The number one citizen and Governor, of the Association of Nigerian Broadcasters (ANBROAD) Oyo State Chapter, who is also one of the popular leading and renowned personalities, Ambassador Opeyemi Ayanrinde widely known as “MC SWAGGER” has shared how he started his journey into broadcasting and acting, and his past experiences about life so far.
According to him, ”I joined the entertainment industry, in the year 2002, but the career was fully established professionally in the year 2003/2004. For the past 22 years, I have never for a day stopped doing things related to acting and broadcasting, even for a few seconds or minutes, I have been since then trying to create a platform for myself, working and hustling tirelessly to get to the stardom.
In the year 2006/2007 after studying at The Polytechnic Ibadan, I traveled to Lagos to hustle, make money, make fame, looking for links and connections in the industry. I squatted in a room with friends and Boss for months, with no money, and no food. I later got a job as a barman (ile cashew) at Magbon Hotel beside the blue field, Agbotikuyo Agege. I worked there for 8 months to feed myself. On a faithful day December 31, 2008. Armed robbers came and took away half of my income for the whole month as a barman, thank God I was into daily contributions then. If not, nothing would have been left for me. A few days later, I lost my job. I started roaming around the street of Agege nowhere to sleep, no family, nobody but God.
The first question I asked myself was “Opeyemi who sent you to Lagos..? I replied nobody but myself.
The Special Assistant on Mobilization to Oyo State Speaker and Chairman Conference of Speakers Nigeria, Rt. Hon Adebo Edward Ogundoyin, said the second question I asked myself was “Opeyemi, why have you decided to come down to Lagos..? Because I wanted to make fame and connection with stars and celebrities, it was a serious and sad experience for me, my parents would call at least 3 times a day. Guy, how are you…? Fine but inside me “I knew I wasn’t fine at all. I kept lying to them, suffering and smiling. I later moved to stay with a friend who happened to be a manager of another hotel in oko-oba agege. One day, police came around to search and chase people away, as usual, It was like we were acting in a movie or drama. I ran like a madman. A few minutes later, the manager (who was my friend and a theater practitioner as well) said ogbeni ki lo n le yin nah, koti mo yin lara, awa ti di customer, even if they arrest you, at least 2 days after you will be back. Since there’s no place to go, I accepted my fate, when it’s time for the police to show up you won’t see me near the hotel.
My best food then was “agbado ati ewa” and bread (not fresh bread but the remaining one they sold to customers after 2 days, then #200 bread for #100 or #80 since it’s not fresh anymore. I even ate most time without paying and ran away. hmmmmm, one day I met with a school friend who also lived somewhere around Agege then my life changed he assisted me a little before he traveled down to the east. A few months later,
The Oyo State Coordinator, Forum of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Business Membership Organization’s (BMOs) of Nigeria, in his continuation, stated that he was later promoted to live in a boy’s quarter (6men) in a small room beside the whole house public toilet at Agege Jafojo, very close to “Moriccas agege” our best fish then was “Titus fish” (eja shawa) and concoction rice. Along the line I was graced to meet with a philanthropist called “Kunle Kushimo Agarahu” of sango ota, he changed my life by giving me some money for my first Yoruba movie, I joined it with the little change I was able to raise by myself and my parents (loan from microfinance bank) that was how I made my first movie produced by myself and friends, the title “ISEDA MI”…. The Yoruba movie marketers were nothing to write about then (my movie was released but I wasn’t paid) although the marketer in charge is not alive today(he died a few years ago) The journey took me to stay with my humble Boss “KABEST” at Kola agbado Ijaiye, that was another chapter of my life, or the day I trekked from idumota to agege. Which of the grace and favor would I deny..? No, but to praise him, I don dey hustle no be today.
The C.E.O Rock Radio Television Ibadan (Online), Amb. Opeyemi Ayanrinde advised his fans not to envy other’s progress, you might not know what they have been through before the fame and popularity.
