Agatha Amata
From a humble but rough beginning with a youth friendly talk show to a multi-million naira media outfit valued at N300 million that cut comprised of television and radio station respectively, Agatha Amata have proven to and achiever and goal-getter. Hence she is worthy to be emulated in all ramifications.
Her TV talk show, Inside-Out, which she started its recording from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Law auditorium, remains one of the longest independent television talk shows in Nigeria that cut across every circles of life, and engaging extensively on the Nigerian youth and experts on different fields of study.
Born in 1970 to Mr. and Mrs. Nwakalor, a humble family whose sole concerned was about better and bright future for their children. She lost her father, a core civil servant while still very young, but her widow mother, singlehandedly trained her and six other siblings to the University level.
With good grades in her Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE), including English Language and Mathematics, Agatha was determined to make success of her self.
Though she yielded to her parents’ request of her to study a science related course in the university, she was not cut for it; hence, she upon her graduation pursued her passion in English language and film production, which has propelled her to remain a visible TV star. She trained both in Nigeria and abroad.
Dubbed as the Oprah Wilfrey of Nigerian talk shows, Agatha has remained unswerving and steadfast in the business of talking to veritable youths and experts that do justice to critical issues affecting Africa and beyond.
With Inside-Out Media, Agatha has not only brought academic enlightenment to the youths, she has also brought political and economic solutions to Nigeria's problem. The programme looks at in-depth of issues that affect the society.
At first, many never believed that Inside-Out would be a rave of the moment of talk shows in Nigeria. Today, the talk show in spite of the economic challenges and other factors has not only stayed but has metamorphosed into a media empire, Inside-Out Media Group, with a TV (Rave TV) and a Radio Station (Trend 100.9FM) both in located in the multi-million naira edifice in Ilupeju, Lagos.
The TV station, which began test transmissions on Monday, July 22, 2014, is open for outside productions including music video shoots with a fully kitted studio. Inside-Out with Agatha is viewed on 16 Nigerian television stations including Star times and DSTV.
As a philanthropist Agatha has through her TV talk show, Inside-Out reach out to the downtrodden of the society. She founded a non-governmental organization called Foundation for Effective Socio-Economic Change in Africa (FESECA), an initiative that empowers the less privilege in the society.
Fondly called mother of integrity by admirers due to her non-tolerance nonsense or idleness of mind, Agatha developed her passion for journalism back in her days at the University of Jos, where she studied Botany.
She believes that every Nigerian youth must take their destines in their hands and their rightful places as leaders of today and not tomorrow. She also believes that if corruption and leadership are well treated with creditability, Nigeria will be a better place to be proud of. She also believes that every Nigerian must not sell their conscience for N5,000 or N10,000 to every election time.
In a bid to recreate herself and give chance to a new generation, Agatha as part of activities for the 20 years anniversary celebration of Inside-Out, launched a search for a successor as presenter for the show.
“We filmed the first episode of Inside-Out with Agatha on July 12, 1997 and having done this for 20 years, I feel it’s time for me to step down. Inside Out is not just a program for me; it has become a passion, which I have built in the past 20 years.
“The amount of things I have learned and done on the show has shaped the person I am today. So I decided for the 20th anniversary of the show, while I am still able to, to look for someone I can groom over the next two years to take over from me”, Agatha said.
On how she hopes to select the right person for the job, she says: “The search will not be the typical reality TV show, it is open to both sexes between the age of 25 and 35. Judges for the show will be those who have been with me over the years.”
“I will draw them out from a pool of my old and current team members, viewers and fans, the people who really know the show. This way, the most qualified person(s) will be chosen to replace me on the show. No price tag will be attached to ‘the search’ because I don’t want people to do this for money,” she added.
Her biggest achievement is touching the lives of people in different ways, stressing that she will miss after stepping down from the show, the continuous learning and discoveries that come with the show.
Hello, my name is Nathaniel Ayobami . I'm a 22 year old student Nigeria .
No comments:
Post a Comment