2020 Is The Year Of World Of Dance Entertainment (WODE)

MICHAEL AKINOLA

“2020 is the Year of World Dance Entertainment (WODE)”

That was the word of Eromona UyotaOghene Michael, the CEO of World Of Dance Entertainment (WODE) & Ikorodu News Network(INN). 

In an up close interview with the CEO, we decided to find out how the entire brand has been ever since the company celebrated its 2nd anniversary at the Ikorodu Town Hall on June 1st 2019.

What can you say about World Of Dance Entertainment (WODE) currently?

For us now, it is all about the Big Picture, Expansion and more innovation in our area of specialization. It is our year of Boom; so we shall go with the flow but a lot will be coming up out of this stable here in Ikorodu.

After your 2nd anniversary, what has the brand done up till this point that makes you sure of your relevance?

Well if you remember our 2nd anniversary was a milestone for us, which we also used to create awareness for the development of our Orange Paradise (the ideal destination for any entertainment attraction in Ikorodu), we were blessed with a land and we are positive in due time it will be developed. But aside that we went back to the drawing board and projected other programmes before the end of 2019 which were well received in Ikorodu.

Can you give us some insights on those attractions?

We promoted the WODESLAM 2019; it was an event we promoted that infuses dance and youths with skills for exhibitions. The show which we did in partnership with Hon. MKO Arowolo’s One Youth One Skill Initiative, motivated a lot of people to go back to their life essence and ensure they find something doing with time.

Then came WODE MEETS FAMILY, a programme we planned and executed in 2019 to acquaint ourselves with the parents of our Strikers (Dancers) and also bring them closer to the brand for them to know about our goals and objectives with assurance that their children are in right hands. It was hosted by Hon. Olajumoke Modupe Fakoya.

WODE’s DanceXtravaganza followed, an annual Gospel Dance Show, which we put together in 2019 to orientate dancers about the need to dance and praise God which took place at the Living World Gospel Church in Ladegboye. In the middle of this programme, we partnered with the Ikorodu Metro Lions Club to organize a Free Medical Checkup plus drug provision for the people of Ladegboye, Eleshin & Ewu-Elepe in which we catered for over a 100 indigenes successfully.

We gained the attention of Pst. Adebayo Oteju, who was present at the DanceXtravaganza event and charged everyone in attendance. He gave out 34 copies of his book “Out Of the Darkness” for free. And Pst. Akeem Bello also made his presence felt.

And lastly,World Of Dance Entertainment (WODE) teamed up with Ikorodu News Network (INN) to organize her Network Of Recognition/Dinner Night 2019. The dinner event hosted the children of Divine Heritage Child Care Centre and recognized stakeholders in Ikorodu for their efforts to better the land.

Among the dignitaries recognized were Hon. SOB Agunbiade, Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba, iCare Foundation, Prince Ganny Awobajo, Dr. Abiodun Fatai Abatan, Ikorodu Oga Development Association, Hon. MKO Arowolo, Ikorodu Metro Lions Club, Point View Hotel and World Of Dance Entertainment (WODE) executives, Uteh David (Director General), Igbasanmi Emmanuel (General Manager) & Olarenwaju Tobi (C.S.O).

We must say the company is really trying to make an impact…

Yes, basically that is what we stand for. People actually think when they hear World Of Dance Entertainment (WODE), that it’s all about dance. But to us it’s not the case; we are Dance Pro-Life and we support any agenda that promotes good life. But we have decided to stay independent.

I wanted to ask that question now, Is World Of Dance Entertainment (WODE) affiliated to any political movement?

We serve everyone that sees us fit to serve, we are not affiliated. We just want to be accepted and accommodated. So when you see us identifying with the Oba Shotobi’s Independence Mini Marathon or IKODASS, Ikorodu Division Youth Initiative Movement (IDYIM) etc, It is WODE doing what we love to do best. And by every means you can tell that people like what we are doing, so it has made our relationships increase in Ikorodu.

What are we to be expecting in 2020 from WODE?

We want to increase our online presence this year. We are already working on the WODE-Agent platform, which will make us expand our company and get more Strikers (Dancers). I am not going to explain much here but I believe when the platform is out then it will make more sense. Secondly, WODEAPP is a dance app, which we are working on currently to challenge dancers across board and lastly we intend to open a multi-purpose service shop here in Ikorodu to grow our brand and create more employment opportunities because some of our members are waiting to further their education while some are not even sure as a result of lack of funds, so we have decided to implement ways to support them this year.

What about shows?

Of course there are going to be events, which is already a tradition for us. As it unfolds this year, it will speak for itself. As a matter of fact, we had a meeting with the Baale Of Ladegboye with intentions to promote a Baton Race for 2020, which he has obliged to be the Father of the Day, but in due time Ikorodu will know about it.

For the sake of clarity, is there any difference between Ikorodu News and Ikorodu News Network?

Sure there is; Ikorodu News is the same as Ikorodu Newspaper, which is published by my boss, Prince Ganny Awobajo, But Ikorodu News Network (INN), is a platform I created though with the consent of my boss, but INN is a digital form of bringing out the news and information. I own INN but under the mentorship and guidance of Prince Ganny Awobajo.

Before we end this interview do you wish to give any advice?

My advice is for every Ikorodu Youth firstly; we can all make things happen by working together. Some people are not doing anything but get irritated seeing others making moves. But the truth is, some of us are creative while some of us are good in penetrating the grassroots and bringing everyone together. At the end, it takes everyone to make things happen; know your role and start acting. Our leaders should make themselves available to support our cause currently; because together we will prevent a lot of young lads who are going astray today. And I want to specially thank everyone including Hon. SOB Agunbiade (Majority Leader, Ikorodu Constituency 1 LAHA), Hon. Babajimi Benson (Rep. Ikorodu Federal Constituency), Lion Ahmed Ajayi (President Ikorodu Metro Lions Club) for his sudden support, Pst. Adebayo Oteju, his book “Out Of the Darkness” turned my life around in the 4th quarter of 2019, I will never forget it and the Vice Chairman Of Ikorodu Local Government, Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba (Ikorodu to the World).