Beyond the media blitz, Rita Alakija famous as Aimee, is a survivor! This is a lady who went through several medical challenges and had given up, but
Beyond the media blitz, Rita Alakija famous as Aimee, is a survivor! This is a lady who went through several medical challenges and had given up, but the Lord will not let go. Still holding on to His promises, the Lord told her to sing His praise and it was like she was going mad. But the Lord orders the footsteps of the righteous. Today, Aimee is a multiple award-winning gospel artiste, certified life coach, broadcaster, aviation professional, media content provider, video director, television producer, and conference speaker. She is a lady of many parts. In this interview with Isaac Daniel, the onetime glamour Queen of Channels Television and Dana Airline spoke on interesting issues of life and why she dumped her lucrative corporate jobs for gospel music.
You look younger and more beautiful. What’s the secret of your new looks?
God has helped me to look this way. God is my only helper. I know how ill I was for years. I had several surgeries and would have given up if not for God. I had ninety-nine percent chances of passing out, but I give God praises for my miraculous recovery and sound health. They say health is wealth, that is true. We should not wait until we fall sick before taking care of ourselves. It is important whether you are an executive, housewife or a student, to adopt a healthy lifestyle, to take a good care of yourself. So eat well, rest well, exercise well and imbibe positive thinking and let go of anger and hurts. Choose to be happy and love the people around you. Be loving and passionate, choose to look good and always rap it up with prayers.
Why did you dump your plum jobs in broadcasting and aviation for gospel music?
God called me into gospel music. He called me into it as a ministry but I resisted Him for sometime because I was sorting out some issues in my life. I felt that I was not qualified to work for God, but now I am so grateful for what God has done in my life and the music ministry. I thank Him for finding me worthy to serve in the music ministry.
Many people believe that the gospel music industry is not profitable, so for you to leave your high profile jobs for it might not be a good decision?
I will tell something, God is blessing gospel musicians. I mean it, God is truly blessing us. I’m very happy to be on this journey with God. It has been a journey for me. I’m so excited about the future of gospel music and the exploits of Nigerian gospel musicians around the world at present. We are shaking the world with gospel music for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Can you collaborate with a secular artiste or sing secular songs to be commercially viable?
I will not sing secular songs or collaborate with secular artiste no matter they juicy price tag attached to the deal. But I can do patriotic songs about our nation, branding songs, songs of hope, you know, songs with right values that call for our unity. I can do Wedding songs, I mean songs that promote family well-being, womanhood, good education, patriotism and so on. I will not collaborate with a secular artiste because music is very, very spiritual. You see, I truly love them but we are operating with a different spirit. They are in another spiritual quarter while we in gospel music are in another level of the spiritual quarter. Ah! There is no meeting point in both spiritual quarters. The scripture says darkness and light have no fellowship.
When you got rare accolades that your music is world-class by experts like Akeem Lasisi, CNN Award-Winning Journalist, Femi Akintunde – Johnson (FAJ)?
I don’t feel anything, because my music ministry is solely dedicated to the worship of my Lord Jesus Christ. So, when man praises my musical works, I instantly give the praise and glory to God, because I don’t deserve it at all.
Your music video is so outstanding that people most times don’t believe that they are gospel videos, how do you come about them?
I am a very creative person and I also love excellence. In addition, I believe our God deserves the best of quality in our service to Him. If secular artistes are producing the best works, why we Christians should do better for our God. Besides, my background in broadcasting, having worked in channels Television, has help me a lot. I write my script, design my set, provide my props and also direct my videos. I enjoy being behind the camera and creating excellent contents and productions.
What inspired your last album, Increasing Grace?
Increasing Grace is an album with inspiring eight songs such as Heavenly Father, Beautiful, I’m safe, There is Healing, Amazing Love, Here You are, Maranatha. These songs remind me of how God miraculously saved me from death. It was just His Grace that I am alive today. I suffered terribly from a near-death sickness. I told you I had 99percent chance of survival. God did it and it is His grace that is still sustaining me presently.
Was music a part of your growing up?
Yes, I started singing at a very tender age of five in children’s Church of Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM), my 
family church then. However, my divine encounter with legendary musician and vocal icon, Ori Okoroh, took my music to greater heights. You see Ori Okoroh was so outstanding in the 1980s and 1990s. She was the only vocalist to win Nigeria Music Awards’ Best Female Vocalist Award” back to back even as a gospel artiste. She was my mentor, my mother and everything. At my young age, she was taking me to her musical department in the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to sing and also featured me in songs ministration in her concerts. She also introduced me to great musicologist and choir director, Ayo Bankole Jnr, who also laid a very solid musical foundation for me. Honestly, they (Ori Okoroh and Ayo Bankole) were used by God to make me what I am today (sings Ori Okoroh’s hit song, Do you know His name.)
What are the challenges you are facing in the music industry?
Firstly, funding is a very big challenge. Good music and great videos like “Soldiers of the cross”, ‘Beautiful’, and “Here you are” are very expensive to produce. They cost a lot of money and lam the only one sponsoring myself. Nobody helps me except God. I write my songs, produce my music, run my own label. I am also my own marketer. It’s really challenging and at the end, no royalty is paid for our works like it is done in advanced countries. So, one continues to believe God for the divine provision and God has been faithful.
What has been your greatest moment as gospel artiste?
The greatest moment is always when I’m ministering in songs and worshipping God, I am also very happy when I am writing songs, and well as leading people to present to worship Him and studying my Bible. But I think my best moment is when I am totally worshipping God with songs and ministering to Him.
What is your lowest moment?
Oh! That was when I was deadly sick for years. I told you earlier that I was so sick that I battled with well over fifteen medical challenges. I had surgeries home and abroad. I lost my job and almost everything and was turned into a vegetable. I searched for medical help both at home and abroad but it got worse. I hopelessly turned and faced the wall and gave up to a slow painful death, when the kindest and best medical care could not save me. It was in the middle of all the seemingly hopelessness that I encountered God’s love and power. The Lord told me to worship him and to go and teach His people to worship Him. “To raise people who will love Him, not just because of the blessing they receive from His hands but to love God, just because he is God and worthy of worship”. As his people worship, he comes to heal and deliver them”. At this point, I thought I was going mad. “God, can’t you see me almost gone?” I pleaded with God. “Please send someone else”, I prayed. Later I obeyed the voice of the Lord who told me not to sit by the rivers of Babylon and weep nor feel sorry for my condition but to believe His every word. In faith, I obeyed in the fierce of the debilitating situation. With the help of my family and few friends who believed in the vision, I 
painfully produced my first album, “Lost without you” while in and out of the hospital, surgeries and with pains that cannot be explained even now. I am a living testimony of God’s power and mercy. He (God) took my place, I am so grateful”. I am so very thankful to my wonderful family. They are the winds beneath my wings.
What is your next project?
(Chuckles) Hehehehe…! It’s cooking, it really cooking very, very hot.
It seems you like to cook?
Yeah! I cooking healthy food that keeps the body, soul and spirit healthy. My new songs are ready and I am working in the studio with some of the best producers in the music industry, so watch out for another wonderful song release and classical video production from me this year.
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