Mobola Badekale, also known as Bolabad, is a seasoned and certified award-winning broadcaster with almost a decade experience in broadcast journalism.
A graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye where she studied geography and regional planning before proceeding to study presentation at the National Broadcast Academy, she also has other professional certificates in broadcast-related courses from Alison, Coursera, e.t.c to her name.
She has also worked with several media houses, from magazine to radio, and television stations. She is a vast event, and red carpet host, a voiceover artist, currently working as an On-Air Ambassador at Royal Roots 92.9fm Ibadan, Nigeria. She spoke with OYOINSIGHT.COM.
Tell us about your foray into broadcasting?
I have always wanted to be a broadcaster for a long time, I’d just listen to radio stations and watch television shows, wishing without an inkling of how to start until after my service year in 2016 when a friend pushed me to go for an audition at Brilla FM in Lagos, I didn’t make the cut, but another friend of mine that saw the passion and happened to have a contact of a broadcast journalist in Ibadan that worked with Space FM at the time, Tunde Onadeko (Tuplayful) gave his contact. I contacted Tuplayful, he asked me to send a demo which I did, he said he liked what he heard, then asked me to come to the radio station, he then put me under his wing, trained me for about 6 months while I was a graduate intern at the radio station. He then recommended me for employment, that was how I got my first employment as a broadcast journalist. I later worked for an online radio and TV (TSolid Radio/tv) as head Of programming, in between that I attended the Nigerian Broadcast Academy in Lagos because I felt it necessary because I am a graduate of geography and regional planning. I worked at Tsolid till late 2021, when I got an employment offer at Royal Roots FM 92.9 Ibadan where I currently work as an On-Air Ambassador.
How has it been?
A rollercoaster, I must say. There are days I really doubt myself. Sometimes I ask who gave me the passion..lol… but in all, it has been an amazing experience.
Have you ever regretted being a broadcaster?
Never, it is a prestigious profession.
What challenges do female broadcasters face?
Generally, I have heard stories of sexual harassment, but I have never experienced that during my years of working as a broadcaster. But personally, I think there is somewhat of a discrimination against the female broadcasters in terms of pay, and the societal expectations as well, there are things a male broadcaster will do and it will be overlooked, and a female broadcaster dare not try half of it, else you will be branded loose, or bad, you know, things as little as getting a car ride from a male colleague, or drinking alcohol. It is crazy but it is still a thing.
Do you think we have many female broadcasters?
Definitely, I actually think we have more than enough female broadcasters, especially on radio.
As a woman, have you been harassed sexually? If yes, how did you handle it?
As a woman, yes. The one I still dread is taking a commercial bike with anyone. It happened years ago, I took a bike with a man, I ignorantly sat in the middle because I felt he was going to alight before me, but less than 5 minutes into the ride, this man literally wanted to enter me, I was feeling his business and everything, so I called him out calmly, alighted from the bike, and took another alone, and ever since I go out of my way to avoid a repeat.
How many female broadcasters have you mentored?
About 10 or more… Some of which are really doing good as professionals.
Where do you see yourself in few years to come?
In a happy and proud space honestly. A place I can say I am genuinely that broadcaster I think I am and more, a place where the name “Bolabad” means a lot of positive things in my industry and beyond.
