RISING STARS; INTERVIEW WITH TAIWO

Our star for this week is a Poet, Performer and a Child's rights activist who employs Artistic advocacy to right the wrong in his society. Meet Folajimi Kalejaye.

He is a graduate of communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan.

He is a member of Poets in Nigeria and the founder of Save Our Future Initiative a non governmental organization geared towards fighting the menace of child abuse and building capacity in the younger generation. Under the auspices of the initiative Folajimi led the donation of 1650 textbooks to 8 secondary schools in Ibadan as an undergraduate leading over eighty students at the core of its activities, in Ibadan, Oyo state and Kano Nigeria.

He's an ardent believer in poetry's power to generate National transformation. 

Folajimi has taken to the stage at Festival Poetry calabar, Pentasi B World  Friendship Poetry Festival Accra Ghana, Lagos Book & Arts Festival, Nzeh Mada Festival Nassarawa, Jaw-war, Art-Hub, Selos Cafe, amongst others. 

His debut poetry video AJIKE was released in May 2020 and his latest poetry video was released on the 23rd of May 2020.

Taiwo: Who are you?

Folajimi: I am Folajimi Folajimi Kalejaye; a poet, a storyteller, a child's right activist with great interest in artistic advocacy. But beyond the general task of me defining me by activities, I'll call myself a creative youth with the natural bend for impact making.

Taiwo: Where did you come from?

I'll explore two path to answering this, I come from a bloodline of warriors, believers who have taken the courage to enter into the family of God. I am from a clan of Faithful Christians. However, as a child It was pressed into my ears that my state of origin is Ogun state and I am a citizen of Nigeria. I have come to believe and agree on that even as an Adult. 

Taiwo:  What's your take on excellence?

Folajimi: Excellence to me is not a destination, it's the only tag that can be given to an individual who is/has constantly walked in purpose. Excellence is not about being the first or the best; it's the constant and continued realization of a worthy goal. Excellence is sometimes abstract it can be the expression of a state of nothingness where everything that occupies an individual utmost joy and satisfaction Hence, there is no yardstick for measuring excellence. 

Taiwo: What is your passion?

Folajimi: My Passion so far has not been static, lols, I feel I varies. I have however stayed committed to Children ministry as a calling therein lies my most pressing passion. Child literacy, child advocacy, making sure children all around the world are safe and free from harm and dangers in our society. 

Taiwo: What has kept you going in pursuing your passion?

Folajimi: God's word: I found my passion and purpose in the Bible so I have thus far embraced it as truth. It's a commandment for me to fight for the cause of the oppressed.  whenever I look around and I see pain in the eyes of some children I am always touched by the feeling their pain their stories and this undefined feeling has fueled me to always want to do more for these children.

Taiwo: What is your purpose in life?

Folajimi: Oops I seemed to have jumped the gun before getting there. My purpose in life is to fight the cause of the oppressed. 

Taiwo: What is the most important thing to you in life?

Folajimi: Not to think too far, it's the gift of salvation and the need to preach it.

Taiwo:Your mentor? 

Folajimi: Pastor Femi Wilhelm & Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom, 

Taiwo: Your hobbies?

Folajimi: Reading, playing games, teaching, surfing the internet.

Taiwo:  What is leadership to you and self_esteem?

Folajimi: Leadership is influence, everybody is a leader because everybody can exert influence. It's only the degree to how we exert influence that matters. So a leader is an individual that knows the way, shows the way, and follows the way.

Taiwo: Who is your role model?

Folajimi: Reverend Ayomide Abraham, his quality of life is second to none, I love him, someday I'll be his mentee. Yeah, Barrack Obama too, his eloquence thrills me.

Taiwo: Who is Christ to you?

Folajimi: Christ is all to me, the existence and very essence of my being. 

 Taiwo: What is your favourite food, cloths, and color?

Folajimi: Rice and stew, shirt and trousers, blue and black. 

Taiwo: What will you like men to remember you for?

Folajimi: My immense contribution to fighting the menace of child violence to the nearest minimum.

Taiwo: A word for youths out there?

Folajimi: To Thyself Be True