OLADAPO ADEKUNLE SOFOWORA
Yesterday, I arrived at Toronto Pearson Airport, flying in from New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The flight lasted approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, and as we descended toward Canadian soil, I texted my friend, my “Egbon,” who was scheduled to pick me up. Anticipating a busy immigration line due to the influx of travelers, I prepared myself for a lengthy wait, estimating it might take around two hours.
After disembarking from the aircraft, it took me about 20 minutes to navigate through the airport and reach the immigration hall. I approached a self-service kiosk, where I scanned my passport, and the machine took my photo. I filled out several pieces of information and printed a slip detailing my arrival. As I moved toward the first immigration officer, he took my passport and noticed the slip, marking it with a purple marker before directing me to a secondary immigration room.
Without a passport that permits visa-free entry, I collected my passport and entered what I presumed would be a crowded space. However, to my surprise, I was the only person in the room. One of the officers called me over, and I handed him my passport. He inquired about the purpose of my visit to Canada.
I explained that I had previously visited, but I had recently traveled to the United States for an event and had also made a trip to the UK to attend a family function. Curious about the event in the US, he pressed for more details. I shared a brief overview, mentioning my work in journalism. This seemed to spark his interest, and he probed further, asking how long I had been in the field. I replied that I had been practicing journalism since 2011.
Despite him not expressing skepticism about my claims, He told me that as a Journalist, there should be information about me available online. Without hesitation, he typed my name into his system, searching Google for more details about the young man standing before him. He was visibly taken aback by what he found; among the first results was information about my UNESCO award in New York last year.
He paused, his eyebrows raised, and asked, “You won a UNESCO award?” I replied, “Yes,” and I could see the immediate shift in his demeanor. With a nod of approval, he reached for his stamp and processed my entry without any further questioning. That brief background check provided him with the reassurance he needed about my character. Had I had any negative records online, I could have easily faced a more intense interrogation.
This experience taught me a valuable lesson: as we grow in our careers, we must not shy away from promoting ourselves and our achievements. As a journalist, it’s essential to celebrate our own successes just as we highlight the accomplishments of others. If I hadn’t shared the story of my UNESCO award with my colleagues in the media, the immigration officer might have had lingering doubts that could have led to a more extensive inquiry.
We in the media profession should take pride in our accomplishments. Being in the news for good reasons is a form of self-promotion that benefits not only ourselves but also the industry as a whole. We should embrace our successes and make sure our voices are heard.