Tobi Bakre Reveals The Powerful Messages In The “I Am DStv Campaign”

One the new faces the public loves to identify with Tobi Bakre reveals the powerful messages in the “I Am DStv Campaign”

Que, Ans, If you had to explain what the I Am DStv Campaign is to a teenager, what would you say?

The power of you being able to be anything, the young person out there knows he can be anything he/she wants to be. I can be an academic and still have a social life because in a way that’s my brand. A lot of people go to school and want to be Doctors but at the same time they have the flair for something else, the ad is centred around being able to be anything, you can be whatever it is you want to be in life.

Don’t limit yourself, just know what is within you is the power to be anything and different things whichever suits you.

Que, You featured as a villain in the ad. What was that experience like?

Ans, It was interesting, that is the biggest production set I have been on, it was quite interesting, there were a lot of professionals on set, it was a good one.

When they gave me the role of a villain, I thought I would be given the role of a lover boy but apparently they saw a villain in me and that’s a pointer to the fact that I can be a versatile (a lover boy and a villain)

Que,What are your thoughts on the role of television programming when it comes to fostering oneness in Nigeria?

Ans, It can’t be underestimated as a lot of people watch TV, though the online space is gaining a lot of traction, the older and younger generation still watch TV and there is still a lot of messages that can be passed via television. A lot of oneness and unity messages can be embedded into entertaining content. There is quite a number of movies and TV shows that entertain audiences but still pass a message across.

TV has a huge role to play and so far, we are not doing badly but we can always do better.

Que, As someone that was made popular on a MultiChoice platform, how has “blowing” from there help position you as an entertainer and a story teller?

Ans, That was what I went to the show for, I wanted to switch to the entertainment industry but I couldn’t leave 4 years of banking and start going for auditions, I needed that platform and DStv granted that. It is one of the best things that has happened to me in my whole life, right now there are a lot of things I want to do, I have the audience for it. I can approach any producer or company and table my ideas, even on my own I can work on projects and have the audience for it thanks to DStv.

Que, Tell us about your character in Hustle and how will you describe the hustle spirit of young Nigerian entertainers or celebrities like yourself?

Ans, My character on Hustle, Tobi Smith is a returnee and they think he is a ‘bolo/buttie” but he is actually a street smart guy and at the same time a charmer, he ends ups schooling them a number of times.

It is tough out there, there is a lot of competition and innovation, everyone is doing something different or doing the same thing in a different way, it feels saturated sometimes but what I always preach is remain you, nobody can do you better than you do but the hustle spirit is live out there, you have people working from 7am till midnight day to day.

Leaving banking and the corporate world, I had to wake up at 4:30/5:00am and close at about 10pm so I thought with my new career I would have the luxury of waking up at 10:00am but I find myself waking up at 6:00am five days in a week but it’s more interesting because every day comes with a different challenge

Que,What do you think is the most exciting part of being a celebrity?

Ans, So far, one part I find very exciting is getting free upgrades, I pay for economy and I am upgraded to Business class…..lol….. to more serious stuff, as a celebrity a lot of people look up to me so it’s easier to impact. Your lifestyle is a model for them to live their lives, that’s why I keep doing my best to do good stuff so they learn good stuff.

Que, What plans are in the horizon for Tobi Bakre?

Ans. Asides Hustle, there are going to be a few more movie productions and I am working on some fitness projects, social responsibility projects, hosting, acting and many more. To wrap up the year will be my photography exhibition and then onto setting new goals for the new year.

You will see more of me on TV, acting and hosting.