…Toying with floating a Christian national newspaper, express no regret as a Minister of God
*‘My team & I changed the phase of celebrity journalism in Nigeria in terms of content, form, style and editorial direction. We adopted various depth and diversity of news, Modelled The Glitterati after a similar column of The Daily Mail newspaper in the United Kingdom’
*‘Within 30 days, I changed the paper’s political orientation to fashion and entertainment, and not surprising, The Glitterati outran our flagship paper, ThisDay on Sunday in sales’
*‘Recalled how The Glitterati was brought into the market as an instant success. Sold out everywhere in the country, not a copy came back unsold for the first few weeks of its launch as a 24-page insert in ThisDay newspaper-on-Sunday’
*Described renowned journalists: Eni B, Olusegun Adeniyi, Louis Odion, Kayode Komolafe; Simon Kolawole, Victor Ifijeh, Ide Eguabor as shining stars in The Duke’s sky
*‘Nduka Obaigbena-my chairman is iconic and phenomenal. He is bold and fearless. Nothing can stand in the way of anything he sets his heart to. He is a risktaker per excellence’
*“I knew I had a divine call upon my life that I would lead flocks for God. Even before I was born, it had been foretold. I must confess that it was for this very reason that I couldn’t mess myself up as a journalist. It was after I quit paid journalism that I consulted for three African presidents, a three-time federal minister, an embassy, two universities and a multinational dairy company”-HAMILTON
*PLUS, how his ministry feed and clothe the poor, take food and supplies to various Nigerian prisons, in and out of Lagos for the sake of humanity
*BY DR GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU, Executive Editor & Group Managing Director, NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER Inc USA
In the world of celebrity journalism in Africa’s most populous black nation in the world, his name rings a familiar tune. He is humble, intelligent and possesses global media networking among the high-and-mighty. His name is Kunle Hamilton, a graduate of journalism, who holds a doctorate degree (PhD) in media and human communication. A widely traveled seasoned journalist with three doctoral research works sold on amazon.com and he’s committed to making gospel resources available to Christians in textual, visual and audio forms, since he finally embraced the divine call of God Almighty upon his life to be a Shepherd to the flock of the Lord’s people. He is the President, ShaddaiVille Ministries International, registered in Nigeria, United Kingdom, United States, and Germany, that by the help of God had trained over 4,000 souls in basic Christian leadership, discipleship and teenagers’ growth principles. In this interesting interview, this pioneer editor of The Glitterati, a 24-page-all coloured, glossy publication in Nigeria’s ThisDay national newspaper bared it all in an unputdownable way with NAIJA STAND NEWSPAPER Editorial Team. Enjoy:
*NAIJA STANDARD: What inspired you to establish Glitterati, the highest form of Celebrity Journalism; a colourful 24-page pull-out about the high and mighty in ThisDay Newspaper?
*HAMILTON: It’s a long story that speaks to both the daring ingenuity of the publisher, Prince Nduka Obaigbena and myself. After editing the fashion pages of ThisDay on Saturday for two years or so, I was promoted Editor of the same newspaper. In one month, I changed the paper’s political orientation to fashion and entertainment, and not surprising, the title outran our flagship paper, ThisDay on Sunday in sales. Everyone, but I was shocked. However, the publisher wanted to retain the political orientation of the Saturday paper. So, I was given a brand-new official car, told to proceed on vacation (which was overdue in three years) and to create a newspaper title to add to ThisDay Group. That is what gave birth to The Glitterati, and it was an instant hit that raised the circulation figures of ThisDay on Sunday by 10,000 copies.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Do you know by that feat you became one of the pioneers of Society Journalism in a national publication in Nigeria?
*HAMILTON: This remark is quite humbling, thank you. Prior to my time in ThisDay, it all began in Vanguard newspaper when I ran a society column named ‘People’ which was modelled after a similar column in the Daily Mail newspaper in the United Kingdom. I also must acknowledge a senior colleague who taught me the ropes-Tony Okonedo whose column, ‘Towntalk’, preceded mine. By the time I crossed over to ThisDay and finally birthed The Glitterati, we had completely upgraded the language, style and focus of society or soft journalism in newspapering in Nigeria.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Did foreign media influence help you to establish the much talked about newsweekly, Glitterati?
*HAMILTON: Yes and no. There is no shame in admitting the influence of anything or anyone that has shaped any project in one’s hands. My publishers in Vanguard and ThisDay had encouraged me to subscribe to foreign papers, which helped my team and I to adopt and adapt their depth and diversity of news. But in terms of content, form, style and editorial direction, The Glitterati was intentionally original.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Can you take us through some of your evergreen memories in ThisDay as then Editor of The Glitterati?
*HAMILTON: I recall with nostalgia the novelty The Glitterati brought into the market and its instant success. For the first few weeks of its launch as a 24-page insert in ThisDay-on-Sunday, the newspaper sold out everywhere in the country; not a copy came back unsold. All my colleagues were stunned. Some rejoiced with me. And then one day, management felt that The Glitterati should be sold independent of the Sunday newspaper. Radio and TV adverts were placed, announcing the bold move. We increased to 32 pages, and when Sunday came, both titles went their separate ways on the same day. It was a disaster for the parent paper. By Tuesday afternoon, over half of the Sunday circulation was returned in bundles. An emergency ‘war-room’ meeting was held in the publisher’s office; we went back on air to place adverts by midweek: “Your favourite Glitterati goes back into ThisDay-on-Sunday by popular demand!” I was awed by the success of my own creation.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Did you have any premonition you will be called by God as a Shepherd in the vineyard of the Lord?
