Debbie Odutayo: From Contract Staff to Broadcast Industry Leader

Memorable Milestones

Debbie Odutayo, a seasoned practitioner in the broadcast industry, reflects on her illustrious career spanning close to four decades. She recounts exciting moments, events, and highlights of her remarkable career and life journey. Ferdinand Ekechukwu brings the excerpts:

1.My series, Debbie’s Salon: Creating and Producing Debbie’s Salon was an opportunity to give back to the industry that has given me so much. It offered me a chance to reassess my legacy, reflect on my journey, and leave something meaningful behind. With this long-running series as my retirement project, I want the story of Debbie’s Salon to resonate with everyone who watches it, and to reflect on their own lives.

2. My First Job: It was in NTA in 1986. I was a contract staff. And every time I went back to work from school, each producer will want me to work on their project because I was like a tomboy. And I was able to pay attention to details so they would want me to do their continuity and sit down in the post-production. It was just an experience looking up to those people. It was quite encouraging because we had more men than women.
3. Mentored and to have worked with veterans: I was privileged to work with a lot of producers then like the late Oga Sadiq Daba; the late Oga Enebeli Elebuwa; His Highness Alhaji Danladi Bako; Oga Jimmy Atte, even late Oga CY Okonkwo, the famous documentary producer. They were all brother figures, uncles, senior brothers, father figure and all that. They would always want me to be on their projects because I had an eye for details and one of the best ContinuityNigeria/Script Supervisors in those days of Telemovies.
4. As Head Judge, Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA): Being passionate about the industry, it was an experience I felt humbled. It resonated with my belief that everything about this industry grows better. For me it’s still my biggest and most proud assignment I have been given. First to be nominated amongst thousands of women in Nigeria at the inception of the AMVCA to be the only female Nigerian to be taken to South Africa all expenses paid and to be trained and put in that process with Uncle Femi Odugbemi and ever since then being call upon to serve.
5. Serving twice as the first female President of Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN): As a member and President of the Board of Trustees of EMCOAN, a body I creditably served two terms as president for four years, I was elected unopposed and7 re-elected again the second term unopposed.
6. Running Royal Roots Communication Network with my husband remains memorable: Running a business for 30 years is a milestone. I have been working and earning my own money for the past 36 years of my life. From a one bedroom to a shop to a flat now an empire all the glory be to God.
7. Being commissioned by Unilever to Produce their 1st ever cooking show (KTQ) Knorr Taste Quest for 5 seasons Pan Nigeria and Africa Magic’s Unscripted and Dividends – The Series has been a humbling experience when organisations call and hand you projects, you need to bring your A game. That means, you are valued and trusted.
8. The feeling, experience looking at those impacted, mentored. I go for premieres of people that I have held their hands that have asked my opinion or have just had a chat on the job and it works out well for them. And I go there and my head is swollen with gratitude and joy every time. Even when I’m celebrating my birthday, I still get overwhelmed by people just trying to appreciate. Each of these moments truly counts, mirrors fulfillment and reflect success.
9. Blessed to have three wonderfully amazing boys and being a grandma all thanks to God for ‘Omugwo’ has been wholesome. Each occasion provided its own excitement, feeling that have stayed with me the most.
10. Eko Star Film and TV Awards 2024, Seven Wonder Woman Award Winners 2026: Being recognised specially and bestowed with the Eko Star and Film Award in honour of the international women’s month 2024. And also being honoured among seven outstanding women recognised in celebration of excellence across key sectors for leadership, innovation, and sustained impact in 2026. The awards recognitions came at different, but momentous occasions, tells to a large extent how much one is being appreciated not only for excelling in their fields but also expanding pathways for others.