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| Agatha Amata, Founder, Rave TV & Trend FM |
Her TV talk show, Inside-Out, which she started its
recording from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Law auditorium, remains one of
the longest independent television talk shows in Nigeria that cut across every
circles of life, and engaging extensively on the Nigerian youth and experts on
different fields of study.
Born in 1970 to Mr. and Mrs.
Nwakalor, a humble family whose sole concerned was about better and bright
future for their children. She lost her father, a core civil servant while
still very young, but her widow mother, singlehandedly trained her and six
other siblings to the University level.
With good grades in her Senior
Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE), including English Language and
Mathematics, Agatha was determined to make success of herself. Though she
yielded to her parents’ request of her to study a science related course in the
university, she was not cut for it; hence, she upon her graduation pursued her
passion in English language and film production, which has propelled her to
remain a visible TV star. She trained both in Nigeria and abroad.
Dubbed as the Oprah Wilfrey of
Nigerian talk shows, Agatha has remained unswerving and steadfast in the
business of talking to veritable youths and experts that do justice to critical
issues affecting Africa and beyond.
With Inside-Out Media Limited,
Agatha has not only brought academic enlightenment to the youths, she has also
brought political and economic solutions to Nigeria’s problem. The programme
looks at in-depth of issues that affect the society.
At first, many never believed
that Inside-Out would be a rave of the moment of talk shows in Nigeria. Today,
the talk show in spite of the economic challenges and other factors has not
only stayed but has metamorphosed into a media empire, Inside-Out Media Limited,
with a TV (Rave TV) and a Radio
Station (Trend 100.9FM) both in
located in the multi-million naira edifice in Ilupeju, Lagos.
The TV station, which began test
transmissions on Monday, July 22, 2014, is open for outside productions
including music video shoots with a fully kitted studio. Inside-Out with Agatha
is viewed on 16 Nigerian television stations including Star Times and DSTV.
As a philanthropist Agatha has
through her TV talk show, Inside-Out, reach out to the downtrodden of the
society. She founded a non-governmental organization called Foundation for Effective Socio-Economic
Change in Africa (FESECA), an initiative that empowers the less privilege
in the society.
Fondly called mother of integrity
by admirers due to her non-tolerance nonsense or idleness of mind, Agatha
developed her passion for journalism back in her days at the University of Jos,
where she studied Botany.
She believes that every Nigerian
youth must take their destinies in their hands and their rightful places
as leaders of today and not tomorrow. She also believes that if corruption and
leadership are well treated with creditability, Nigeria will be a better place
to be proud of. She also believes that every Nigerian must not sell their
conscience for N5,000 or N10,000 to every election time.
In a bid to recreate herself and
give chance to a new generation, Agatha as part of activities for the 20 years
anniversary celebration of Inside-Out, launched a search for a successor as
presenter for the show.
“We filmed the first
episode of Inside-Out with Agatha on July
12, 1997 and having done this for 20 years, I feel it’s time for me to step
down. Inside Out is not just a program for me; it has become a passion, which I
have built in the past 20 years.
“The amount of things I
have learned and done on the show has shaped the person I am today. So I
decided for the 20th anniversary of the show, while I am still able to, to look
for someone I can groom over the next two years to take over from me,” Agatha said.
On how she hopes to select the
right person for the job, she says: “The search will
not be the typical reality TV show, it is open to both sexes between the age of
25 and 35. Judges for the show will be those who have been with me over the
years.
“I will draw them out
from a pool of my old and current team members, viewers and fans, the people
who really know the show. This way, the most qualified person(s) will be chosen
to replace me on the show. No price tag will be attached to ‘the search’
because I don’t want people to do this for money.”
Her biggest achievement is
touching the lives of people in different ways, stressing that she will
miss after stepping down from the show, the continuous learning and discoveries
that come with the show.
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