When a top international celebrity comes to Kenya, we wonder who brought them, how we can get to meet them and take a selfie and so on. However, there are those people who spend a lot of time with the singers, actors, fashion designers and other top public figures that we look up to.

They are the publicists or promoters that handle their PR.

Publicists are the gateway to celebrity interviews; they are the people that work closely with the media if they want to interview or collaborate with a certain celebrity.

Odunsi Gbenga Ayodele, the CEO of Gas Promotions, Nigeria, is one such person. He graduated with a Microbiology Degree from Olabisi Onabanjo University and has been in marketing, promotion and entertainment for more than 10 years. It's not unusual for people to change their career choices, despite having spent part of their life in college for specific qualifications.

The fast-rising African Music Promoter has worked with some of the top African artistes. He facilitated LAX's most recent performance in Kenya. It was a Skyluxx party featuring Vera Sidika. LAX is known for chart-topping hits, like "Caro" featuring Wiz Kid and "Ginger."

Over the years, he has worked in Banking, Finance and the Telecommunication Industry lines. He has worked with the likes of Airtel, Interstate Securities Limited, Sterling Bank Plc, Sterling Capital Market among others.

Me: What did you study in campus and when did you settle for a music promotion career?

Odunsi: I studied Microbiology and decided to go into music and business promotions after several years of cooperate experience; when I saw the business gap I could put a bridge to.

Me: You are one of the most sought-after music promoters in Africa. How is your day-to-day job schedule like?

Odunsi : Being one of the most sought-after promoter, is only by God's grace. My schedule is pretty crazy most times; as no day presents itself with the same challenge but all in all, I respond to a lot of promotion and business strategy request across board both locally and internationally , then meetings with clients who would prefer to meet with me but usually from Wednesdays it gets busier with back to back events which are usually our own market place to network.

Me: What is the one thing that you love about Kenya and its music?

Odunsi: The people in Kenya are very warm; the love for us is overwhelming and I appreciate their style of music.

Me:  Do you have any favorite Kenyan musicians and bands?

Odunsi: I appreciate quite a number of them, but I won't mentions names...*smiles* but I'm open to working with any one of them interested in having a major presence in Africa.

Me: What are the challenges and successes you've had so far?

Odunsi: The major challenges are the level of greed and lies in the industry. A lot of people don't understand that integrity also plays a major role in the business. But most of it all is lack of patience and basic understanding of the industry techniques.

Click next to see a photo from his Kenyan tour >>

Our success story has not come cheap but by the grace of God and persistent hard work we started locally and now we are internationally recognised. We consult for a lot of entertainment brands and SME's now, with a totally different approach as to how business can also be fun.

Me: How has your professional relationship been with Wiz Kid?

Odunsi: No professional relationship per say. LAX's manager got to hear about me first in the UK even though we both live in Nigeria; they contacted me, then we had series of meetings after which I decided to take up his project and the rest is history...*smile*.

Me: Who are some of the biggest musical acts that you've worked with?

Odunsi: The list is endless but at the top of my head in no particular order LAX, P.R.E, Jaywon, Ojb, Reminisce, Vector, Tic Tac from Ghana ... a lot of artistes my brother... and currently working on a tour with.

Me: What's the biggest life lesson you have learned?

Odunsi: Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you will be doing the impossible. Then Integrity is key.

Click next to read about his plan for the next 5 years >>

Me: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

Odunsi: My brand Gas Promotions will be the first name that comes to mind when you want to sell anything to Africa. Our business distribution networks is consistently on the steady increase ; Music promotions and consultation is just one out of the many things we do; our core business is Marketing promotions.

Me: Any advice you have for young people who plan to work in the entertainment industry?

Be real, never be moved by people who underrate you. Do your research to learn new business approach, integrity is key. Never make the mistake of seeing women as sex tools, learn to understand their uniqueness as they are very instrumental. Anybody can be successful so learn to be valuable.

There you have it. Any African music promoter has something valuable to get from this story.