Most people who become famous and wealthy without an inheritance, winning the lottery or a reality show, often declare themselves as self-made men or women. Over the years, magazines like Forbes have also promoted this untrue notion. The truth is that fame and fortune never come without the inputs of a network of individuals in our lives. Starting from our parents to key individuals in our lives, we start and continue our journey with the collective help of many people along our paths. One of the Earthly Angels that GOD used to help me is Nkemdilim Oselloka-Orakwue popularly called Auntie Nkem of the Tales By Moonlight fame on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). One faithful Sunday in Abuja, I walked up to Mummy Nkem as I now see and call her in the car park of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, The Everlasting Arms Parish in Garki II. I told her that I grew up on a steady dose of Tales By Moonlight as a child and I will like to be her apprentice learning from her wealth of knowledge, experience, and understanding of the media terrain. She agreed and her inputs have made me a better person and media practitioner.
The children and family program Tales By Moonlight is arguably the most successful children program in Africa. When Auntie Nkem was still the Presenter, all activities at home whenever the program is airing were put on pause, to watch this program that was infused with numerous life lessons in a dosage that children and adults can appreciate, easily digest and incorporate into their lives. Auntie Nkem told stories to a handful of children. These stories were then dramatized and in the end, the lessons from the stories are discussed. Tales By Moonlight is one program the Nigerian Television Authority can authoritatively say was a success that met and exceeded all TV programming targets. If TV ratings were in place in Nigeria then, it would have broken and held all the records. Nonetheless, the most important aspect of the program is the impact on the lives of viewers particularly children like me who learned that good and bad deeds never go unrewarded or punished. This helped the moral uprightness of many Nigerian children. TV Programs like Tales By Moonlight are greatly needed today but lacking in virtually all the programming you can find on TV and on the internet. Auntie Nkem’s work also includes the Nigerian Children Parliament and Change Makers among other impactful children and young adult initiatives.
It is in this context, I am always shocked when I see many Nigerians who have done little, less, or nothing to uplift Nigeria and Nigerians being recipients of the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award. Meritocracy in Nigeria is jaundiced. It is unbelievable that with all Auntie Nkem has done and continues to do by regularly projecting positively the image of Nigeria in foreign festivals and summits with the cultural performances of Nigerian children, she is not a recipient of the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award. This same anomaly also holds true for all other credible awards, corporate sponsorship and endorsements in Nigeria taking into consideration the positive impact of her body of work. I call on all stakeholders especially children and parents who have been impacted by Auntie Nkem’s career and professionalism to help to correct this abnormality. Credit should be given where and to whom it is due. And Mummy Nkem has paid her dues to deserve the highest honours and awards in Nigeria. And as she completes 71 years today June 1, 2020, I wish her the best season of her life and testimonies man and technology cannot take credit for. Happy Birthday, Mummy Nkem!!!
Please share until something happens…
Ata Ukuta, Editor, www.towncryyers.com
