66th Birthday: How God, OpenLife, Musa Jibril, CSR Reporters Shaped My Life & Journalism Career—Ayodele Oshikokhai

66th Birthday

OpenLife Nigeria reports that on this day, October 23, 2024, Ayodele Oshikokhai, a top notch and high flying journalist clocked the milestone of 66 years of age.

The day is being duly celebrated by friends and well-wishers who are storming his Amose Estate home to felicitate him along with his children.

For Oshikokhai, it is a day for reflection.
“When one considers the rate at which people die daily, I must be frank with you that I am lucky to witness my 66th birthday and this I do not take for granted,” he mused.

While thanking God for His grace in his life, the Okpe, Akoko Edo Council Area born media practitioner shares brief reflections on his life with OpenLife, Musa Jibril, CRS Reporters and others.
Excerpts:

What kind of family are you from and what experiences shaped your life?

My father and mother were both farmers. I grew up under the disciplinary orbit of my parents and my uncle, Engineer J.B. Unuayankhai, who was a great disciplinarian during the formative years of my growing up with him in Abraka, Delta State.

He made a great impact on my life and without him, I would not have become what I am today in society.

In fact, my uncle to this day is a great orator with a great persuasive ability and a pacesetter of no small measure. He is as peaceful as a dove but could swing and sting like a bee if he runs out of patience.

One thing that could not be taken away from him at 79 is his intellectual resourcefulness and high intelligence quotient. He is not only kind and humble but is down to earth. After God, he is next.

Let’s talk about life as a journalist and what inspires you into the profession? 

Life as a journalist is very much interesting and it’s not a child play. It is a whole lot of work, especially in a country like ours. It is a serious business.

You need to keep your mouth shut almost all the time. You talk less and see things far from ordinary people’s eyes. You write, check your facts and recheck them before going to press.

Right from my youthful days, I have always been interested in writing. Writing is just in me naturally and it is something I am always happy to do at every point in time.

Are your children into journalism?

Yes. My only daughter, who is now happily married, is a journalist. She is a broadcaster; she is very sound and down to earth. Whenever she is on air, she charms her way into the hearts of her listeners and admirers with her golden voice and delivers her message with a bang.

Let’s have an insight into the most memorable moments in your journalism career

I have so many memories. Whenever I look back at the time I was with OpenLife magazine in Lagos, reporting religion, those flashbacks bring a smile to my face.

I may say at this juncture that I thank the publisher of OpenLife magazine, Mr Isidahomhen Idumonza, and our able editor, Jibril Musa, for impacting positively my journalism career.

Today, wherever I go, people recognise me with joy on their faces and are happy for having me around them.

My journalism odyssey could be compared to planting a seed, nurturing it, and seeing it grow without being able to explain how it grows. What makes it grow is quite inspiring to me.

What do you personally spend most of your time on?

Naturally, I am always occupied. I am a busy man. But I don’t joke with my nuclear family. My family is my priority. As a family man, I take my family seriously at every point in time.

Today. If I am not in the newsroom of OpenLife and CSR Reporters, I would be in the comfort zone of my Amose Estate home in Alagbado, Lagos.

Who is the greatest influencer in your life?
God is my number one influencer because the teachings of the Holy Bible cut across all spheres of life.

And I follow it religiously.

Besides this, the publisher of OpenLife magazine and my editor, Jibril Musa, greatly influenced my journalism career.