Sammy Okposo is one of the most prominent Nigerian gospel singers that has taken his trade all over the world. In this interview with Tunde Ayanda, he  speaks on many issues including his album, deal with Glo and many more. Excerpts:

Why did it take you so long to release an album?

I think there should always be a time for promotion after an album has been released. I have been so busy lately performing within and outside Africa, so I hardly have the time to sit down and wax an album, but I always manage to release singles.

After signing the deal with TMG records, I have a deadline on when to deliver the album, I’m bidding time to do all the compilations, I’ve done the photo-shoot in America and what they are just waiting for is the master CD, which will soon be ready. I don’t put my mind on the financial benefits, but on how to make a perfection of my works and that’s why I always promote my work first before it comes out.

There are misconceptions based on your music somewhere as people feel you no longer do gospel music?
Sammie Okposo is still a gospel artiste, I don’t touch anything that is not gospel. And apart from being a gospel artiste, I get involved in projects. Recently, I did a song with a friend where the message preached peace, I see it as my responsibility to preach peace through my music, considering the rate of violence in our country.

There is nothing I have done that negates me from being a gospel artiste. I get involved in projects that have positive messages and this even makes me more socially relevant because the meaning of gospel is goodne-ws and this is what we have to share with the world. I involve myself in positive things and bring good news to the people.

You always mention your readiness to become a pastor if given the chance, how far have you gone with the dream?
I have been around pastors and know that it isn’t a joke handling a ministry. The ministry is not for those who are not called and I always tell people not to dare it if they are not called. Right now, I don’t have the conviction that I am meant to be a pastor, It’s not yet in my vision, what I know and doing right now is to bring a change to the world through my music and I’m doing this to the best of my knowledge.

A lot of negative things have been said about you in the past, how did you manage this ?
I try not to remember this because I see them as part of life and the price I have to pay for being a celebrity. I am a christian and a believer that everything works for good, people must talk and most times, I’m moved to tears when I hear some negative things said about me. I am human and I also tend to react in some ways when this happens, I always ask myself where it comes from, why did it happen and all sorts of other questions.

But I’ve come to terms with the fact that in the midst of negative reports, one can’t win everyday and I live by that. As a Christian, I know everything I do have spiritual implications, so I’ve learnt to put God first.

How do you manage the homefront with your work?
I thank God for giving me a wife that understands me and the nature of the job I do. I tell my colleagues we should never be in a hurry to marry because our work is very special and it doesn’t come with a closing hour, it is very demanding. Though, I’m not saying one shouldn’t create time for his family, money is not more important than a family. I blend my work well with my family time, sometimes I travel with my wife whenever she is less busy. God has been good to us, though we have our differences but we settle in time.

As a married man and a musician, how do you handle your female fans and admirers?
My female fans are the most wonderful, they are more loyal than my male fans. It is up to me as a married man to respect and treat them fairly. If you have a wife, you are bound to behave yourself but in doing that you don’t make other people feel worthless. I always go with a smile and acknowledge greetings and I thank God for the understanding my wife has.

Most times, some of my female fans will see me and my wife while shopping and they would approach us, but my wife has been so fantastic that she asks for their phone numbers and would even take our photographs. She understands I’m just a public figure and that they meant no harm.

How do you manage a good look despite your size?
I do exercise and I eat well, kudos to my wife! The fact that you are big doesn’t mean you are not healthy, I’m very fit.

Can we talk about Zamar labels, how big is it?
I am the number one artiste on the label, Jodie isn’t really signed on the label. We just decided to promote her since she is very talented.

She is my family friend and she also started singing in the church, but it was difficult for her to get her balance in the industry.

I saw her and the struggles she passed through after producing her album and I offered to give her a helping hand. I didn’t do it for any financial gain and I didn’t sign any contract with her. I was the one that entered her for the NMVA and she won. With Zamar, we plan to support and project young and talented artistes and I would like my other colleagues to borrow from this.

We are planning a well-packaged talent hunt that will be strictly for gospel artistes. I have realised it’s about time we start to promote gospel artistes because they get discouraged as most talent hunts are for secular music.

I was one of the judges at a competition where a fellow judge asked a competitor to shut up because she wanted to sing a gospel song. We had a serious argument and I won, but I wasn’t happy after the event and it occurred to me I should do something about it and that is why we are organising a gospel talent hunt. A lot of friends have bought into the idea and it’s going to be very big.

You are one of the Glo ambassadors, how rich is Sammy Okposo?
I am the only gospel artiste ever endorsed by a multinational company in Nigerian entertainment history and I give God the glory for that.

The deal taught me to do well in things I do and that God will bless me. I didn’t lobby for it, I was just called from Glo that there is a deal for me. I pray for Dr Adenuga because he brought a change and many other companies are copying that. I am glad I was chosen to represent Glo and I am enjoying working with them. Gospel artistes are not meant for the back seat and the contract sent a message to us that if we do our work well, our genre of music will also be accorded its due respect.