I have always known that the reward of hard work is more work. But soon, the reward of previous hard works will begin to yield results when you least expected it. One day during a strike action at Ogbc, it was mandatory for some senior members of staff to run skeletal services, I was there to oversee and do my early morning programmes . As usually, for those who know the workings of a media house, it is a lively place to unburden the most difficult things you may be going through. We were seated at the reception gisting about everything possible and impossible. We gossiped about each other, friends, families and enemies. We were flattering each other and discussing the current strike when the phone at the reception rang.
The receptionist came towards me after the call to inform me that the then Director of programme services, Mr Funso Shogbanmu wanted to see me. I knew that means an urgent assignment. Why will it be me always with works that have deadlines. Why will it be me to cover sensitive assignments, why must I not enjoy public holidays as others. After all, we were on strike, must this workaholic call me again! These were my thoughts, I was already planning how to escape by running away from the studio. The phone rang again, after an hour, he demanded to see me immediately. I said I will not see him in my mind, I ran upstairs, three stories, to my office and pack my stuff, let me enjoy the break as others.
I quickly packed my bag took the back staircase and there you are, I met our DPS right at the middle floor. He said Toyeeen, ó fẹ́ salọ! I was taken a back, what can I say, I started laughing. He said he knew I was going to run but something in him insisted that he should see me. We walked back to his office upstairs. I had no choice but to do what it was that was making him to also run after me.
He appreciated how much I have contributed to the station positively, he told me he has been thinking of a new programme, I said uhnmmm, fears confirmed, more work!. He wanted me to do an hour’s programme on Ogbc 2, it was newly opened then. It will be the diary of a young woman. He gave me the freedom of creating the philosophy, the character and the title. I was given one week to prepare for it. That set me thinking and praying. I must not let him down for believing so much in me, I must not also let myself down. He said I was the only one he believed that can do it and believe me, since I left the media no one has been able to do the programme till date.
That was the beginning of the popular Sisi Títo. With God, I was able to to create a satire, the diary of a young girl who went to do her youth service in Lagos. She was staying at Agegunle in a face to face apartment with lot of funnny characters. It was one of the most popular programmes in South Western Nigeria and wherever people were able to receive Ogbc 2 signals. I produced and presented it weekly for ten years. It has won so many awards and part of it became a book approved to be read in junior secondary schools in Ogun state. I later had a replica ‘Ọmọ́tárá babe’ at Paramount FM Abẹ́òkúta and Amuludun Radio Ibadan. It was also well accepted. My change of job halted the programme but soon it will be presented online here by the grace of God and your support.
I ran away from assignments not knowing that it was the stepping stone to my ultimate break through in the media. The name Sisi Tito today as always is synonyms with Toyin Makinde. The burden of being the one to do tedious sensitive assignments while others chill is not always too good. My experience as a head also has made me know that you don’t give sensitive assignments to loafers and people who will ruin your chances of achieving your goals. Although Brother Funso Shogbanmu is late, how can I forget about how God used him for me to evolve. To those who run like I did, don’t forget that the person whose name is your mouth for assignment will also be there when you are to name benefactor for an urgent privilege. That which you run away from may eventually be your stepping stone to greatness. Love you always, cheers.
