
In addition,I worked as Senior Editor, at the NTA Network, Lagos; charged with editorial duties for bulletins emanating from the Lagos Network Centre as well as anchoring major news and special events. I must pay due respects to Mr Bayo Awosemo, who was the News Producer I was attached to. Uncle B, like we all called him, is another workaholic.
I guess some of my exceptional talents saw my transfer to NTA Network Service, Abuja, where as Principal Reporter/ Editor, I had editorial responsibilities for news broadcasts on the National Desk reporting national and international events as well one of the administrators of NTA News online website.
In 2007, I was promoted Assistant Manager News, NTA International – an elite station of the NTA, taking full editorial responsibilities for production and transmission of news of international flavour to the station’s international audience and a Member of the Station’s Editorial Board. In January 2010, I was promoted Manager News and Current Affairs, NTA Headquarters, Abuja
Without being immodest, a gold fish, they say, has no hiding place, I was invited for an interview by an international organisation; the International Republican Institute (IRI), an agency of the United States’ government under its USAID programme and appointed its first Programme Manager, Media and Outreach, Nigeria Office in August 2010.
There, I was responsible to the Resident Country Director, overseeing and executing the organisation’s media and outreach policies and programmes, which included developing and conducting capacity building for media organisations, journalists and relevant stakeholders. You can, therefore, see that I have a lot of firsts.
The job actually prepared me for my present appointment, which to a large extent involved interacting with the media, political parties, elected public officials as well as Civil Society groups, of course, regarding our media activities and programmes.
Let’s talk about your fashion style. You dress well. How do you choose what you wear?
Style for me means different things at different times. It would depend on the occasion. Sometimes I keep it simple and at other times, it could be glamorous, particularly back in my days on Television. The environment in which I find myself oftentimes determines my sense of style at any point in time.
Tell us about Mr Wakama. How did you fall in love with him? Tell us your love story.
My husband is a Civil Engineer. He is from Okrika, in Rivers State. Like me, he was born and bred in Lagos. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos. We met through a mutual friend. He is from a very warm, caring Christian background. He is, therefore, God fearing, kind, loving and a wonderful father to our two boys. Apart from caring for and about his family, his other passion is Football. I have tried to adopt his team, Manchester United which he started supporting in 1973 but that has been difficult because I am not a fan of the round leather game. He has allowed me to be me. He has encouraged me to flourish in my chosen career and has been a very strong pillar of support. The two boys, he and I are as happy.
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