*HAMILTON: Ah! Yes, I had always known that there was such a divine call upon my life that I would lead flocks for God. Even before I was born, it had been foretold although it took decades before I obeyed the call. But I must confess that it was for this very reason that I couldn’t mess myself up as a journalist. There were so many ugly things I saw others do that I found repulsive. And after spending six years in ThisDay, I set up my own reputation management firm, resigned from paid journalism and went into full time consulting as well as started a global ministry.
*NAIJA STANDARD: What were the breaking points that made you hug Jesus Christ in total, dump Celebrity Journalism in ThisDay?
*HAMILTON: Unlike many other folks equally called to serve God as pastors, I didn’t suffer any breaking points. Even while I was in Vanguard newspaper, I was already pretty much broken for the Lord. But my academics and career were a big pull for me. Despite that, I wasn’t disobedient to God in anyway. Instead, I tried hard to balance both my secular and spiritual sides. Honestly, both complimented each other in my own case. When I resigned in 2006, one of the big reasons for me was a big morality issue that preyed on my conscience: I didn’t feel comfortable with not being able to give my all to the business of newspapering because of my growing commitment to my congregation. Nineteen years on, I must say that I have no regrets at all. God has been good to me.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Can you take us through your experience so far in the Christian Ministry?
*HAMILTON: As President, ShaddaiVille Ministries International, which is registered in Nigeria, United Kingdom, United States, and Germany, God has helped us to train over 4,000 souls in basic Christian leadership, discipleship and teenagers’ growth principles. We have been doing this in all four countries of the world free of charge since 2009. ShaddaiVille started in 2003. Our leadership graduates all have globally recognised certificates of the ShaddaiVille Leadership Academy (UK). I am also the Shepherd in Charge of our twin ministry – the Celestial Church of Christ, PraiseVille – which started in Berlin, Germany and is also up and running in Lagos, Nigeria.
*NAIJA STANDARD: What lessons has God taught you on how to relate with the people?
*HAMILTON: I have spent 40 years in the Celestial Church of Christ, a highly misunderstood and stigmatized 78-year-old church. I have learned some hardcore lessons like, God will continue to use the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and that people are the nucleus of God’s love for our universe; people, not the church pews or steeples, and as such we must share the genuineness of Christ’s love with all peoples, regardless of race, creed, colour, language or denomination. In addition to my personal salvation (of body, soul and spirit) and that of my congregants, my twin ministries and I are wholeheartedly given to alleviate in our own way three human conditions that the love of Christ calls us to: We feed and clothe the poor as well as take food and supplies plus revivals to various prisons, in and out of Lagos.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Do you have regrets quitting Society Journalism?
*HAMILTON: None. Journalism and my doctorate degree in media and human communication continue to buoy me up in ministry as well as my business as a consultant.
*NAIJA STANDARD: What plans have you to produce newsletters, continuously write articles to win more souls to God being a renowned journalist?
*HAMILTON: I already have three doctoral research works sold on amazon.com and I am committed to making gospel resources available to Christians in textual, visual and audio forms till my time is up. So, help me God. Amen.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Africa and the world recognise the name Kunle Hamilton, and your face is popular too. Your name opens doors to corridors of power as then Editor of The Glitterati. Do you miss all that?
*HAMILTON: I dare say there is nothing I need now that God’s grace doesn’t put within my grasp. It was after I quit paid journalism that I consulted for three African presidents, a three-time federal minister, an embassy, two universities and a multinational dairy company, among others. I have been divinely blessed and very contented.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Nduka Obaigbena, fondly called ‘The Duke’, publisher of ThisDay Newspaper, owner of Arise News Television and many more projects enjoy breaking new grounds. How will you describe him in person, attitude to work and style of elegance?
*HAMILTON: My Publisher and Chairman is iconic and phenomenal. He is bold and fearless. Nothing can stand in the way of anything he sets his heart to. He is a risktaker per excellence. He gave all of us who worked for him the leeway to express our creativity in an enabling environment. He got quite a number of his senior editors’ government appointments. He has his personal foibles, like we all do, but when it comes to his media enterprise, few folks can light a torch to him.
*NAIJA STANDARD: You worked with Eni B, Olusegun Adeniyi, Louis Odion, Kayode Komolafe; Simon Kolawole, Victor Ifijeh, Ide Eguabor and many more, why do you think till date, Obaigbena remains constant as The Duke of Journalism with no rival?
*HAMILTON: These are great names; each one a shining star in The Duke’s sky. We all learnt to surmount obstacles. Obaigbena is a living proof of what the Bible says: Nothing shall be impossible for those who believe.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Do you have plans to someday float your own Christian national newspaper in the country?
*HAMILTON: Yes, that is a great thought I have been toying with. But right now, my teaching, training and pastoral juices seem to dwarf my love for reporting. Let’s just say: Never say never!
*NAIJA STANDARD: Finally, what message do you have for millions of journalists who indulge in daily alcohol consumption and other unhealthy habits?
*HAMILTON: In our industry, smoking, alcohol binges, night clubbing and womanizing are the bane many of our colleagues deal with, and addiction of any kind is one-way trip to destruction. I would enjoin all our colleagues as committed to the dictates of their Faith as much as they commit to the demanding ethics of our profession as the proverbial Fourth Estate of the Realm. Let nothing bring you under the control of any addiction.
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