‘Seest thou a man diligent in his business, he shall stand before kings and not before mean men’. The above piece is characteristic of Kogi-born University of Benin Student, Emmanuel Oluwasayomi Ahmadu popularly known as Mr. Voiceover, a multi-talented, international and award-winning Nigerian Voice-Over Artiste, On Air Personality, Entrepreneur, Actor, Writer, Life Coach, Social Media App Designer who is richly endowed with entrepreneurial skills and can produce over 18 marketable products. He is skilled in professional haircut services, vast in agricultural business and management, ICT (cyber café management and computer software installations) and catering services. All these expertise got him nominated for a two-category national award in the Nigeria Campus Choice Awards 2017; The Category of Most Enterprising Student in Nigeria and Most Popular Student in Nigeria respectively. He however emerged the winner in the category of The Most Popular Student in Nigeria in the recently concluded Nigeria Campus Choice Awards 2017.
Mr. Voiceover is present to share his success story with Nigerians. The interview goes thus;
- HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT THE NAME MR VOICEOVER?
The name Mr. Voiceover emerged during my 200 level in the University of Benin when I began to meditate on several names that I would be reckoned with and will project my talent and Voice-Over abilities. It was during that time I travelled home and I came up with the name MR VOICEOVER. But basically I do varied genres of voice-over works to a large extent and rendering of Voice Services. I earlier had plans to use other names like ‘jingles’ but I discovered it was limited to a particular genre. But now, the name MR VOICEOVER has spread wide to the extent that many students do not remember my real name and so far till now, it has acquired a national award.
- WHAT IS ABOUT YOUR BRAND MR VOICEOVER?
Yes, my brand Mr. Voiceover offers mind-blowing and mellifluous voice services and has created a niche for itself in the Voice-Over Industry making me an international Voice-Over Artiste that foreign companies and individuals call upon for projects. Mr. Voiceover renders Voice services suitable for radio and TV commercials (adverts), Jingles, Public/Political Announcement, Corporate Projects, Cartoons/Animations, Caller Tunes, Documentaries, Promos, On-hold messages, Ring Tune / Message Tune Customized, Auto-Attendant Messages, E-learning projects, Podcasts, IVR-Interactive Voice Response, Phone prompt, Audio book, Voice to picture, Voicemail, Website, Video game, new media company, Music, Movie, Production Company, Localization company and so much more.
And more recently, I have designed and working on unveiling a Social Media Application that will unite Nigeria students with their counterparts across the globe. Thus, I solicit the support of eminent and well-meaning Nigerians, brands, organizations, government agencies as this innovative idea will undoubtedly bring massive development to the socio educational sector of the country.
- WHAT INSPIRED YOU IN THE COURSE OF YOUR CAREER?
Thank you. My inspirations actually came from friends, people and neighbours who listened to my recorded works; from there I was encouraged to do more. There’s this man my first mentor named St. Mosco, who is currently the official comedian to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state and won the award of Best Comedian of the year North Central Nigeria 2015 in the Nigeria Entertainment Industry, who after listening to all my demos encouraged me to start recording jingles and adverts for churches, media firms, business organizations and to produce complimentary cards. As time went on, I got involved from there, I started going on and reaching out to churches, radio and TV stations (as a freelance advert agent), hotels, banks, small scale businesses and several business organizations with my demos on CD and business card alongside in 2012. At that time, I booked a session to record an advert for a church in a studio and to my surprise, the studio owner was amazed my level of professionalism and had to call me to record a job for him, which eventually got sponsored on one of the largest TV network in Africa (NTA) and on several radio stations across Nigeria from 2013 till today. This spur my zeal to study Mass Communication in the University and while in school I connected with Segun Arinze (Veteran Nollywood Actor and Voice-Over Artiste), Ben Uweigwu (Voice Coach, Voice-Over Artiste and Music Director at MTN Project Fame), Funke Akindele Jenifa (Veteran Nollywood Actress), SAKA (Ace Nollywood Actor and Voice-Over Artiste), RMD (Ace Nollywood Actor) AY Comedian (Comedian and Actor) Akin and Pawpaw (Nollywood Actors), Gordon (Comedian) Mr Ibu (Veteran Comic Actor), KennyBlak, Basket Mouth and Bovi (Comedian) Gregg Onos (Internationally renowned Voice-Over Artiste), Dan Foster (Ace Voice-Over Artiste and Nigeria based American Radio Presenter) at classic fm and he’s one of Nigeria’s top paid broadcasters.
They all have helped me along the line and I still work together with them till date. I also got my inspiration from Helen Paul (an Award-winning Comedian and Voice-Over Artiste) who comically and vocally switches her voice from that of an adult to a young girl. I got thrilled because I do voice switching in my works.
- YOU RECENTLY WON AN AWARD OF THE MOST POPULAR STUDENT IN NIIGERIA. HOW DID YOU FEEL?
Naturally, I am happy but essentially I feel a strong motivation to continue in this stride of contributing my innovative ideas to (a better) Nigeria at large.
- YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME THAT THE COMPETITION IS A KEENLY CONTESTED ONE ESPECIALLY THE CATEGORY YOU WON, WHAT IS THE SECRET?
Well, the key secret behind this feat is God who has much more helped me in coming up with great ideas. I owe my success story to my team workers, those who rally round me. Notwithstanding, God has also helped me to acquire skills and values which got me nominated as the Most Enterprising Student in the Nigeria Campus Choice Awards 2017. And particularly, the Voice-Over I run regularly connected me to On Air Personalities, friends and students all over the nation. And also the creation of the social media platform I and my team operate that brings together students across Nigerian higher institutions. All these led to winning the award of The Most Popular Student in Nigeria.
- MERGING ACADEMICS AND CAREER?
As a student, it is not easy managing and balancing my academics and other enterprises because the stress that comes from academics alone can make one to be weary of moving further or making progress in these two lines.
Principles that I apply to balancing both up are; Time management, prioritization of schedules and activities, the prudent use of the social media as in, sending regularly emails to organizations to making my services known and even when called upon for jobs overseas.
Essentially, I discovered that the school teaches the ideal while the society teaches reality. While in school, a serious minded student should not be carried away with ‘the theories’ been taught in the class but to look inward and think of the innovative and problem-solving ideas the student can proficiently offer to the society to either make them self-employed or get a lucrative job. It is important for a serious student to make him/herself relevant to the society while in school through whatever talent they’ve got so as to prevent them from roaming the street for employment after leaving the four walls of the school.
- WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS?
Okay, in five years’ time, (by God’s grace) I see myself becoming one of Nigerians renowned Voice-Over Artiste and great entrepreneur, using my great potentials and innovative ideas to contribute to the development of the country and the world at large. I and my team are optimistic of uniting students of various higher institutions all over the world in five years’ time.
- WHAT’S YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHER STUDENTS?
I believe that whatever is conceivable is achievable. According to Pablo piccaso, a famous writer states that “every foundation key to success is action”. Thus, my advice to students is that they should think outside the box, have passion for whatever they like doing, develop their talents, meet people in the area(s) of their profession or interest. The should also have a mentor who will guide the when they are depressed. According to my lecturer’s dictum of fact –“when you are sound, you will be profound and when you are profound, you will be found”. My formulated key for success is PDF, meaning “Persistence, Diligence and Focus” and most importantly in all, they should know God, put him first and maintain a good relationship with him. I believe with all these, success is assured as you can definitely get to your desired destination.
Thank you.
