The popular publisher of Ovation International, Chief Dele Momodu is celebrating his 65th birthday today.
The seasoned politician and highly respected Nigerian has always been seen as the pride of the media, but we dare take it further to describe him as the pride of the entire nation.
His grace to grace story is common knowledge among most Nigerians, especially because it involves an open book who never shies away from discussions that relate to his personal life.
The Edo State indigene is always keen to speak about the trajectory of his life when asked, so it wasn’t surprising when Momodu shared how he decided to naturalise in Yorubaland and make Ile-Ife his birth station.
By being an excellent entrepreneur, writer and political figure who absolutely detests abuse of any kind, Dele has progressed where many couldn’t continue. And where a lot of his peers have encountered failure, this bold Nigerian has conquered with his head held high.
His formidable spirit and admirable confidence is why Momodu is respected for always facing life head-on with optimism, even when the road gets rough. Known to be a fighter who would rather make mistakes and learn from them, he has repeatedly manoeuvred his way around the obstacles of life, hence the need to celebrate him on his special day.
Dele Momodu staying relevant after several years is no fluke; it is simply down to him continually setting the pace when it comes to journalism and communications. As an ardent believer of self-development, Momodu prides himself a man who evolves with the world, rather than remaining stuck in the past.
And when it comes to helping others, the publisher is definitely a role model. No matter how difficult the challenge presented before him is, he listens. This listening trait clearly reflects his proper upbringing in the tolerant Yoruba environment, hence his determination to never abandon his kind and hospitable ways.
With a brilliant reputation in the media landscape, alongside his many partnerships with several quality brands, in addition to his unmatched years of crucial experience, it is simply illogical for anyone to even insinuate that Chief Dele Momodu is not a journalist.
Someone actually took that illogical route, and he goes by the name Lere Olayinka. During a recent interview on the Arise News Television, Lere, an aide to the Minister of FCT, was actually silly enough to question Momodu’s journalism background. The audacity of the thought was definitely worrying enough, but giving Dele studying Yoruba in uni as is reason took the absurdity to a whole different level.
An Obafemi Awolowo graduate in 1982, Dele has a degree in Yoruba and a Master’s in English Literature. His first media employment was with African Concord magazine, owned by the late Chief MKO Abiola, but he later decided to join the Weekend Concord team as a pioneer staff.
Around March 1989, Momodu wrote his first cover story for Weekend Concord, contributing to other titles like National Concord, Sunday Concord, Business Concord, and, of course, his comfort zone, the Yoruba newspaper, Isokan.
Dele Momodu was named the literary editor within 6 months of clinching the news editor role at the Weekend Concord. He eventually became the highest-paid editor in the country after editing May Ellen Ezekiel’s Classique, which was a very popular magazine back in the day.
Bob Dee, as he is fondly called, kept growing until he was successful enough to set up his own PR outfit, Celebrities-Goodwill Limited, which preceded the launch of the prestigious Ovation Magazine.
Ovation Magazine, deserving of its own paragraph, granted readers access to vital information from across the globe right in the comfort of their homes. So we ask what more the innovative man could possibly do to deserve the journalist tag?
Despite his busy schedule and lack of free time, as both a journalist and a politician, Dele Momodu has maintained a column on the back page of Nigeria’s foremost national daily, THISDAY, where he regularly shares his thoughts concerning key issues affecting the country.
Our distinguished celebrant has certainly done enough to be regarded as one of the brains behind the growth of Nigerian journalism today, because not only is his experience in the game praiseworthy, but his accomplishments and readiness to keep contributing his quota to the media sector is nothing short of commendable.
His English and Yoruba are the icing on the cake, so if the Babalawo reference was intended to rubbish Dele’s achievements as a media guru, it could be the best description yet for a man whose rich knowledge of journalism can help him predict outcomes accurately, while also setting agenda for Nigeria’s political economy.
Dele Momodu is simply not a Nigerian to undermine or ridicule, regardless of who is speaking or who the person is speaking to, so it will always be a joke when people who have done nothing worth remembering for their country grab the microphone to talk down on a journalism veteran who has.
A local man with global appeal, Momodu has built a large network of influential friends around the world who will always open when he knocks. Such respect and connection cannot be stumbled upon, it takes years of sacrifice, hard work and consistent relationship-building.
While the politician will never be one to seek validation from anybody, especially those who are not even close to him in general life, talk less of journalism, efforts to undermine his work or reduce his influence as a journalist will not even be entertained, let alone allowed to make their intended impact.
Happy birthday, Dele Momodu.We wish you many more years after your 65th, and a lot more achievements that will be worthy of emulation by the next generation of Nigerian journalists.
