Olubukola RB Agbalaya is a public speaker, elocutionist, reading specialist, educator, audiobook narrator and founder of RB Fluent Speech Educational Consult. In this interview by KINGSLEY ALUMONA, she speaks about the elocution business, how her speech academy is helping people build self-confidence and boost their professional images, how she helps authors convert their books into audiobooks, amongst others.
You are a public speaker, elocutionist, reading specialist, educator, and audiobook narrator. What kind of education or training did you acquire to become these things?
I have acquired the requisite formal education and training, both locally and internationally, with strong emphasis on reading, speaking, presentation and narration. Additionally, I’ve credentials in computer engineering from The Polytechnic, Ibadan. I’m currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English education at the National Open University of Nigeria. I’ve enrolled on different professional courses, such as TOSEL and the NBA presentation course. Most importantly, I’ve acquired a great deal of knowledge from my experience and coaches.
You pride yourself as ‘The Queen of Elocution’. Tell us about the elocution business, and how you created a niche for yourself in that space.
The nickname, ‘The Queen of Elocution’, was given to me by one of my coaches in 2019.
The word, ‘elocution’, sounds strange to most Nigerians. Elocution is the skill of clear and expressive speech, especially of distinct pronunciation and articulation. Contrary to what most Nigerians think, elocution isn’t about changing an accent or talking in a foreign way. It entails speaking clearly, eloquently and confidently. The benefits of enrolling on elocution lessons can never be overemphasised. It’ll enhance your overall image, which, in turn, opens doors to greater opportunities. Elocution has opened lots of doors for me, including getting a job as a newscaster, with no curriculum vitae, no interview and no connection.
The business of elocution is lucrative, especially when one leverages ICT. I started out in 2018, and I must concede that it wasn’t all rosy. Three years have elapsed, and I’ve acquired appreciable competence. I earn more, and I’ve substantially transformed the communication skills of hundreds of people for global relevance and profitability.
I created a niche for myself in the business by teaching what I’m passionate about and showing people how it can prove beneficial to their prospects.
You are the founder of RB Fluent Speech Educational Consult. Tell us about it and why you think its services are needed in today’s Nigerian society.
RB Fluent Speech Educational Consult is a one-stop hub for learning impeccable pronunciation, fluent-reading skills, social-polish skills and top-notch public speaking skills. We’re registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, and we’re committed to teaching manners and elocution to Nigerians and Africans.
We’ve discovered that a great percentage of Nigerians and Africans speak indistinctly and without confidence. We’ve equally realised that millions of children have reading difficulties, and social etiquette is declining. Against this backdrop, RB Fluent Speech Educational Consult was created to combat these challenges.
Notably, we provide bespoke coaching programmes to suit our clients’ schedules, desires, challenges and expectations. We train staff of corporate organisations and religious institutions, too. Moreover, we consult for schools, and we organise online and offline training, and coaching sessions for the general public. The bottom line is we’re committed to helping people revamp their verbal and non-verbal communication skills, reading skills and social etiquette.
Your line of business seems rare, in the sense that most people in this part of the world do not care about how they speak. What kind of people patronise your services? And how profitable has the business being so far?
In truth, most Nigerians don’t care about how they sound, and they justify this with lame excuses like ‘English is not our mother tongue’ or ‘What is important is communication, not the correctness of a language’. That’s mediocre! Fortunately, more professionals, executives and parents have begun to realise that elocution lessons are worth it. In my few years of practice, I’ve worked with professionals, eminent politicians, lawyers, educators, engineers, voice-over artists, pastors, public speakers, executives, radio presenters, children, not to mention a special advisor to a governor in Nigeria. The business of elocution is lucrative in Nigeria, especially with the help of the social media.
Does your consultation extend to schools and tertiary institutions? Have you thought of consulting for embassies, businesses and foreigners of non-English-speaking countries?
Absolutely! We consult for primary and secondary schools, as well as clubs and NGOs. For tertiary, religious and government institutions, we’re open to opportunities.
We will deeply appreciate opportunities to consult for embassies, businesses and foreigners. Although we’ve worked with residents of London, the UAE, Ivory Coast and Kenya, we look forward to getting more international opportunities.
Your profile indicates that you are a brand influencer. How do you use elocution to help people or businesses promote their brands?
Most people promote their brands online by using videos or leveraging live streaming. I empower brands with the required tools to communicate their messages clearly, confidently and compellingly. Quite a number of brands earn more after consulting us. For some, their productivity level has soared. It’s always rewarding! I’ve worked with brands like Mcvie International School, Isheri White Sand; Diamonds International School, Ikoyi; Chuckles Height Montessori School, Benin; and so forth.
What is your mother tongue, and are you fluent in it? In your ancestral community, do you think English is a threat to your mother tongue?
My mother tongue is Yoruba, and I’m an intermediate speaker of the language.
I don’t think the English language is a threat to the Yoruba language. In Nigeria, the English language is our lingua franca. This, for instance, explains why the majority of our youth prefer it to their indigenous languages, when communicating. That, in my opinion, shouldn’t be considered a threat!
Do you think a great mastery of a foreign language, including English, can lead to career success, leadership potential actualisation and self-fulfilment?
I absolutely believe so! Not only does mastering a foreign language provide personal fulfilment, it can also provide financial rewards. As the world becomes more global, the demand for professionals, who can communicate in multiple languages, is intensifying. Making conscious effort to master English or, indeed, another language, can be the stepping stone to progressing from junior management to senior management, or even to the executive level. As an employee, being able to speak a foreign language eloquently is a huge advantage. It could provide the greatest job security, improved remuneration and advancement opportunities.
Do you speak or teach any other foreign language? If no, which foreign language would you love to learn, and why?
I teach the English language. However, I would love to learn another language that one in six people in the world speaks—I think that is Chinese.
Part of your job involves helping authors convert their books into audiobooks. How do you do this?
I convert books into audiobooks by using my independent voice and exquisite narration skills to interpret the author’s intent. As an author, the benefits of having an audio version of your book are immense. Amongst other realities, you can reach a wider audience and earn more.
I have narrated few books like Speak It Right, which was authored by me; Stunt Duck by Lady Bird Book; and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Henry Carl.
What criteria should a book meet for it to be qualified to be converted into an audiobook?
The major criterion is if the content of the book is suitable for an audiobook. For example, if the story/message of the book depends on charts, diagrams and graphs, it’ll be difficult to get it across to listeners, as opposed to readers. A page or two of photographs might not make much of a difference. Again, if the book contains a section full of photos or artworks, it cannot be seamlessly converted into an audio format. In contrast, the conversion of a linear story or a narrative book into an audiobook works well.
What major challenges do you face in your line of work? And where do you see yourself and career in five years?
The major challenge I face is the prevalent misconception that elocution is the changing of an accent or the adoption of a foreign accent. And I hope that my concerted and coordinated efforts will be instrumental in disabusing people of such a fallacy. In five years’ time, I look forward to becoming the best at what I do. Buoyed by the popular quote, “Never settle for less than your best,” I’ll stop at nothing to become the finest and most influential elocutionist in Africa. That’s my utmost career goal, and it’ll be achieved by treading the path of transforming lives on national and international platforms.
If you were to travel to three countries this year for pleasure, which countries would they be, and why?
I would love to travel to Australia and to the United Kingdom, in order to learn their cultures and, most importantly, learn more about the Queen’s English. I would also love to visit Hong Kong because I would be able to help more people there speak English clearly and confidently, and I would earn more in the process.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…
Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train
The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report…
and then