Encomium
Multimedia specialist, Deji Bakare, in 2011 emerged winner of Mr. Nigeria contest. He was known to have been an ambassador for Nigeria for three years before he was succeeded. In an interview with ENCOMIUM Weekly, he revealed the motive behind his pet project…
Can you refresh our memory, who are you?
Yes! My name is Deji Bakare. I am the immediate past Mr. Nigeria from 2011 to 2014.
How was your reign?
It was quite challenging. It opened me up to several opportunities. There were several ups and downs but with God and my good friends, it was quite a success. It was my dream to become Mr. World but providence was not to shine on me. I went for a pageant in Thailand.
You were conspicuously absent during the change of baton of Mr. Nigeria 2014 in February. Why your absence?
That was a fact. I left Nigeria some 12 months back. I was in Canada undergoing some advance technical trainings in modeling and cinematography. I missed the handing over to the new Mr. Nigeria. It was quite unfortunate.
How is your relationship with the reigning Mr. Nigeria?
Great. We are always in contact. I have already tendered my apology to him and Silverbird Television for my absence at the pageant. All things being equal, we hope to do something together in due course.
Are you permanently back to Nigeria?
Yes. No place like home.
Talking about modeling, is there anything extraordinary in the profession that is unknown to Nigerians?
From experience garnered during my sojourn in Canada, I will categorically state that the qualities of our models need to be improved. They lack technical and theoretical exposure in this lucrative business which results to their being shortchanged. They do not get up to the optimum of their profession.
Modelling goes beyond dentition, beautiful faces and macho bodies. It is a very serious business that can be comparable to any profession like accountancy, legal practice, medicine, etc. Modeling is the easiest way to create self employment at the same time enhancing ones chances to self development. Did you know that anyone can aspire to become a model? Whether fat, black, white, ugly, old young, yellow, skinny.
It actually depends on the aspect of modelling one wishes to specialize in. We in Nigeria usually look at modeling for beauty pageants or fashion shows alone. But this is truly not the case. For example, we have body parts models. These models are those that have outstanding qualities of body parts. A fat person may be having beautiful set of teeth, eyes, skins, hands, legs, nose, face, etc.
Modeling agents usually seek such models in spite of their shortfalls. They might not be good as runway models but good as body parts models. Aside from body parts models, we have a plus size model for the fatty ones, a runway model (catwalk), a print model, an underwear model and promotional models. These are specialized aspect of modelling. You don’t have to be the conventional skinny runway models before being called a model. Various aspects of models have their clients.
What are your plans to pass this novel knowledge to the teeming population of unemployed youths in the country?
Yes. I have an immediate plan to set up an international modeling academy here in Lagos that can make a Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford of Nigeria. Modeling is a big business but Nigerians are yet to discover this.
What are your plans for the young ones aspiring to become outstanding figures like you?
Have a burning desire to succeed. Obtain a technical qualification in whatever field you wish to pursue. Don’t give up. The road to success has never been known to be a tea-party.
What gave you the inspiration of setting up your own modeling academy?
The main inspirational drive for setting up the modeling academy is the need to create youth employment in the country. So long as there are corporate bodies and industries, there would always be need for models. Graduate unemployment has reached a critical stage in the country. So, there is need for self creation of jobs by all.
What are the things people should expect from Deji Bakare Modelling Academy?
Students should expect world class training in modelling. Through our network, we shall expose students to the basic rudiments in modeling, how to engage modeling manager, how to approach advertising agents, modeling agents, etc. We shall teach them the do’s and don’ts of modelling.
What are the pains and gains of setting up something like this?
Perhaps the most pronounced pain in setting up the modelling academy is the acquisition of knowledge and knowing the appropriate centre of knowledge. It was not easy. In the industry, there are numerous scams both in institutions and the players model scouts, modeling agents, advertisement agents. My gain is essentially seeing Nigerian youths gainfully employed after several years of education. This unemployment issue is getting to a scourge. Something should be done. So in my little corner, I guess this might be my widow’s mite towards stopping the scourge.
What were some of the basic challenges?
Coming back home from Canada, the issue of finding like minds to run the business posed a challenge in that they lack the desire to educate but rather were more interested in what comes into their pockets. I had nobody to trust until I met my present team.
Being an ambassador for Nigeria for three years, you must have learnt a lot.
Quite a lot. First, I became mature over night. I was able to learn to mix with people. I was able to know the good, the bad and the ugly in the business. It internationalized me. Perhaps, I have to thank Silverbird, the organizers, for this once in a lifetime experience.
What are you putting in place to assist the current Mr. Nigeria?
He is my friend. We are planning to do a get together before the end of the year. We are in constant touch. He is a good guy.
Setting up something like this must have cost a lot, how much did it gulp?
Don’t let’s talk about that. My main objective is to ensure that our youths are productively employed. I used to be like them before winning the Mr. Nigeria pageant. It was very painful, frustrating and suicidal experience. I have no alternative than to give back what nature has given me.
Why did you decide to collaborate with Fountaingate Media?
Fountaingate Media is owned by my Nigerian/German buddy who saw my dreams and had no alternative but to keyin. He came back home purposely for this assignment. They are into international professional media production audio/visuals, photography, printing that would further expose our students in their modeling career. They are the ones behind the success of Bola King’s Arise & Shine Nursery and Primary School.
Who is the beautiful lady rocking your world?
You would surely know, soonest.
-DOLAPO AMODENI
