Mr. Gbenga Omotoso and Mr. Lanre Idowu are the two major professionals who trained me in practical journalism.

Mr. Gbenga Omotoso discovered me in 1991 when I stunned The Guardian’s RUTAM HOUSE with a front page lead story headlined “Woman, 60, Gives Birth in Lagos” in Guardian Express on my first day at RUTAM HOUSE.

I followed it up with another cover page lead story headlined “Another Okwaraji Dies in Action” in Guardian Express on my fourth day at RUTAM HOUSE

Immediately, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, then, Editor, Guardian Express, literally snatched me from Mr. Jide Ogundele, then Editor, Financial Guardian, where I was posted for my internship to work with him in Guardian Express.

Of course Guardian Express suited me better than Financial Guardian.

Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin, then Editor Transport Desk, also helped hone my journalism skills at The Guardian, courtesy of my bosom friend and brother, Lekan Omotoso, who served his internship under Adedoyin at RUTAM HOUSE.

Alhaji Adedoyin further encouraged me as a Freelancer with Third Eye Ibadan, when he left The Guardian for Third Eye, Ibadan during Abacha clampdown on The Guardian and our relocation to FISH HOUSE of the Ibrus.

During the clampdown, I returned to school to finish my course at The Polytechnic , Ibadan but joined Third Eye as a freelancer courtesy of my bosom friend and brother, Sunday Fadipe, who then worked as student journalist with Third Eye.

On my first day visit to Third Eye, lo and behold I met Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin, suggesting that he had also jappa from The Guardian to Third Eye.

In latter years Mr. Lanre Idowu fortuitously appeared in the picture of my journalism career when I joined Media Review magazine in 1998 courtesy of my bosom friend and brother, Kunle Ogedengbe.

While Mr. Gbenga Omotoso discovered me, it was Mr. Lanre Idowu that groomed me, particularly in specialized journalism that I am practising over 25 years now since I left Media Review magazine in 2001.

I had actually started Christian Benefits since 2000 but still working with Media Review till 2001 when I was expectedly flushed out (sacked) from Media Review due to my truancy.

My sack was justified because the one year old magazine was chopping my time at the expense of Media Review

Despite my sack Mr. Lanre Idowu still watches over me professionally.

The duo of Mr. Gbenga Omotoso and Mr. Lanre Idowu blessed me financially hugely on the 20th anniversary celebration of Christian Benefits magazine in 2019.

For further details on my journalism career, get a copy of my book: My Dossier: Celebrating 20 years of Christian Journalism, which detailed the immeasurable impacts of these two great newspapering warlords.