Thread by @RayToluAyo

#TheAnalysis with #TheSportsIlluminator
Guest: Olusina Abimbola
Introduction
Olusina Omotayo Abimbola is arguably one of the most exposed ceremonial sport commentators on Radio in Nigeria.
He worked solely at Radio Nigeria before retiring as Director of Programs.
The thread.....

Before I continue, happy birthday 🎂🎉🎈🎊 to Sina Abimbola. I didn't know today is his birthday until this morning. Coincidentally, I am dropping a thread about him on his birthday!.
Many happy returns to a great man.
Let's continue the thread

Growing Up
Growing up was difficult. I lost my father very early in life on August 10, 1969, I was 10 years and I had to accept my father's responsibilities because I am his first born.
Journalism Journey
Very interesting. It exposed me to so many cultures, so many ways of life.

During my secondary school, I met Mrs Fatoyinbo, the wife of Tolu Fatoyinbo who saw my involvement as a commentator and master of ceremony. She said that I am doing better than even some of the so called professionals in the industry.
She asked me what I was going to do after my

secondary school and i told her I don't know.
The woman said, will you not object if I introduce you to my husband Tolu Fatoyinbo. I said you, how can you be married to a god. The name Tolu Fatoyinbo was like that of a small god in 1978 when I met him.

Mrs Fatoyinbo introduced me to Tolu Fatoyinbo.
On meeting Tolu Fatoyinbo, he said my wife said you are a commentator. I said if she says so. Proof to me you are one. I started mimicking him, Ernest Okonkwo and Isola Folorunso. But he told me that commenataing is practical.

It is largely what you see that you describe. I begin my journey into journalist from there and made a career out of broadcasting.

Joining FRCN
I didnt get into @radionigeriahq very early, Tolu Fatoyinbo advised me not to go into radio nigeria with a secondary school certificate

The future of broadcasting he was seeing at that very time was going to be very competitive. I listened to Tolu Fatoyinbo and by the time I came back, all this issue of trying to get employed started.
I didnt really got into FRCN as a full staff until early 2000.

By that time I had learnt everything, all I needed to know about broadcasting. I was trained by Isola Folorunso who was the greatest name on radio in the 1960s, Earnest Okonkwo, greatest in the 1970s - 1980s and Tolu Fatoyinbo, one of the greatest between 1970s, 1980s till 2000s.

Having been trained, it very easy for me to be employed by FRCN where I was immediately thrown on the fire line because they themselves know that there was little to add. I can report, commentate and analyse.
Two years after later, I had to be sent to the AFCON 2008 in Ghana.

The Challenges
There can't be challenges if you have the passion, ability, dedication, reliability and the determination to see any assignment through. As for me as a person Iont see any challenge that is insurmountable.
There was never a time a time I thought of

quitting broadcasting.
Infact let me confess to you that I have never done anything more interesting than broadcasting in the past 43-44 years.
Sports In Nigeria
Nigeria look at sports as something that is not very important which should not be.

If you look at newspaper, no newspaper will put sport in the front page except when Nigeria wins something big. Sports men and women will never be invited to Aso Rock or Presidential Villa, the State House except they do something spectacular on the national circuit.

It is not by accident that media tribune is close to the special guest seat and the state box. It is because of the importance of the game that FIFA, IOC, and other sports international bodies made the sitting arrangement and the proximity between sport caster, sport reporter and

that of the President, Governor, Minister and other big personalities to be close in the stadium.
If the President of Ghana or Argentina has it in his plans to visit the Nigerian President and those plans are jamming with the visitation of @Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to

visit the same man. I am sure the @NGRPresident @MBuhari will allow Ronaldo or Messi to come first because he knows how much of media mileage he is going to get from that. He knows those ones are global stars but not everybody knows the President of Ghana or Argentina.

If they look at sport like that as an avenue to where we can harvest, I think sport will be very better. The challenges are there but the government shouldn't bother about what it will take for lots people to be involved.

Most Memorable Event
South Africa 2010 @FIFAWorldCup. It was memorable because South Africa was the first World Cup that was covered with the Integerated Service Digital Network (ISDN). It was the first that was made open for text messages, sound, visuals, picture, print

infact for everything. It was was difficult for some of us in Africa to tap into the opportunities presented by that though we later got it at the end.
It was the world cup where nobody cares about what the sound of what vuvuzela will do the relaying of messages to the

South African stadiums back home.
It was one world cup in which everyone was trepidating wether it will be successful or not being the first time and African will host it. It was one of the most successful world cup. One tournament that stick to my memory even up till now.

Ghana vs Uruguay
It was a wasted opportunity for an African country to reach the semifinal for the very first time.
We expected @ASAMOAH_GYAN3 as Africans to punish the South Americans and announce to the whole world that Africans can also play in the last four of the mundial.

Best Sporting Era in Nigerian
The best time was when Dr Isaac Akinoye was the Director General of the Nigeria Nigerian Sports Commission and Sunday Dankaru was the chairman of the Nigeria Football Association in the early 1970s - 1980s.

It was like a pair of administrators that were very proactive. They knew what to do, how to do it, who to trust and they also see sport people as people who needs to be pampered and given a proper support to soar. If other administrators can think their way

Nigerian sport will be good.
I have seen and I have been exposed. I want to thank @radionigeriahq and the National Sports Commission for seeing the talent in me and identifying such talent, tapping into them to actually educate some of their people.

Tournaments Covered
4️⃣ @FIFAWorldCup (2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018)
1️⃣ @Olympics Games (2012)
3️⃣ @CAF_Online AFCON (2004, 2008, 2010)
2️⃣ All Africa Games (2003, 2011)
1️⃣ FIFA U-17 World Cup (2009)
1️⃣ @FIFAcom U-20 world cup
National Sports Festival from 1979 to Abuja 2018.

Academic Qualification
University of Ibadan: Masters of Communication Arts

Obafemi Awolowo University: Bachelor of Dramatic Arts

Anwarul Islam Grammar School: SecondarySchool Certificate

C'est Fini
Thanks for reading
Obrigado

I don cook am finish o. As e dey hot, come and eat. No enjoy am alone, share.
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