H.E.B Exclusive Interview With Segun Ogundipe, a.k.a Lafup

The event MC, actor, comedian, TV host talks to H.E.B about his life as an event MC, what has kept him in business and where he sees himself in few years to come. Enjoy!

HELEN: PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND WHAT YOU DO?
LAFUP: I go by the name Segun Lafup ogundipe. For short Lafup, a name I earned as a standup back in school. I like to think of my self as a Comedian, event mc, actor, TV and radio host. I also spend some quality time, teaching and motivating youths around me. Family is key for me and God is everything too.

HELEN: HOW DID YOU BECOME A COMPERE?
LAFUP: I have always wanted to entertain people, have things well structured as I perform for people’s amusement. So I have like a decent cocktail of various performing arts such as singer, dance, drumming, acting etc but standup for me was chiefest of the hobbies back then. But now a serious passion. I find me effortlessly doing that and by the nature of standup, one is commonly hired to compere event. I guess I was at the right place at the right time with the right vibe. And trust me, people need clean and good event mcs…I like to think there not so many disciplined once around.

HELEN: WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU CONSIDER BEFORE TAKING UP A JOB?
LAFUP: First and foremost is my calendar free for that day? That’s easy right? Hahaha. Second would be the nature of the Job. Is it a corporate gig, social or formal. I like to have a feel of peculiar kinds of event especially the functional once like trade launch, trade briefing, media pally etc, I enjoy it more when there is an end to achieve beyond just cracking people up and running an event flow. Sometimes, for social events, I might miss anchoring a dinner for instance and may opt for it rather than a wedding. It got to be fun and adventurous, If I don’t enjoy it, I won’t be happy. I like challenges, so I’ll say I like “method anchoring”. I like job that bring fresh challenges because I love to keep learning and relearning. Lastly and important the price has to be right . If I’m offering value, I’ve got to get some.

HELEN: WHAT KIND OF JOB WILL YOU NOT TAKE?
LAFUP: Hummm, clearly with my training back in stage regardless the show must continue. But any show that doesn’t add some sort of value to me won’t have me in. Value here is not just “money”. I like shows I can refer to anytime “without fear or favour”.

HELEN: ARE YOU EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED TO EVENTS AND WHAT KIND OF EVENT?
LAFUP: Humm! I would say maybe the corporate event that has to do with brands, sales, launch and all. Because I trained as a thespian with passion for advertising so it comes ready a pick for choice. I like to create functional humour and nothing affords me that better than such events.

HELEN: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN EMBARRASSED AT AN EVENT?
LAFUP: Embarrassed, won’t say I have. They’ve been a couple of awkward moments. I expect anything the best and the worst. I’m always prepared. Nothing gets me on the edge easily while working.

HELEN: HOW MANY EVENTS HAVE YOU ANCHORED THIS YEAR?
LAFUP: This year? Wow! I may have to check with my manager or calendarer to confirm the exact figure. Averagely I’ll say about 8 in a month. But this year has been bigger than previous Maltina dance All, Startrek- 5th year in a roll, Heineken Premiership trophy tour, Star win a trip to brazil etc this are even tours I don’t even know I’m going to count them, per state tour or as just a show. Lafup is still growing though, I can take and would do more.

HELEN: WHAT ASPECT OF AN EVENT THRILL YOU THE MOST?
LAFUP: When I’m making guest and client feel good either by way of introducing them or cracking them up

HELEN: WHAT ASPECT OF AN EVENT ANNOY YOU THE MOST?
LAFUP: For wedding is the cake when they go like..”the ice represents the sweet aspect of the marriage, the colour …” “And african timing” but I think we are changing

HELEN: WHAT IS THE CLASSIEST EVENT YOU’VE EVER ANCHORED?
LAFUP: For TV I’ll say MDA 8, but for event, It would be Costain West Africa’s 60th anniversary. That was where I met Alibaba. I was mc and he was guest comic. Another would be the Hieneken trophy tour to Nigeria.

HELEN: WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST MC JOB LIKE?
LAFUP: Very dry, boring. I had no idea what anchoring was like. It was at my house on my sister birthday Dec 26, 1999. It all started from there tho, so people still like the rubbish I did and still called me even when I wasn’t serious with it.

HELEN: WHO INSPIRES YOU?
LAFUP: God!

HELEN: WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR BRAND IN 5YEARS TIME?
LAFUP: 5 years, as one of the peculiar exports in comedy and acting. On my way to becoming if not by then already the most sort after corporate anchor and special presenter. Hopefully, Brand endorsements and definitely, that comedian with a Phd.

HELEN: WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO IS THINKING OF BEING A COMPERE?
LAFUP: From today, what ever language you choose to speak, be clean and good in it. Move with people who will add to you. Start now, the years of doing it adds to your skills and confident. Put God first and you will rule your world

HELEN: ARE YOU MARRIED?
LAFUP: Yes I am. With a son.

HELEN: HOW DO YOU BALANCE WORK WITH FAMILY?
LAFUP: Family has always been prime for me. Growing up as the only boy in my family, I was nurtured to be responsible and that has helped a great deal with properly managing my time to be there for family while work doesn’t suffer. The good thing is they are part of my life, and my work isn’t what is forced on me but a part of me as well, what I love to do and could control things just how it suites my idea of family.

HELEN: WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE HOBBY?
LAFUP: Cooking. But if you said hobbies I would add travelling, meeting people and helping young people get their ideas together the best way I can.

HELEN: WHAT’s YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD?
LAFUP: Not any specifically, perhaps my favourite cook…I married her.

HELEN: WHAT IS THAT THING THAT HAS HELD YOU THROUGH YOUR CAREER?
LAFUP: Grace of God, and the very kind people I have met in my life who have at some point or the order encourage me or put words out there for me without me even knowing. They are rocks God has used for me and may they be forever strong. You are a “rock” too you know..?
HELEN: Lol!

HELEN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
LAFUP: Thank you too dear.