Former Media Officer of the Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Mr Tosin Omojola is a celebrated sports journalist who won the Best League Writer of the year 19 years ago. His nose for sports news had earlier earned him a seat in the Tribune titles newsroom where he reports till date. Notwithstanding his undying love for his beat, Omojola is also a devoted member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Ibadan. He is a pastor, just releasing a song titled ‘Praise Explosion’. In this interview with TheTabloid.net, he offers an insight into his new found passion. Excerpts:
How did you come about music?
I didn’t just get to fall in love with music now, it has been part of my life since I was young. At a point, I discovered that singing is a talent deposited in me and I have all along been a music person. For years, I was in the church choir and I was even a choir leader along the line. So it’s an inborn talent that has been there for long, only that I’m just being motivated to bring it out now.
Is the Praise Explosion your debut?
Yes, it is. It is not even an album so to say but just a collection of praise songs, just to launch me into the music world and to kick start my journey to the fulfilment of the calling of God. We are already working towards the main debut album, which will consist of soul lifting tracks. Hopefully early next year, it will be out.
What inspired it?
The inspiration came from my willingness and readiness to obey the call of God. He has called me to inspire people, to lift the soul of worshippers who are troubled by the situations of things. To let them know that God is still in the business of intervening to change situations positively. All they need is to cheer up, praise God and see Him in action. Praise is like a meal to God and this is what provokes Him to turn up in situations that are worrisome, just as in the case of Paul and Silas in Acts chapter 16:25 and Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles chapter 20. You will notice that these people were in very difficult situations but instead of them to be weeping or lose hope, they resorted to praising God and He showed up to save the situations. That is what ‘Praise Explosion’ is meant to do.
How easy or otherwise was recording the song?
Nothing good happens easy. It took time, efforts and money. You know what the Nigeria of today says in terms of executing any project no matter how small it is. It took us efforts and hardwork, despite the fact that it was just a 30 minute plus project, yet, it did not just happen easily. It was not just a day work, but it took time and efforts. Kudos to my team led by my producer, David Abanise.
What’s your expectation from target audience?
As I mentioned, ‘Praise Explosion’ is inspired by God to lift the soul and spirit of the children of God. The expectation therefore is for them to listen to it and get motivated to face their challenges with positive mindset. A belief that it is not over, a belief that God is not done with them yet. They should embrace the work and put it into practice, that is they should cultivate the habit of praising God even in hard time, then they will see God in action.
How did you combine sports reporting with music?
Well, it’s a matter of being organized. These are two different assignments and one must not affect the other. And to God be the glory, He has been showing me the way, bestowing the wisdom needed to combine both without one having a negative effect on the other.
How many years are you into sports reporting?
I started reporting sport in the late 90s, precisely when I was in the Nigerian Tribune for my Industrial Training (IT). Initially, we were there for three months training and from there my bosses, Mr Ade Somefun, Mr John Akpodovhan and Mr Funmi Erinle all felt this was a talent that they can nurture, so they encouraged me to always come back from school after we concluded our IT. So from there, as a journalism student at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ibadan campus, I continued reporting sports, combining it with my studies. After successfully completing my course in NIJ, in 1999, I returned fully to Tribune for a year IT and since then, I have been in the business of reporting sport. So 1999 till date, that should be 27 years.
What’s your highest point in the career?
Few instances I can point to but the major one was when I emerged as the Best League Writer in the entire Nigeria in 2007. The league was then being sponsored by Globacom, so the award was called the Globacom Premier League Best Writer of the Year. It was a glorious night I will never forget. The award ceremony was held at a hotel in Lagos and it was such a well attended ceremony where you have the heavy presence of football gurus in the land then. I was filled with joy when I was announced as the winner, beating two other contestants from _The Sun_ Newspaper and _Champion_ Newspaper to the award. Proudly, I mounted the podium to receive the award from Mr Amanze Uchegbulam, the then Vice President of the Nigeria Football Association (NFF). That to me remains the highest point in my journalism career.
What’s your current designation?
Presently, I’m still actively in the business of sport reporting. Still practising the journalism profession.
When did you join the 3SC and exit?
I was appointed the Media Officer of that legendary club in February 2019 and I occupied the position until July, 2025.
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