Ada Ogunkeye also known as Folustormsis one of the Top 3 finalists for MTV Base VJ Search Nigeria.
Lagos born Ada is an on-air personality at 92.3 Inspiration radio. A self-confessed “life enthusiast”, Ada’s Twitter page describes her as an “opinionated, impulsive giggle-bot, knowledge fiend, natural hair lover, dancer, and all round dude”. According to Ada, ‘I feel like I’ve been preparing for this moment my whole life – it feels right!”
CAN WE MEET YOU?
My name is Ada Ogunkeye. I work with inspiration FM 92.3 in Lagos. My father is Yoruba my mum is late and she was from cross Rivers State. I am aware of health issues. She died of cancer so I am an advocate for Cancer am always like check yourself always. I am lawyer. I studied Law I have a LL in the Masters and BSc in England. I was really happy practicing Law in Nigeria. I worked in my Dad’s Law firm first then I quit last. So it got to a point in life I asked myself what I was going to do because I spent my adult life training and reading books. I read so many books. I didn’t know what I was going to do so I started a plan of what I was going to do with my life. I had nothing to do if I didn’t want to practice Law so I remembered I studied hair skin product line where I hand make body creams and hair creams. I started doing that because I wanted young black African women to be proud of who they are. Your hair and skin represents you because what we see in the media and magazines are European and we have to find a path for ourselves as Africans. The beauty definition is very European.
So I organised an event for s travel show at Warri, Obudu resorts and different locations. There are beautiful places in Nigeria let alone Africa and I want people to see and also learn about our culture. For me, I don’t speak Yoruba or my mother’s language so I started panicking and I asked myself what am I going to pass on to my kids. This is who I am, I am young band I wanted to other people to see what it means to be a Nigerian and not just hear it. So I fixed the travel show and I went to check it out on Inspiration FM. So I went for a meeting and what I thought was a meeting turned out to be something else. Shola Thompson put me on air and we were just chatting on air. That was how my entertainment life started.
HOW DID YOU GET TO KNOW ABOUT MTV BASE VJ SEARCH NIGERIA AUDITION?
I saw it on somebody’s dp on BBM status. I thought about it and being a lawyer obviously I read the terms and conditions and all the rules. I have always loved entertainment one way or the other even in school I modelled for a while. I have been in musicals, dances etc. I said to myself I will try it out because I have been doing all these stuffs for free and I didn’t want to look back and say I didn’t try. I forgot all my fears and reasons why I can’t make it. I was petrified that day and there were so many people that showed up.
IS THIS YOUR CAREER PATH OR JUST YOUR PASSION?
Yes I do want it as my career. I do believe your career should be your passion and you can make both out of it. If we look at people like Sinzwe of MTV Base; I started following him about a year and half ago on twitter. He didn’t just start as a presenter on MTV Base VJ although that was where he started. He also worked on radio and he now owns his little restaurant. Sinzwe is constantly hiring and employing people. It is not just about talk about empowering people but also doing it and it is more than just doing it. If you look at people like Oprah; her passion became her lifestyle. She is influential and wealthy. These are people I can connect strongly with as individuals. Whatever it is you have, you must always see yourself and other people. Because the more you use it the more blessed you become. For me, it is a start because in five months I have come this far with Inspiration FM.
WHAT IS YOUR KIND OF STYLE?
Whatever I do I try to add value. Media personalities owe it to the public to be intellectual about media because there is a reason why there are certain things the public need to know. The people who are in it have not media seriously and haven’t been professional and have not tried to connect extra. That is what I try to do. Whatever it is that you are talking about, what is the extra? What can people gain from it or value so that is my style. It is about adding that value or adding extra.
WHAT ARE THE KIND OF THINGS YOU LIKE TO DO?
I am bookworm I love to read. I and my dad read the same kind of books. My best Friday night is stay at home, read a book with a glass of wine that is the best I can do. I love dancing and dancing is a huge part of me. I love sports. I was in the University basketball team. I trained as a basket baller. I was the shortest person so I was trained to be faster. I love travelling and meeting new people.
WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT FROM OTHER CONTESTANTS?
I don’t know what it is. I saw a girl walk in and I was afraid and I screamed Jesus. Her name is Daala. She is beautiful with her smiles and she spoke well. I said I can’t go far. The truth is I don’t know if I am the best contestant. I did my best and I am grateful where I am.
DID YOU LOSE HOPE AT ANYTIME IN THE COMPETITION?
Yes, when they were cutting the top 30 finalists to three. There were two times I was petrified. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be allowed to participate. It got to a stage they were cutting everybody and I was scared. It got to a stage they called the next set of group, I and Daala were in the same group and when I entered the room, I said to myself there was no way I was going to pass this girl because she is good. I lost hope hope I was already like I am out. And they called my name and I started crying. I walked out of the room I didn’t know I was supposed to stay in the room. I am so lucky I was picked.
HOW WILL YOU FEEL IF YOU ARE ANNOUNCED AS THE WINNER FOR MTV BASE VJ SEARCH NIGERIA PRESENTER?
I will call everyone to embarrass them with the good news. It will be a dream come true.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS IF YOU WIN OR DON’T WIN?
My plans when I win are let’s get to work and I will do it the best way I can do it. I will be very happy and so grateful. If I don’t win, I will be sad because the crying will come anyways.
Meet the Top 3 Finalists here