CHIEF OLU FALOMO (JOURNALIST) Ibadan Was My First Encounter with City Life

Interviewed by Funke Olaode

At what age did you start school?

I started school at the age of five at St. John’s Anglican School, Iloro in Ilesha. I was fortunate because I felt was educated. By the time I was born he could speak and write good English. He could also write in Short-hand. I remember 1949 was the first time he took me to an English service in the Methodist Church, which held once a month at that time. I was around 11 years then and from that time on; I became a regular worshipper at the English service. After my primary education I came to Government College, Ibadan in September 1951. We were the first set of students to begin new academic calendar of June to September. It used to be January to in those days. It was a new world entirely.

How would you describe your experience coming to Ibadan?

It was a wonderful experience meeting students from all over the country. Government Colleges in those days were very competitive and havens for the best brains. It was a highly competitive environment and a new world that opened my eyes. I was very excited coming to a new atmosphere because it was my first encounter with the city. In Ilesha, there was no public electricity. I remember only one or two people had electricity generating set. Some of my classmates at GCI were Vice-Admiral Ade Lawal who served as Chief of Naval Staff 35 years ago, Brig. Gen. Ven. S.B. Akinola, former head of service of Edo State, Surveyor General of Edo State and later, Pro-Chancellor, University of Lagos and some other prominent Nigerians who have made giant strides in their endeavour. I spent five years in the school and left in 1956. My intention while leaving GCI was to go into broadcasting and start a career in radio engineering because radio was a novelty then. But the law setting up radio said you could not be employed except you have passed your school certificate with five credits including a credit pass in English. While waiting for the results, I joined the civil service in Ibadan and was posted to the survey department.

What was your childhood aspiration?

In those days, there was no aspiration, particularly, where I grew up. The only aspiration for us was to become teachers or priests. The doctors and administrators then were expatriates. There were few Nigerians professionals. By the time I came down to Government College, Ibadan, my orientation changed. Radio was in vogue. Then, radiofussion (the wireless) was the in-thing. And since we were being trained to be science oriented because most students who left before us such as Prof. Soyinka, Dr. Christopher Kolade, Prof. Oladipupo Akinkungbe and others pursued careers in medicine, engineering, and academics, I decided to pitch my tent with radio engineering. I chose radio engineering because my ambition was to be an engineer. After five months at the Survey department, my result came out and I applied for my dream job at the broadcasting corporation and got it.

How did you cope as a green horn in the radio setting?

As an engineer you operate behind the scene. I learnt on the job. The only available training option then in telecommunication engineering was City and Guilds of London. I registered and passed. When WNTV was established in 1959 I was recruited. I was still pursuing my engineering career. I was in charge of sound system. Six months later, we started the first commercial radio service WNBC on April 1, 1960 and I crossed over to help in that department. When everything had been stabilized I requested to go back to my engineering department, but my director of programme whom I had worked with for almost six months persuaded me to stay on the programme side particularly the commercial. I didn’t have a choice but to stay back. That was my first encounter with advertising. By August 1961, I got another job in the then Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation Commercial Services in Lagos where I was the first Production Unit Officer, a senior public service back then. I was there till June, 1963 when I quit government job and moved to the private sector.

How would you describe your experience in the private sector?

It was interesting because it opened a new vista. I went into advertising in 1963. I began at West Africa Publicity Limited which later became Lintas Limited and rose from trainee client service executive to client service director. I later transferred to Ogilvy, Benson and Mather Nig. Ltd. as an executive director. I retired from active service shortly before I turned 70 as managing director/chief executive officer of Forum Advertising Ltd. I established it in 1986. With modesty, I presided over many companies in my active working years among which are Reckitt Bencksier Nigeria Ltd where I have been a director for over 40 years and chairman for 35 years.

If you could turn back the hand of clock what things you would do differently?

It was a miracle for me to attend Government College Ibadan in 1951 because my father was old and couldn’t afford the school fees. I remember in 1950 I had been admitted to the famous Ilesha Grammar School but I declined the offer. With modesty, I was a brilliant boy and by the time I was in Standard Five I had passed the common entrance to secondary school. My father said I should wait and take common entrance to GCI may be I would get a scholarship. When I finally passed no scholarship came. I had given up on going to GCI when a Good Samaritan came and helped me.After enrolling at the highly competitive GCI, it wasn’t easy but good people came my way I was able to finish. I would have loved to go to the university immediately after secondary school to pursue my dream but it was not possible due to lack of funds. I made up my mind that I would go out there, work hard and make it. God was with me and five years after I left secondary school I had become a senior public servant. I later went to the University of Lagos in the early 70s as a senior student.

If you had to rate your satisfaction with your life so far, out of 10, what would you score yourself?

I would score myself 90 percent because I am satisfied. There are a few gaps that needs to be filled but they are not up to 10 percent. I am satisfied with my life and the level God almighty has placed me. I am fulfilled.

What lesson has life taught you?

Life has taught me to be myself; to be hard-working, focused and continue to learn. One thing about going to higher institution is that the more you learn, the more you realise how very little you know. Always keep learning and embrace contentment.