One of the cool voices on Nigerian radio, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, talks about her job and relationship with artistes when Life and Beat visited her

How I became an On Air Personality

I was a part-time news writer at Cool FM in early 2005. One day, I walked into the studio to drop the news and I got talking to Dan Foster. After a few minutes of banter, he gave me a pair of headphones and he put me on air. From that day on, I became his co-anchor on The Good Morning Nigeria Show until I got my own show later that year. I began to play a lot of Nigerian music on my show back then when it was not even fashionable to do so. I got the management to approve a full hour of strictly Nigerian music on my show daily, and I got to interview many artistes, actors and celebs as well.

I will soon be on TV

I was initially more interested in TV. I even did my National Youth Service with the Nigeria Television Authority in Victoria Island from 2005 to 2006. It was during this period I got involved in radio as well. I have done some freelance TV jobs from the Celtel Win your dream promo in 2007, Close Up Salsa Challenge in 2007 as well. More recently, I was on a programme called, Meet the Ambassadors (Soulmate) in 2010. I'm working on a TV project, which will air later this year by God's grace.

I can't fake my accent

I believe that in this field, it is more important to speak clearly than to speak with an accent. I have no problem with any accent as long as it's not forced or faked. Some of my colleagues can't help the way they speak because they have lived abroad for most of their lives. We're in the business of communication. I'm more concerned with communicating effectively with the audience.

My life as a celeb

It's something I have come to grudgingly accept. I'm not a fame seeker. I just love my job and try to do it the best way I can. There is a certain level of popularity that has

come with it and I have come to accept it.

What I don't like about my job

There is very little about my job that I dislike. One thing that I don't like is the notion some artistes have (especially the up-and-coming artistes) that the OAPs make people stars. This is wrong. The OAP has a hand in it, but not 100 per cent. The song has to be good in most cases, the audience should love it as well.

I have heard that some OAPs collect money from up-and-coming artistes to play their songs. It's my policy not to accept any money from artistes to play their songs. I believe a good song sells itself. If I play a song once or twice and people start to ask about it and request it, it's on its way to becoming a hit.

My relationship with star artistes

I'm friendly with the artistes. I'm not close to any particular artiste though.

Marriage

By the grace of God, it will happen soon.

My days abroad

I got a bachelor of arts degree with honours from Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan in 2004. It was a great experience for me. I was able to meet so many people and it was a period of self discovery for me. Being alone in a foreign country, on a campus with less than 10 Nigerians out of 16,000 students, I was still able to adjust quickly and even take part in different extra-curricular activities, from writing for the student newspaper to reading the news at the student radio station and participating in many community service projects. I also won a few awards and scholarships. I recently got a master's degree in Media and Communication from the Pan African University, here in Lagos, Nigeria.

I love shoes

A few days ago, my mother was talking about how my shoes collection had taken up all the space in my room. I do love shoes and I try my best to take care of them because Nigerian roads are rough on shoes. I have quite a number.

Regrets

I have no regrets. I see every mistake I have made as a learning experience. In 2009, I was robbed at gunpoint at home and my car (Hyundai Tucson 2009 model), phone, laptop and other valuables were carted away. I have not found the car up till today because there was no tracking device on it. I have learnt my lesson though. It was very painful because the car was less than a year old and I had saved up to buy it. My final project (master's) was on my laptop as well and it was also stolen. I have got over it now.