His admirers call him ‘Double Chief’, having bagged two chieftaincy titles as Bobajiro of Arigbajo Land and Gbobaniyi of Ogere-Remo. Akin Williams, a former band manager of Fuji music star, Adewale Ayuba, is also a royal blood. For many years, the easy-going entertainment personality from Oyo State played perfectly his role as the brain behind the media success of Ayuba.
A journalist by profession, Akin, who believes success in life is about patience and endurance, had worked at top levels with different media establishments which include but not limited to Excel International Magazine, to whom the magazine’s cross-border success and patronage was attributed.
While speaking to Global Excellence magazine about his six years reign as manager to Adewale Ayuba, Akin painted the picture of a wonderful tenure and relationship with the star singer. In his words, Akin who is now the head of operations at Naija FM, London, Naija TV Sky 590, London and Excel International Magazine, said; “I managed Adewale Ayuba for over six years meritoriously and it was a very wonderful experience I had with him. Ayuba is a very nice and friendly man and he jokes a lot. When I worked with him, he was committed and had the future waiting for him. He really worked to achieve whatever he is now because from the onset, he knew what he wanted in music.”
So, at what point did the partnership ended and on what note? Akin sighed, rocked in his sofa, and then he let out;
“Well, I would like to tell you first that Ayuba was a very religious man. Remember I said he was a committed man, yes, he was dedicated to whatever he was doing, this I noticed with him while our partnership lasted. He was practicing Islam then. I understand he was later converted to Christianity. Also, he was extremely accommodating and he hated cheating and he didn’t go with liars. Now, to the question about our parting of ways, I would just say that his long stay abroad while I loafed in Nigeria was the stroke. I had to move on with my life. He traveled to America and stayed for too long while back home, his fans longed for him. It was becoming frustrating as a manager, so I had to move on. That, however, had no negative impact on our relationship when he returned and even up till date. I just had to let go.”
Akin is no doubt a complete showbiz personality, as his job had seeing him handling various entertainment events both nationally and internationally. Ayuba is not the only popular singer that Akin Williams had managed through stardom, king of weird Fuji lyrics, Abass Akande Obesere, was another act Akin had worked with successfully. While in London, Akin was the manager to Miss Nigeria, Janet Fateye Gabriel before moving to manage other beauty queens as Miss Ghana UK, Miss International Plus, Miss Galaxy International, and more.
A widely traveled personality, Chief Williams says motivating the young is his burning passion. “My idea of success is helping to motivate the young ones to be focused, while I work hard in order to bequeath a good legacy for my children,” said the top media and marketing manager whose role model in life is young business wizard, Deji Tinubu.
Chief Akin Williams started his education at Saint Saviour Nursery and Primary School, Railway Compound in Ebute Metta, Lagos and later attended Jehovah Jireh Primary School in Surulere, also in Lagos. He later went to Muslim Grammar School, Odinjo, Ibadan where he represented Oyo State in athletic and football during the famous Oluyole Sports Festival. Akin also worked with Mrs. Moji Tejuosho, daughter of Eleganza chairman, Chief Rasaq Okoya briefly before he proceeded to Lagos State College of Education, Oto Ijanikin in Lagos State.
-Akin Sokoya
