Joining the rest of Nigerians to pay tribute to an advertising Icon and Veteran Actor, Ted Mukoro, who died recently at the age of 89, President Muhammadu Buhari has sent his condolence message to Mukoro’s family and friends.
Mukoro hit fame as the first headmaster in the iconic television programme of the 80’s, The Village Headmaster.
In a statement issued by Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, the president commended the late Mukoro for contributing to the development of theatre in Nigeria and sustaining his interest in acting, even in old age by participating in Nollywood movies.
He affirmed that the advertising industry in Nigeria benefitted from the copywriting skills and structuring of attractive narratives by the late actor who also mentored many younger Nigerians.
Meanwhile, practitioners in the advertising industry have showered encomium on the Icon applauding his contributions to the growth of the industry and how he will be greatly missed.
Udeme Ufot, Group CEO, SO&U said “We grew up as teenagers in awe of his personality as the Village Headmaster, his eloquence as Newscaster, and the force (I suspect sometimes the voice) behind some of Nigeria’s most iconic advertising campaigns”.
Steve Babaeko, CEO/Chief creativity Officer, X3M Ideas pointed that “My only regret is that we (the industry) has not documented his uncommon know-how properly in such a way that those coming behind can benefit from his huge wealth of knowledge.”
Lanre Adisa, CEO/Chief Creativity Officer, Noah’s Ark on his own part stated that “he was genuinely passionate and committed to the craft to the end. I remember him in the early days of LAIF Awards. He offered to serve on the jury for as long as we allowed him. He was able to relate with the younger generation with ease. We will definitely miss him”
Lolu Akinwunmi, Group CEO, Prima Garnet Africa and former APCON Chairman, explained that he met Uncle Ted in 1982 when he joined LINTAS. He was the deputy creative director to Ted Gough the white creative director.
He added that “Given his radio broadcasting background and being an Urhobo, he brought colour and vibrancy to pidgin English and radio production. Also being an actor and the first headmaster in Village Headmaster, he brought drama into his commercials.”
It will be recalled that veteran advertising guru and Village Headmaster actor, Theodore Austin Mukoro recently passed on after a brief illness at the age of 89.
He made a great name as one of the earliest advertising practitioners in Nigeria. He also made a name as the first headmaster in the famed TV programme Village Headmaster on Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), which later became Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
Born in Warri, Delta State, in 1928, Mukoro, famously known as “Uncle Ted,” by admirers, was a broadcaster, wordsmith and humorous humanist. He is well known for his vintage radio copy for Star ‘Star, Shine Shine Bobo’ and many other award winning campaigns.
Mukoro education was purely in the Catholic Seminary. He wanted to be a Catholic Priest. He attended St Theresa’s Minor Seminary in Oke Arin, Ibadan, where he got equivalent training that a secondary school student would get.
He took a course in Woseyhall Correspondence School, Oxford, England. They had Rapid Result College in England at that time. He studied Homiletics Classicism in Major Seminary. Homiletics means training to preach homilis.