Ada Ohh is a Canadian-Nigerian radio personality whose love affair with media began as a childhood passion and evolved into a lifelong journey. Born and raised in the vibrant city of Canada, Ada’s journey in the media world started with volunteering at the York University radio station, where she built herself and worked her way up.
“I started volunteering at york university radio station as well as did my co-op placement there. It was so interesting and it didn’t feel like work”. She explains reflecting on her early days at the radio station. Ada’s passion and inborn talent quickly propelled her up the media ladder, setting the stage for a career that seamlessly blends style, substance, and a deep love for storytelling.
Embracing the spirit of exploration, Ada recently embarked on a journey back to her Nigerian roots, but this shift hasn’t dimmed her radiant presence in the media scene. Currently gracing the airwaves as an On-Air Personality (OAP) at Flow987fm, a Canadian radio station, Ada continues to dazzle audiences with her engaging personality and unparalleled flair for radio.
In a candid interview, Ada takes us behind the scenes of her remarkable journey, sharing insights into her life in Canada, the magnetic pull of radio, and her aspirations beyond the confines of radio life.
This piece has been edited for length and clarity.
If you were to describe the journey so far in a word, what will it be?
Consistent. Radio, media, communications, talking with people has been the most consistent thing in my life. I didn’t fully realise it till the past year, it’s been like 11 going on 12 yers which is insane.
Congratulations on the new Flow show, how did that happen?
I got a message from my friend Alicia. She told me Flow was relaunching and they were looking for OAPs. I was really excited because Flow is a station that I had grown up listening to. It’s a very inaugural part of Toronto and Canadian urban culture. I had applied to flow earlier in my career when I was fresh outta uni and I got rejected. For them to approach me after some years and more experience, I was so grateful and it was really a full circle moment for me.
You mentioned having worked in Nigeria, where exactly?
Yes, that was from 2020 to 2023. I was an OAP on Urban96 which is the sister station to Soundcity.
What’s the experience like coming back home?
It was a culture shock because I had never lived in Nigeria. I only came to nigeria for the holidays and at most spend like a month or two during summer but live there, I had never. (Laughs) Omo Lagos showed me pepper.
Real, I totally get that. What’s it like being a black person in western spaces cause I know it comes with its own challenges?
Yes, that was my whole reason for moving to Lagos, Nigeria. I felt like I had all the experience and credentials in media and it was still hard for me to break into the mainstream media here. Also, Canada is heavily populated and the opportunities are slim especially being a black person or an immigrant.
Being a black female, I disliked putting up that title and all these circumstances on myself. It felt like there was this ceiling that I kept on hitting. I had access to a lot of things for my career but I was still humbled by the standard of things here in Canada. That’s why I moved to Lagos, because I felt there were better opportunities for me here.
Hmmn, that’s hard talk, let’s go softer. Music or movies?
Music, my attention span is so short. Usually when I watch movies , I literally fall asleep. I like listening to music more, it’s spiritual.
That makes two of us. Where’s your favourite place to holiday?
Lagos. Lagos is fun to me because I’m Nigerian and I know how to navigate it. But outside of Lagos, I’d say Jamaica and Mexico.
My final question, when everything is said and done, what is that benchmark of fulfilment for you?
My dreams are so big, and I’ve always known from a young age what I’d be doing.I feel like where I am right now is just the beginning. My benchmark of fulfilment will be when I’ve successfully connected Nigeria, Africa and the diaspora through media, tv,radio, film. I’ve been able to accurately export my culture to the rest of the world through those means. Radio is not the only thing I’m interested in, there are so many things that I can do. I really believe in Africa to the world and I want to expand the stories and culture and everything Africa to the rest of the world.
While mentioning the things you want to connect Africa and the diaspora with, you said film, so do you have any plans of making a film anytime soon?
I have experience in producing, directing as well as more behind the scenes such as production-related. I get really nerdy and geeky about stuff like that so I definitely see myself being a part of films between Canada and Nigeria. Nollywood is the second biggest film industry after Bollywood. To be honest I definitely believe we are close to getting to number one. I definitely want to expand my scope to Nollywood and not just movies but TV productions as well.
In conversation with Peter Pearse-Elosia and Itty Okim
