Although Apostle Timi Osukoya’s first debut, Telemi brought him into limelight, he did not give his life to Jesus Christ until after his third album. He was living a rascally life while his hit album was touching lives. Today, however, he has produced more than 25 albums. The immediate past President of the Gospel Musician Association of Nigeria (GOMAN), in this interview with YEMISI OLUSINA, revealed the secret of his successes and what has sustained him, family and ministry till date.
When did you start your music career?
In actual fact, I started as a choir member of my church. I was a choirmaster in Methodist church, Shogunle for eight years. That was where I started acquiring the talent.
What’s the most memorable day in your life?
The most memorable day in my life was the day I gave my life to Christ in 1993.
Was kind of life would you say you were living before then?
Before I gave my life to Jesus Christ, I was rascally. I wasn‘t born again when my first album was released; it was after my third album Ileya that I gave my life to Christ. Before then, I was living in shambles; I was living on my own. It was later God took over my life.
But how were you able to get the inspiration to compose songs when you’ve not given your life to Christ?
The mere fact that one is not born again does not mean one is not in the Lord. God created everybody. Definitely, God is always waiting for us to declare to Him that we are ready for Him.
Whether we are born again or not, we are created in his image. God does not want to lose anybody; God has deposited some things in everybody.
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Look at Paul, he was very strong-willed and dedicated to whatever he wants to do and when he actually gave his life to God, those gifts manifested.
That is to tell us that God loves everyone. He is ever there with His outstretched arms to take us back even when we have gone astray for many years. You remember the story of talents?
Everyone is blessed with one talent or the other, it is now left for us to look inward, discover it and invest it into the service of God and it will end up even benefitting us.
What made you give your life to Jesus Christ?
I was in a programme at a church in Ayobo and while the ministration was going on, I was really touched and I discovered I’ve been naked and being on my own.
I also discovered that there was someone who has been waiting to see me, to take care of me. So, I came out during the ministration to the altar and I gave my life to Christ.
How would you describe the journey since then?
It has been wonderful but that doesn’t mean I’ve not been having challenges. The Bible says many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord will see them through.
At every time I find myself in a challenge, God has always been there to bail me out.
What is the most challenging issue you’ve had?
As a child of God, you are bound to have so many challenges but the thing is, once I overcome a challenge, I put it behind me.
I don’t like remembering those challenges rather; I like to thank Almighty God for seeing me through the challenges of life.
How do you spend your day from when you wake up till the time you go to bed?
I’m a very busy person and I cannot say I spend my day in a particular way. All I know is that I’m a busy person. I wake up to do things that appeal to me.
If I don’t compose, I write. I’m a producer, a sound engineer, I keep myself busy on the computer, designing stuffs you know I’m a graphic artist too. I don’t have a dull moment.
How do you manage your schedule?
When I wake up in the morning and do all those things, by the time night falls, I go to bed.
When you became the National president of GOMAN, what were the challenges you faced?
The challenges have always been that of gathering people together. It is not an easy task to do because people are of different backgrounds, different ideologies and principles.
In a secular society, gathering people can be achieved easily but for spiritual assignments especially, gospel music, it is very sensitive. You have to come down to the level of everybody so as to get through them and carry them along.
There are a lot of gospel musicians doing all kinds of collaborations with Fuji, Juju and hip-hop artistes. Would you say what they are doing is in accordance with Biblical injunction?
One thing anyone going into any collaboration should have in mind is that, there must be a reason for it; you shouldn’t do it for commercial purpose.
When you are collaborating a song with another artiste, it must be to move the kingdom of God forward and for any gospel artiste who is interested in engaging in any collaboration, there must be a reason to be able to defend his or her acts.
If I am collaborating with any juju artiste, there must be a reason and the reason must be to draw the person to the Lord.
Give us an insight into your educational background?
I am not really educated; I would say I am self taught. Because God knew where He is taking me to, he took me through his school through the Holy Spirit.
God gave me the language of everywhere I go to, to be able to express myself, communicate in a way that people would understand what I’m saying.
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Whether I commit a blunder or not, I always try to make my intended communication registered. Academically, I didn’t go beyond the secondary school certificate.
When you gave your life to Christ, did you go to any Bible school?
I didn’t and it is one of the testimonies I have. When I minister, nobody can say that I didn’t go to any Bible school.
The understanding of the word is not in any institution but it is in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been the one taking me through all that I need to know, say and do and I bless God for this.
God has treated me exceptionally and He is still doing so.
Which of your song brought you to limelight?
My first album, Telemi
How many albums have you produced?
I should be having 25.
What year did you produce your first album?
April 1, 1990
How often do you produce an album?
I produce an album every other year
What should your fans expect from you?
I did the remix of one of my songs, divine assurance, emi ti ri idaniloju.
At 61, do you feel fulfilled?
Yes, I do. I am very fulfilled.. The Joy of the Lord is my strength. I thank God for the gift of life. He is ever faithful God. I’m re dedicating my life to God and Kingdom service. This indeed the beginning of a new beginning for me
What advice do you have for upcoming gospel musicians?
They should know God and have close relationship with Him. Once they know God, He will teach them all things.
What’s your philosophy about life?
Don’t write-off anybody. If dried bone could rise, if Lazarus could come back to life and Jesus Christ rose, no one is worth being written off.
No matter how terrible you are, I believe something good can still come out of you. I don’t write-off anybody, I believe in everybody.
How did you meet your wife?
She was my junior in primary school and God arranged it that we met again after so many years.
For how many years have you been married?
I got married some 26 years ago.
How has marital life been?
It has been great. We bless God.
What message do you have for Nigerian leaders?
I will like to tell them to have a place for God in all that they do. No one can rule any nation like Nigeria without having a good relationship with God.
Just as Solomon in the Bible did, Nigerian leaders should always go to God for direction.
He is the only one who can help them take the right steps, the right decisions that will keep the nation in safety and make them great leaders.
What words do you have for Nigerians?
They should also get closer to God, believe more in the country and keep hope alive for better days for the country.
They should be more hard working and learn to make positive confessions about the country. Such words like, ‘this country is gone, this country is hopeless and so on is not good for the nation.
Let’s be saying it is well for our country and it will surely be well with us all. The Bible says we should pray for Jerusalem, Nigeria is our own Jerusalem; let us make it an habit to pray more for it.
