In this edition of IndyPress Spotlight, IndyPress correspondent, Fawaz Balogun sat down with Islamiyah Buasri Olajumoke, a 300-level student in the Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan. On air, she goes by “Iya Gbogbo Won,” her radio name, and is known more broadly as “Sport Lady.” Islamiyah shares insight into her personal life and her creative journey as a sports journalist, and how she got into it in the first place: a God-given talent, she says, that she doesn’t want to see fade away.

In the spirit of the UEFA champions league, the latest update on the seals cup is here.

Thanks for sticking with me ☺️ pic.twitter.com/oU8JAtz26P

— Busari Islamiyah Jumoke (@Sport_Lady32) April 29, 2026

What inspired you to go into sports media and journalism?

It’s been a long time coming. Since my secondary school days (JSS2, precisely), I always knew I wanted to be a science student, but I’ve also been a lover of radio, mainly for the news, whether Yoruba news or sports. I’ve always had a timetable for everything.

Before venturing into sports, I noticed that in Nigeria it’s a space more saturated with men than women. The ladies who are in sports, whether upcoming or already making their mark, are still far fewer than the men. When I discovered my talent, I found that even without watching a live match myself, I could get updates and explain what was happening to guys who were watching. By the end, they’d say, “How did you know this without watching? How are you able to say all this?” That’s when I knew it was a God-given talent, and I worked toward it, even without having any family members in the broadcast industry.

Which area of sport do you mostly cover?

There’s no specific area I cover. I cover all of them: football, table tennis, basketball, volleyball, and more. Personally, if I want to play a sport, I prefer football, volleyball, and maybe lawn tennis. But as a broadcast presenter, I can’t decide to only cover football, because I have listeners with different preferences. It would be unfair to the audience to limit myself.

Are you involved in any sports yourself?

Presently, not really, though I suppose I could say I am, since I play football for my department. I’m not a footballer in the serious sense, though. When I gained admission through Direct Entry, I already knew that after seeing my first-semester exam results, which were far different from where I was coming from, I couldn’t afford to take on anything that might derail my main goal, because the workload was already heavy.

Then, in the second semester of last session, the sports director and football coach reached out to me. They said, “You’re a sports journalist, and even your physique looks like a footballer,” and encouraged me to play for the department. I told them I’d think about it, and eventually decided to join. Luckily, in my very first time playing for my department, we won gold.

Why Statistics?

In secondary school, especially SS2 and SS3, I had already decided I wanted to be in the science class. At the same time, the passion I had for broadcasting needed development, so I started reaching out to some of the big names in Ibadan’s sports media, usually just sending friend requests on Facebook. If they accepted, I’d message them, explain what I wanted, and ask for guidance. If they responded, fine. If not, that was fine too. It was just a way of starting from somewhere.

I originally planned to study Pharmacy, but after seeing my poor Chemistry results, largely because the subject wasn’t taught well in my class, I changed my mind and decided on Computer Science instead. That decision was partly influenced by an NYSC corps member, Corper Aliu, who was posted to my school. There was no ICT club at the time, so he started one and began teaching us. Every Wednesday, we made presentations before the principal, teachers, and other students, and those experiences really shaped my leadership and public speaking skills. Even now, people who graduated after me still recognise me, even when I don’t recognise them.

I finished secondary school in 2019, registered for JAMB in 2020, and chose the University of Ibadan as my first choice, applying for Computer Science. We waited almost a year for UI to release the Post-UTME form, and unfortunately, things didn’t go in my favour. I’ve always had a personal principle of not wanting to write an exam twice, not that I look down on people who do, everyone has their own journey, but for me, that’s just not something I like. I scored 49% in the Post-UTME. One more mark and I might have had a shot at another course, because honestly, I was willing to accept anything just to study at UI. But that one mark ended the dream at the time, and I didn’t want to sit for JAMB again.

My dad then advised me to go to the Federal School of Statistics, Ajibode. I saw it as a good option: a two-year programme after which I could apply to UI through Direct Entry. By God’s grace, I graduated with a Distinction, which eventually earned me Direct Entry admission into the University of Ibadan.

So why Statistics, in the end? Before accepting admission at the Federal School of Statistics, I reached out to one of my secondary school teachers, Mr. Oyekanmi. He told me it wasn’t a bad choice, that it might not expose me to everything I needed, but I should make sure I eventually gained admission into a proper university. He also said I’d learn computer-related skills and data analytics that could help me in different fields. That’s how I ended up studying Statistics, and looking back, I don’t regret it. It has blended well with my interests in computing and journalism, and I use those skills today in both my media career and my printing business.

