Kayode Tijani started his career in journalism
at a younger age, and today he has evolved to be one of the most respected
sport analysts in Nigeria. With over one hundred and fifty interviews with acclaimed
celebrities, archives of Olympic Games from 1869 till date to his credit,
Tijani has truly carved a niche for himself in journalism. He takes Yinka Lawal through how the
journey started his plans among other issues.
When did your love
for journalism started?
I have been a sport journalist since 1987; I started with a print
media though I have been in TV for years now. I started with Guardian
immediately I left the Nigeria institute of journalism (NIJ). I found
everything interesting and very different from what I was used to. I enjoyed it
so much because I was travelling to lot of trips, not so much money but we
enjoyed it.
Along the line Chief Alex Akinyele, a former minister of
information got a government appointment and I became the Chief Press secretary;
it was a National Reconciliation Committee, I went to Abuja and later came back
to Lagos. I was head of sport at Channels TV and after I left Channels TV, I
stopped working for anybody, since then I have been on my own.
You started with as a
print person, how did you venture into TV?
The start of me going into TV started in 1994, I was one of
the few people who got accreditation to cover the 1994 world cup in USA, but
when I got to the embassy I was refused. They felt because I was not married and
too young, I won’t come back. Then I was the Nigeria correspondent for African
soccer so I called Emmanuel Maradas and Chief Akinyele but I was still refused.
It was devastating that I won’t cover the world cup. So I got a video and I
recorded every minute of the world cup that was how TV started. Being on TV was
completely different from print media, later I went to UK to be Head of Sport
for BEN TV in also head of sport for revelation TV in London. If I was not denied visa in 1994, I am
sure I will still be a print person.
