Group President and Chief Executive, Africa Development Studies Centre, Victor Oluwafemi, has appointed veteran broadcast journalist, Julie Coker, as one of the practicing journalists in the FemiWalsh Media arm of the organization.
Oluwafemi conveyed the landmark making announcement yesterday, 9th January in Lagos, during a special management meeting, to celebrate the country’s oldest female practicing Journalist, Julie Coker.
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Speaking on the rationale behind her appointment, the Media Executive reflected on the dedication and efforts of Julie Coker in impacting her professional knowledge and experience to building Souq News Tv and The Isle 104.9FM, despite being a senior citizen.
“In the last one year, she comes to the office, she has given us very super contacts, she adopted us as her own broadcast organization, and she has given us the necessary support and network we need”, he said.
He reiterated the commitment of Julie Coker to the broadcast profession, describing her strength and vigour at 85 as invaluable and worthy of being internationally recognized.
This, he said, informed his decision of appointing her as a full staff of FemyWalsh Limited, in line with the organization’s commitment to inclusivity, diversity and cultural diversity.
“She is the oldest female journalist in the continent of Africa at 85, go and check it out. So, we said we will approach the Guiness World Record and apply for an international recognition to be given to her, and it’s something we can do. We are going to apply for it and to get it certified, we will give her, her appointment letter, so when Guiness World Records asks if she’s still active, we can boldly say YES!!!, she works with us and this is her pay-check”, Oluwafemi affirmed.
Oluwafemi further noted that Julie Coker’s appointment is to set a precedence for organizations not to neglect the older generation, as their wealth of experience and knowledge should be highly valued.
“Julie Coker is not the first older person we will be employing in this organization. We have Bayo Oloaye, he is a 75-year-old veteran broadcast journalist, who retired from the services of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN. We gave him the job here at the age of 73 and has since been working with us, contributing his wealth of experience to making our activities better”, he said.
The historic event was witnessed by the President, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria, Femi Egbesola, winner of the Miss Nigeria United Nations 2024, Anna-Maria Orlu and members of FemyWalsh Limited’s executive management.
Responding after the formal presentation of her letter of appointment, Julie Coker expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Executive of FemyWalsh Limited, Victor Oluwafemi, for giving her the opportunity to continue to do what she loves to do, despite her age.
“Anytime I come here, I feel at home. I said this morning, that this scene reminds of the day I entered the TV house in Ibadan, it was the poshest building I have ever seen and there was an English Manager there, who asked why I didn’t speak English with Nigerian accent and I told him I went to the best schools in Nigeria. So, this is remarkable and whatever you want me to do I will do”, Coker remarked.
Julie Coker is a pioneer figure in the Nigerian media. She began her media career at the first television station in Africa, Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) now Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), in 1959.
She became one of Nigeria’s female television newscasters and rose to fame in the broadcast industry through her array of television programmes such as the popular “Julie’s World”.
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