DC Exclusive: “Most Of The Time I’m In Tears! ” The Love Doctor On Air, Daniel Akpata tells Diamond Celebrities

By Aniema Akpabio

Daniel Akpata is a young dynamic on air personality (OAP), motivational speaker, a counselor and an encourager that has touched the lives of Nigerian matured singles who are undergoing turbulent times in their relationship through his radio program ‘Whispers of the early morning’ on radio 102.3fm Lagos which has earned him the title ‘Love Doctor’. Catching up with him for an interview has been an uphill task but he was magnanimous to grant your darling magazine Diamond Celebrities a few minutes of his time. Enjoy the excerpts of his interview granted Diamond Celebrities with Akpabio Aniema.

DC: Tell us briefly about yourself.

Daniel: Daniel Omoefe Akpata, is a young, disciplined, diligent and determined man. He’s an old boy of IGBOBI COLLEGE YABA and attended Benue State Polytechnic. He’s from Edo State but resides in Lagos. He is happily married to the most pretty, loving and God-fearing Damsel IKANA DANIEL AKPATA and blessed with a beautiful daughter GIFT DANIELLE DANIEL-AKPATA. He lives his life by a philosophy which says “It takes understanding to be outstanding.” So in all I do, I seek to understand people, things, times, events and the world that I live in, because I have it at the back of my mind that success happens when opportunity meets preparedness, so like the Boys Scout’s motto, I’m always PREPARED! Because Prior Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. I Love God And Will Not Compromise My Beliefs, Never!

DC: Your journey into broadcasting and why broadcasting?

Daniel: Daniel Akpata is a rising passionate broadcaster who started small with Radio Nigeria, Metro fm 97.6 to be precise, then he was just a contributor on a youth magazine programme known as “It’s My Life“. He later grew to producing and anchoring the programme after learning a lot. He anchored and was part of the show for more than five years. Then, a window opened up to work with Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria.(F.R.C.N), he went through the different stages of the audition/interview and was among the few that was picked as a Duty Continuity Announcer, D.C.A. He worked with F.R.C.N. particularly Radio One 103.5 fm for a year and three months. He later moved over to Lagos State Radio Service owner of Radio Lagos/Eko fm. Three months later, he rose to anchoring the flagship programme of the station known as the “Lagos This Morning Show” (L.T.M.) from 2008 – Jan.2012. While also in Radio Lagos/Eko fm. He was the Producer and Presenter of the one popular programme SOMETHING FOR SINGLES which he was known as THE LOVE DOCTOR, a programme based on helping young and matured singles make an informed decision about relationship. He also anchored Sounds.com, a musical program that helps the upcoming artiste. He was nominated as the BEST RADIO NEWSCASTER OF THE YEAR 2011.

Just as change is the most constant thing in life, again he’s presently moved up the ladder of his career with C.B.S owners of T.V.C and Radio continental 102.3fm anchoring the flagship program for 6 months THE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST SHOW. Presently he anchors and produces SINGLE LIFE every Saturday 9-11pm single life centers around anything and everything that affects the young person that’s what we talk about…He also handles WHISPERS OF THE EARLY MORNING. Where he’s now known as THE ONLY TRUE BLUNT CRAZY LOVE DOCTOR from Midnight-4 am every Sunday and Tuesday and since then he’s been romancing the mike beautifully doing what he knows how to do best and loving every moment and every time he spends on radio to put smiles on the listener’s face.

DC: How did you come about the name/title ‘Love Doctor’?

Daniel: The name LOVE DOCTOR started from EKO FM where I just wanted to differentiate DANIEL AKPATA, because on the show I beat my chest and say there’s no question about relationship that I can’t answer and there’s no issues or challenges that I cannot solve. If you are worried, moody, confused or heartbroken and crying when you call on the show to speak with me, you’ll surely be smiling before you drop the call. But THE ONLY TRUE BLUNT CRAZY LOVE DOCTOR started on RADIO CONTINENTAL. And it was due to the fact that I speak the truth to you on the show not minding whose ox is gored, naturally I’m a very blunt person so to stand-out from other radio love shows and even my colleagues I brought that personality to bear. I made loads of mistakes in relationships and it really brought tremendous pain and scars, I learnt from them and moved on to be a better person, if I can do it anyone can! It’s your decisions that will determine your destination in life.