What challenges have you faced balancing being a student at UI with your role as a sports journalist?

One of the biggest challenges is commuting from home to school every day. I don’t stay in the hostel because I work at a radio station close to my parents’ house, since staying on campus would mean travelling to the station anyway, just with higher transport costs.

I’ve been involved in media since my days at the Federal School of Statistics, heading to the station after classes. Balancing school and work has been demanding, especially during exam periods when I barely have time for anything else. My first semester at UI didn’t go as well as I’d hoped, but my second semester was much better.

There were times I’d leave school, go straight to the station, and not get home until 9 or 10 p.m., after which I still had to study. There was hardly time to rest. At one point I remember asking myself, “What kind of life is this?” The stress from school, work, and expectations was exhausting, and sometimes, despite studying hard, the results didn’t reflect the effort.

There were also days I had severe headaches but still had to present my programme. Surprisingly, once I got on air, no one could tell I wasn’t feeling well, but as soon as the programme ended, the headache and exhaustion would return. That really showed me how physically and mentally demanding it is to balance both responsibilities.

How do you manage your side business, your radio programme, and your performance in school?

I manage it well because I’ve been doing this for a long time, right from secondary school. While I was still learning computer skills, I handled magazine design jobs for Command Day Secondary School, and that income bought me my first phone. Later, when I started earning from journalism, I saved my salary for three months to buy another phone. There are many stories like that.

I can’t say my academic performance has been bad. What keeps me going is that I don’t want to disappoint the people watching me, and I want to create opportunities for myself despite life not always being comfortable. I don’t want anyone to say I failed in school because I was doing too many things at once.

That said, I won’t lie: combining everything is draining. During exams, I become more careful. Even though I could still go to the station, I try not to let it affect my studies, because I know if I leave the station late at night before an exam, I won’t be able to read effectively.

How do you manage your schedule during exam periods?

During exams, I don’t go to the station at all. I’ve already informed them of that. During test periods, it’s easier, so I still work. For instance, I finished an exam just this afternoon. I could have gone to the station, but I chose not to because I still had another school task to complete. Overall, this journey has improved both my performance and my well-being. I haven’t achieved everything I want yet, but I believe I’m getting closer every day.

What has been your most memorable experience as a sports journalist?

I can’t point to one particular moment yet, because I’m still on the way. But seeing people recognise and acknowledge my work is genuinely encouraging and reminds me I’m making progress. My dream is to cover major international tournaments and eventually be accredited as FIFA World Cup media personnel. That’s what I’m working toward, and I believe those will become some of the most memorable moments of my career.

What has been your proudest moment?

Honestly, there have been many, and I’d say I’m proud of myself every day. I remember a watch party for a Champions League final where I was the only female in a group of men, and that gave me a real sense of pride. There are programmes, like Banter Night, where I’m usually the only lady on the panel, and being recognised in those spaces reminds me that if I hadn’t put in the work, I wouldn’t have earned my place.

Hosting programmes and knowing how many people are listening (sometimes far more than are visibly commenting) is another proud moment. My voice reaches places I can’t even imagine. There will always be criticism, but the acknowledgement and encouragement I receive outweigh it.

Do you ever face criticism for choosing to present sports commentary in Yoruba?

It’s not really about the language. I listen to English sports broadcasts too, because I want to keep learning, not because I can’t speak English, but because there’s always more to learn. Yoruba broadcasting has its own demands: in English, you can read the story as it is, but in Yoruba, you have to translate everything from scratch, then make it lively with humour and creativity. People have usually already heard the news elsewhere, so what you bring, your style, your banter, your delivery, has to make them say, “This presenter is different.” I always tell myself to be different from everyone else; it’s easy to copy others, but I don’t want to do that.

My dad is a teacher and also a cleric. Before I got my opportunity in radio, during my ND days around 2021 to 2023, I used to visit radio stations regularly, often trekking because I didn’t have transport fare. Sometimes my dad could give me ₦200, sometimes nothing at all, but I kept telling myself, “Let me go, let people hear my voice.” It wasn’t about getting paid then; it was about investing in my future.

The day I told my dad someone had given me an opportunity at a radio station, he asked, “How did you do it? Who did you know?” I explained that I’d reached out to someone who introduced me to his boss. Even before that, I’d been analysing football matches for people online, calling into a programme at a station in Ogun State, recording my contributions, and improving. Eventually, that contact told me to meet the General Manager at Pensioners FM and let him listen to my recordings. I did, and when he asked how I wanted to work with them, I explained I was still a student at Ajibode and couldn’t commit to their morning slot, so I suggested evenings or weekends instead. That’s how my journalism journey really began.

