She Uses the Broadcast Media to Promote Good Values in Young People, Meet Temiloluwa Popoola

Role models are important in sharping the behaviors of young people. Young people will always try to emulate people they see as role models. Listening to these people and knowing their stories gives them much inspiration. Temi, as I call her, helps young people to listen and know the stories of their role models. Read below the story of this young Nigerian Game Changer.

Temiloluwa Popoola  attended Aunty Mary’s Headstart Nursery and primary school and proceeded to Bodija International College for her secondary school education. She is a law graduate from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Temiloluwa is a Fellow of the Young African Leaders Initiative and The Platform’s Young Professionals Bootcamp. She is passionate about impacting the world using broadcast media. She underwent a training on creating content for programmes and anchoring shows professionally at Diamond 101.1Fm; The University of Ibadan’s radio station. She has designed several programmes; motivational, educational, professional and entertainment shows for different institutions. They include ‘The Bar Royals’, an annual talkshow of the Taslim Olawale Elias chambers of the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan in 2015, ‘Character 101’ inspirational programme for Petals (102.3Fm) radio station in 2017 and ‘The Share talk show’ to inspire young persons by sharing the success stories of icons in 2017.

Childhood Aspirations

As a child, Temi found the engineering profession alluring and she wanted to be the first female aeronautic engineer in Nigeria. Later, she wanted to be a medical doctor. She was in the science class for the first year of the senior secondary school (senior high) and her grades were good but she later found out that she did not enjoy being there. With the support of her parents, she crossed over to the arts class. She enjoyed arts and performed excellently in this field, which eventually led her to study law in the university.

“When I look back, I laugh. I enjoyed discovering myself”, she revealed.

What She is doing now

Temi uses the broadcast media to impact people and inspire them to be more and challenge the status quo.

In March 2017, she initiated an interview session called SHARE talk show to inspire young people by sharing the success stories of icons in different fields. Her aim in sharing these beautiful stories is to transform people’s mind to believe they can do whatever they put their mind while celebrating the icons.

The first and second episode of SHARE talk show featured two social entrepreneurs- Seun Onigbinde (Chief Executive Officer of Budgit) and Aramide Akinsanya (Executive Director of LEAP Africa)- and a retired footballer- Chief Segun Odegbami. They shared their humble beginnings, challenges, motivation and the factors that were responsible for their success.

Following the Share Talk show, together with her team, they decided to give secondary school students, who may not have access to the internet, the opportunity to watch the interview. This led to the conception of the SHARE community service. The video was shared in three secondary schools and in the Sensitization and Awareness for Future Empowerment Academy. Over 200 teenagers and youths who watched it in their secondary schools and other educational institutions were impacted by the interview.

Temi volunteered with a not-for-profit organization in Nigeria called Sozo network, where she trained young leaders to communicate effectively and to have good values.

Motivation

When asked of what her motivation was, she stated two things: Passion and God.

“I know that everything I have is a gift from God to bless the world”, she said.

“It gives me joy to create programmes that would inform and inspire other people and I enjoy being an on-air personality as well”, she added.

Her passion led her to designing a talk show as an undergraduate, called “The Bar Royals” for one of the student chambers in her University; Taslim Olawale Elias chambers. It turned out to be a successful programme and has become a part of the calendar of the students chambers, annually. Each year, it becomes greater.

Plans for the future

Temi has set her eyes on achieving three things in the near future:

She wants to be one of the world’s best media personalities making positive impact on millions of people through amazing programmes.

She also wants to be able to train and mentor other people to become great leaders in different spheres.

Last but not least, she wishes to become a very successful entrepreneur.

Influence

“My relationship with God has been the most impactful and influential relationship. My entire world view is largely based on my knowledge of God’s love,” she said.

“My family members, mentors and friends also have great positive influence on me.”

When Temi was asked what she would change if she could go back in time, she had this to say.

“If I could go back in time, I would have related more with people who have great minds and similar visions very early in life. I would have learnt from their experiences and I would have been guided to take advantage of great opportunities.”

Advice

Everyone is unique. I encourage everyone to discover their unique strengths and potentials. Our weaknesses should not be an excuse for failure. We should identify them and do away with them, gradually. Finally, put away unhealthy relationships and cultivate healthy relationships that would encourage and support you to be a great person.

This is an opportunity for me to say thank you to my wonderful friends.