DC: Who inspired you into broadcasting?

Daniel: I was inspired to go into broadcasting by a friend way back that’s like a big brother by the name STEVE AKADIRI, who at that time had a program on radio, but was discouraged when I heard and actually confirmed that broadcasters don’t really earn much. Then again another friend by the name TUNDE ELESHIN shared about passion, purpose and fulfillment and that was when I decided money or no money, I’m going into broadcasting because I discovered it’s my purpose and I’m very passionate about it.

DC: Tell us briefly about your program on air, Whispers of the Early Morning

Daniel: Whispers of the early morning is a platform where one can share their issues on air with the only true blunt crazy love doctor and you are sure to get the truth about your situation and if you do the things you are asked to do, you are bound to smile! My convictions are as follows… ‘‘When The Purpose Of A Thing Is Not Known Abuse Is Inevitable’’. ‘‘Prior Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance’’. ‘‘It Takes Understanding To Be Out Standing’’. ‘‘To Those Who Think Life Is A Comedy But To Those Who Feel Life Becomes A Tragedy’’!
We’ve helped a lot of callers on the show and the program records at least 60-70 calls within the 4 hour period.

DC: If you were not an OAP what would Daniel Akpata be doing?

Daniel: If I wasn’t an O.A.P, I would have been a lecturer.

DC: Were your parents in support of your chosen career?

Daniel: My dad wasn’t in support of what I decided to do because way back in secondary school, I was a science student and while I was there I was the president Health And Life Planning Club, Literary And Debating Society. And had won essay competitions for my school both State and National levels. I remember then my counselor would always ask “What Are You Doing In Science Class?” And I’ll tell him that’s where my dad wants me to be. But I took my destiny in my hands by going to enroll for G.C.E with my own money then substituted physics and chemistry with Government and Literature in English because I had failed the previous woefully. I studied the two subjects I changed to for 3 months and made my papers at that first sitting!

DC: Tell us briefly about your recent held seminar and the motive behind it?

Daniel: The recent program RELATIONSHIP SUMMIT with the Theme: Why Relationship? Understanding How And Why It May Or May Not Work. It was a mind-wash session it came up Sept.7th, 2013, I had other seasoned speakers like Gbenga Ademujimi who is a certified life coach who is also a mentor. Bridget Eleshin, Pamela Ebvota and Ebi Emmarah these are all seasoned speakers and relationship coaches.

DC: Was the turnout beyond or below your expectation?

Daniel: For a first time program, the turn-out was massive almost 100 participants. we had a questionnaire given out to participants on that day and they rated the Summit very high and asked that the program should come up every three months so the next one December 7th,2013 And its going to happen at Sweet Sensation, Opebi, Ikeja-Lagos. And admission is free!

DC: Tell us what we don’t know about Daniel Akpata?

Daniel: one thing people don’t know about me is most times when someone calls and say thanks for impacting my life, your program has help me realize my foolishness and I’m now a better person…most of the time I’m in tears! This is so because to me success is how many lives you’ve been able to impact positively, so each time I hear people say those things, I’m humbled because it means I’m on the right path.

DC: Message to your fans/ youths out there?

Daniel: To my friends especially those who listen and do the things we say on the show, you ain’t seen anything yet! By next year or before this year runs out we’ll be getting on screen.

DC: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

Daniel: Life is in stages and it’s time to invade your T.V screen with the truth about relationships! And in the next 5 years we would have been doing this RELATIONSHIP SUMMIT all over Nigeria and outside the country and would have started my online radio station and my foundation THE BLACK DIAMOND FOUNDATION.

Daniel Akpata (Diamond)
Public Speaking Coach/Relationship Coach/Radio Personality/Corporate MC
The only True Blunt Crazy Love Doctor on (102.3 FM)
(234) 708-775-1242 (234) 803-611-0856