‘There’s joy that comes with working for yourself’

A graduate of Religion and Music from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Tochukwu Lorenzo Uzonna Menakaya is a leading voice in broadcasting, especially in the southeast, having worked with different media organisations. Though currently the Director of Programmes of Lion FM, Lorenzo, who holds a certificate in broadcasting from Institut Panos Afrique de l’Ouest (PANOS Institute West Africa), Dakar, Senegal and Institute for Media and Society, Lagos, is a man of many parts. Aside his role as the Executive Director, HOVA Africa, he’s the President, Hope Vanguard, Member, Board of Directors, Anambra Book & Creativity Network, Team Leader, League of Young African Leaders and Editor, Filming Africa. In this interview with CHUKS NWANNE, Lorenzo, who had other short courses with the BBC, spoke on his love for radio, his career and forthcoming tenth-anniversary celebration.

What was your childhood ambition?
As a child, I wanted to be an actor and a gospel singer. But by age seven, I had become a child-evangelist preaching in churches during children programs in different cities; I spoke at end of year programmes and at graduation ceremonies of schools. Actually, my Mom and Francis Bassey of Children Evangelism Ministry (CEM) groomed me and Bishop Ken Uloh of Divine Grace Liberation Assembly mandated me at some occasions to lay hands and pray for church members; this shifted the focus of the trainings I should have had a bit.

How do you mean?
Ordinarily, one would have expected that I study Mass Communication, but my introduction to evangelism was responsible for my eventual course of study, Religion and Music. But after that, I took interest in broadcast media.

What was your attraction to broadcasting?
I fell in love with radio at a very young age, listening to Minaj Systems Radio, Obosi and later Cosmo FM, Enugu. Growing up, I needed where to express my love for speaking since I had started singing in church more than preaching. So, I chose radio – my love. I had special interests in certain presenters and the one I could easily reach after a long while was Chuks the Spaceman. But veteran broadcaster formerly of Radio Nigeria, Victoria Madukife, taught me a bit of pronunciation in her living room after her retirement. Few months later, through the help of the founder Mr. Henry Emele, I joined a new radio station at the University of Nigeria and became the first voice heard on the station.

How has the experience been so far?
This is my tenth year in broadcasting. I’ve worked and consulted for a few media houses within this time frame, including the BBC, UniZIK FM, Stallion FM, ESUT Radio and I’m currently consulting for Lion FM. I got the On-Air Personality of the Year nominations at The Future Awards Africa 2011 and 2012, alongside some of the biggest names in the business, which put me on the map as one of the Top Ten Young Broadcasters in Nigeria. I have won a few awards, including Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards for Best Presenter on a Midday Show (East) and Nigeria Fashion and Style Awards 2015 for Most Fashionable OAP (formerly Garden City Fashion Awards).

It seems you are in love with radio?
Radio has become a part of me, we understand each other very much; it’s exciting. The radio spirit knows when I want her and comes on me like fresh dew in the morning. Besides, I like the media where I’m not seen; I could walk in wearing a boxer short and I’m sounding like I have a designer jacket on. Radio is one thing I can teach young people to do; I always have at least two mentees at every time.

What’s you connection with Nollywood?
Well, I’m gifted in music composition, so, one day, my bosom friend and Nollywood Director, Ikenna Aniekwe asked me to compose the soundtrack for his movie Room Service. He knew I had interests in acting, so he felt it was a good opportunity for me to get into the industry. I composed the tunes and that was how I started composing for other producers.

Have you received any formal training in film?
In December 2014, I was selected by MOFILM, United Kingdom to participate in the Unilever funded Academy for African Filmmakers, where I was mentored by British entrepreneur Silja Frey, South African Filmmakers Beathur Mgoza Baker and Neville Josie. Filmmakers such as Mildred Okwo, Femi Odugbemi, Michelle Bello, Kemi Adetiba, Jude Idada, Seyi Babatope, Ikenna Ezenyirioha and Moses Inwang also mentored me.

Have you acted in any movie before?
The ingenious Ikenna Aniekwe gave me an acting job in his next film after I did his soundtrack; he gave me roles in some of his subsequent films. In 2011, I played the lead role in the screen adaptation of Professor Emeka Nwabueze’s Spokesman for the oracle, which was executive produced by Professor Bartho Okolo led University of Nigeria. I also featured in My Confession, Lonely Walk, Parish House, Midnight Tears, My Diva, A Midnight Toast, Diva’s World, Star Secret, 15 Minutes, The Sacrifice and Origin, a series produced by UK-based Jumafor Ajogwu. I also produced and directed my first film Sundown Tale, starring Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards winner, Nicolette Ndigwe and Musician Chimere Chukuka; it got honourable mention at Abuja International Film Festival 2015.

You’ve hosted a couple of events and shows, how has it been?
It has been amazing, especially the corporate events. I have hosted many social and corporate events in and out of Nigeria, including Gulder Club Ultimate, Bayelsa Book & Craft Fair, Anambra Book and Creativity Festival, Garden City Fashion Awards 2015, Abuja International Film Festival etc.

Which do you consider as your most challenging job so far?
I have anchored some of the University of Nigeria Convocation ceremonies since 2011, making me one of the youngest persons to host a University Convocation event in Nigeria. For me, that’s a big challenge; the protocol of convocations and following of due process is not that easy. I learned from the former PRO of UNN, Mr. Gozie Arazu, but still, it is not that easy because of the pressure that goes with recognition. Well, they say I do great, so I keep flying.

You’ve helped to set up some radio stations in the east, what exactly is your role?
While my senior colleague and partner Uche Mbuko works on the technical, I focus on the programs development. That is my strength and we have done so for almost all the stations I mentioned earlier.

Is it by choice that you decided to be your own man?
Most definitely, there’s joy that comes with working for yourself. Notwithstanding, I still have affiliations with other people.

You will be marking your tenth anniversary in the industry this year, how does that make you feel?
Greatly privileged. I didn’t know I would stay this long, I thought I’d wake up one day and decide to go elsewhere for lack of support. God kept me so I will keep honouring Him.

How do you plan to celebrate, any activity?
UNN Staff Awards is coming up on July 29. It is supposed to be the eve of my anniversary, so, we’ve included it in the programme for the day. We will have a get-together same day after the show, then on Sunday, we would be at Dominion City for a thanksgiving service. In all, it’s about giving thanks to God.

You’ve been involved in mentoring young people, what’s the drive?
I believe that success means imparting lives with the fullness of my personality. I served as Counselor/Educator at the University of Nigeria Youth Friendly Centre, where I met a lot of young people that have issues like me. I like to multiply myself in others. I got involved with community development and social services since 2006 with different organisations, including ROHI Educational Services and Capacity Building (RESCAB), Anti-AIDS Campus Crew, Inter-Campus & Community Development Organisation (ICCD) visiting rural communities annually. I always have two persons at least I mentor each time. I also organise Young African Leaders Summit and Honours annually and I’m a School of Entertainment Facilitator at Dominion City Camp-meetings and National Youth Summit organised by Golden Heart Foundation. So, there’s always an opportunity to answer questions young people have; it’s a rare privilege.

Your original plan was to be behind the camera, but that has changed. What are the challenges of being a celebrity?
Are there? Yes there are. Not being able to do things the way others do; I can’t walk home peacefully. Instead of people imagining that I wanted to exercise myself, they would say ‘maybe he has sold his car due to hardship.’ I was eating in a local restaurant at Odenigwe once and some girls passed and started murmuring saying, ‘Lorenzo also eats here.’ They laughed at me terribly and called me names too. But I wanted to eat good local food, anything wrong with that?