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It is not out of immodesty to refer to Oseni Rufai as a “son” especially in the Media profession. Rufai is today arguably the most celebrated(sometimes controversial) journalist or broadcast presenter in Nigeria.
He is one I am very proud of. His trajectory in life has been on an upward swing. Rufai and I, our paths crossed sometimes late in 2011. At that time, I had just been appointed the pioneer Coordinator of FUNAAB Radio at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
Right from conceptualization, building the frameworks, developing programme content, sourcing Broadcast Licence from the National Broadcasting Commission, choosing the right technology/equipment, etc were tasks wholly left for me to do if I must record any success.
Thank God, however for the gift of men. Here was where Rufai came into the picture. When he read news in the University’s official news Bulletin that a radio station was to be established on campus and that a certain Ayo Arowojolu had been appointed as Coordinator of the radio, Rufai sauntered into the studio looking for me. You could feel his passion and we bonded almost immediately.
If my memory serves me right, Rufai was already in his second or third year as a student of the University. He was God sent because his passion was more in broadcasting than in the Animal Physiology which he was studying as a course. You could tell that he’d make his mark and go very far in this radio and television business.
Rufai was clearly ahead of his peers. Together, we trained other students who were tagged FUNAAB Radio Trainees, numbering almost 200. Like me too, he was audacious. He had and still has gut. Whoever trained with me have all these attributes. We speak truth to power. We were wired to put the feet of governmental actors to the fire.
Well, it came to pass yesterday in Abeokuta that my own Rufai and I were conferred with Doctoral Award. Come and see the measure of his popularity, moment when we both entered the magnificent auditorium. Virtually everyone in that auditorium approached him for photo-ops. Only a few people demanded photo-ops with me apart from my usual catchment of the audience. Rufai’s influence indeed towered very high yesterday. The morale here is JUST BE GOOD IN WHAT YOU DO. Now I am aware that not a few people would readily demonstrate their BEEF for Rufai. But, give it to Rufai…HE IS GOOD AT IT!
