I don’t regret dumping banking for comedy —13th Disciple

About myself

I am a stand up comedian, a broadcast journalist and I talk for a living. I’m a Christian, single, a native of Odoogbolu  part of Ogun State. I am from a family of five with both gender siblings. I studied Law at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), attended The Polytechnic, Ibadan to study Business Management and also a graduate of the  International Institute of Journalism. I worked in the banking sector for almost half a decade while engaged in entertainment industry even though entertainment started for me as hobby.

Hobby to professionalism

Entertainment has always found expression with me thanks to my late father who was a very funny man, even when he was trying to prove a point seriously so for me, I used to gather my school mates, narrate and act some high points in movies, TV series, and pretty much anything I saw on TV though we never had one while I was a child. This act graduated into wanting to make people laugh as a preferred hobby amongst others, so I started from my church and soon, I became passionate about it and was ready to do it for free. Ultimately, I had to quit banking for talking for a living.

Challenges

Everyone has challenges but somehow I do tell everyone who asks that sometimes in the course of my life, I felt there was too much drama from childhood based on parental beliefs compared to what life was becoming, which led to me leaving my parents a bit  early. But here I am today, I really don’t look like what I’ve been through; but trust me, I had challenges that made me see my life likened to a tragic video script.

Comedy industry in Ibadan

In all honesty, the industry has evolved and that’s a vivid point. The reason being that back in the days, there were very few stand- up comedians in the city but right now, Ibadan has birthed a comedy industry that can compete with other entertainment cities like Lagos and the likes judging by the number of notable comedians with quality materials from the city.

My OAP journey

I’ve always loved the broadcast media, so after I left the banking sector, I opted for radio where I started with Splash 105.5fm on a programme a ‘Smooth Home Drive’ with Jacob Adeyemi and later ‘Trending’ with Tony Awobode a.k.a Don-T. When Lagelu 96.7fm started almost two years after I joined Splash fm, the journey came to Lagelu fm where I currently run my weekly shows and cast the news. In brief, the journey has been tremendously wonderful, very lovely.

My plans in 2020

To do better this year in all areas concerning taking my brand to a greater height by rebranding. Better service for the clients both existing and fresh entries, societal involvement in form of what corporate organisations call CSR etc.

Thank God for the new administration in Oyo State which is highly interested in youth involvement, I plan to bring the brand Da 13th Disciple to everyone.

Sponsorship of events in Ibadan

Though better than before, it’s still a big challenge due to variety  of reasons, but I would say even though the entertainment and investment possibilities is beginning to give the business life of the city a lift, more is really needed to help establish the entertainment world here.

How government can help?

I am hopeful that this administration, for the next four years, will do the needful by investing adequately and encourage a policy that can make support for entertainment events in the city a compulsory kind of CSR, though a bearable one.

Hobbies?

I love talking, traveling, riding, music, making money, swimming and connecting with impactful new people.