As for criticism, it never really came because I broadcast in Yoruba. It came because I chose sports journalism at all. Some people would ask my dad, as a cleric, “Why is your child a sports journalist? Why not religious programmes instead?” They felt it wasn’t the right path for someone from our background. But my dad would simply tell me, “I know this media industry, do not disappoint me. I don’t want a situation where you come back home pregnant.” I kept going despite the comments, and today I can proudly say I stayed true to my passion. Looking back, I’m grateful to God the journey has been worth it.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

At greater heights: I’ll have finished my BSc here at UI, secured a stable job as a media personality, and become the main anchor of my radio programme.

As a sports commentator, what’s your opinion on who the greatest player of all time is?

(Laughs) I don’t like this question. Honestly, I don’t have a favourite. I’ll go with what Mbappé once said: people say Messi has talent while Ronaldo is all about hard work, but doesn’t Messi work hard too? Talent alone is never enough. Even for me, my talent pushed me into sports journalism, but that doesn’t mean I just relaxed because of it.

So no, I don’t have a favourite. If Ronaldo performs well, I’ll post about him; if Messi performs well, I’ll post about him too. I celebrate both equally. In terms of records, Messi has the most assists and is one of the greatest playmakers the game has seen, while Ronaldo is the highest goalscorer. Messi is the most decorated, with the most trophies and individual awards, but Ronaldo is still achieving great things; the only thing missing from his collection is a World Cup. I respect both. They’re legends, and I appreciate what each has contributed to football.

How do you think sport contributes to Nigeria’s development?

What really brings Nigerians together is sports, especially football. It’s a game of unity, a game of love, and it brings everybody together like one family. The country has faced hardship for a long time, but if you see people outside laughing and enjoying themselves, it’s usually connected to football or sports somehow. The government and authorities place more value on football than any other sport, and naturally, that’s what most people have grown to love.

If more support and development go into sports, the benefits would be enormous: sponsorship, opportunities, economic growth. If a major tournament like the World Cup were hosted at Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, for instance, hotels would fill up, businesses would see more sales, and people would come from all over the world. Sports also unites people regardless of religion, tribe, or background, and new talents keep emerging; if you stop working hard, someone else will take your place. Honestly, nothing else in Nigeria comes close to sport when it comes to bringing people together.

What would you say will be your biggest achievement in sports journalism?

My ongoing goal is to keep growing until I naturally attract sponsorships, to build a brand people trust so much that companies come to me, saying they want to partner because they know it’ll help their business grow. I know that doesn’t happen automatically; usually you have to reach out to sponsors yourself. But when people see the value and impact of your work, they start to notice. That’s the reputation I want to build. Looking further ahead, my dream is to cover international sporting events and, one day, report from the FIFA World Cup, the biggest stage in football. By God’s grace, I’ll make it happen.

If you could interview any athlete in the world, who would it be?

In Nigeria, I’ve already had the chance to meet Ahmed Musa this year. We took pictures together, though there wasn’t time for a proper interview. If I could sit down with another Nigerian athlete, it would be Victor Osimhen. We know his story and the challenges he’s overcome, but I’d love to ask what keeps him going, and hopefully build a relationship and work together someday.

Beyond Nigeria, there are so many players I’d love to meet, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, N’Golo Kanté, Lamine Yamal, and others, but if I had to choose, it would be Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Before they retire, or even after, I pray I get the chance to meet them; to me, they’re the greatest of all time. Outside football, I admire LeBron James, and in Nigeria, Tobi Amusan continues to make the country proud on the global stage. In women’s football, there’s Asisat Oshoala. I haven’t met her yet, but I sincerely hope to one day.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to come into the media space?

Find your niche and stay focused. Don’t try to be like someone else; learn from others, but build your own identity, because everyone has something unique to offer.

For ladies especially, don’t let distractions derail your dreams. They will come, and people may try to take advantage of you, but stay focused on your goals. In this industry, your reputation matters a lot: one wrong decision can affect your career for a long time, because people always pay attention to your record and professionalism. No matter where you go, people will ask about your character, even if not directly, they’ll find out from others. That’s why protecting your integrity matters.

Know your value. Carry yourself with confidence and professionalism, don’t compromise your standards, discover your niche, remain focused, and don’t let distractions take your eyes off your goals. If you do that and keep working hard, the sky is your limit.