When Passion Was My Only Salary
The beginning was tough, and I’m not talking “small tough,” I’m talking the kind of tough that makes you question your life decisions at 2 AM.
Back then, it was all trial and error. I was just one young guy full of fire, chasing gigs left and right, trying to prove that this “MC thing” was more than a side hustle. No money, no connections. It was just raw passion.
It was that passion that kept me going. I wasn’t doing it for the money; in fact, the money hadn’t even started rolling in. I was doing it because I could see myself on bigger stages. I just knew that if I stayed consistent, one day, microphone go hear my name properly.
My First Wedding Gig Paid Me ₦2k and a Pack of Chivita
Early 2006, somewhere around Dutse Alhaji, this is where my story really begins. My very first wedding gig paid me ₦2,000 and a pack of Chivita orange juice. I’m not joking! That was the whole package!
I will forever be grateful to MC Okon, who gave me my first opportunity to hold a microphone at a church event. Then he trusted me with this wedding gig. I showed up wearing my small coat and bow tie, looking so young and tiny that the guests thought I was one of the groom’s junior relatives! The disrespect! 😂
And you know what? That day sparked something. That ₦2,000 and Chivita juice became the foundation of the brand I’m still building almost 20 years later. Sometimes your biggest breakthrough comes wrapped in the smallest package, literally!
The Day I Became an Errand Boy
Fast forward to 2011, I got invited to anchor a seminar. I arrived early, fresh and ready to deliver… only to realize I wasn’t the main MC. I was “backup.” But this main MC had other plans for me! He didn’t even want me near the podium. Instead, he turned me into his errand boy, “Get me water!” “Hold this paper!” “Bring me a chair to rest my legs!” I was running around like an usher, not an MC!
I was this close to walking out of the venue. Then the person who recommended me noticed what was happening. He just smiled, patted my shoulder, and said, “Your time will come.”
The next day, the main MC didn’t show up; he had another radio gig. Just like that, the mic landed in my hand, and I didn’t look back. I delivered the session so well that the organization kept booking me for the next four years straight. That man’s words became prophecy.
The Night 100k Hit My Account for the First Time
Things really began to shift in 2013. My big break came when a senior colleague, Kessy Lafta, invited me to co-host a wedding dinner. That night, he just leaned back, gave me full control, and said, “Shine, my guy.”
I didn’t disappoint. The energy was crazy, the couple was thrilled, and before the week ended, I got my first ₦100,000 gig. When the alert dropped, I sat down and just stared at my phone for a few minutes. From ₦2k and Chivita to ₦100k? Na God o!
Since then, my journey has been growth upon growth, which was built on good work, word of mouth, and clients who still hype me till today.
The Wedding Stories That Still Make Me Laugh
Let’s start with the funny one. There was this wedding in Garki where I was handed over 200 names to recognize at a traditional event, each with title o! The bride’s father stood beside me, calling the names one by one, and I was there sweating, trying not to mispronounce “Chief Barrister Honourable Doctor.” Till today, I still laugh whenever I remember that day.
Now, the chaotic one was in 2014, Ecumenical Centre. Everything was going smoothly until I called both mothers of the couple to the dance floor. Next thing, wahala! The two women refused to share the stage. One said, “She can dance when I’m done!” The other said, “Is she the only mother here?” Before I knew it, war of words started o. We had to call elders to intervene. MC life is not for the faint-hearted, I tell you.
And finally, the most heartwarming one was the day elders surrounded me after a wedding and prayed for me. That prayer was so deep I nearly shed tears. They prayed for open doors, divine favour, and longevity in my career. That prayer meant more than any paycheck. And I can boldly say, those words still follow me everywhere I go.
When I look back, I just smile. From ₦2k gigs and errands to hosting grand weddings and high-profile events, this journey has been a wild mix of grace, hustle, and laughter.
The mic that once felt too heavy now feels like home. And every time I step on a stage, I remember someone once told me, “Your time will come.” Well, it came… and it’s still shining bright.