Toolz Biography, Marriage, Career, Education

The broadcast media landscape in Nigeria has several enlightened and skilled On-Air Personalities (OAPs) who know what it takes to keep audience members loyal to a station. This is even moreso in Lagos which is the hub of broadcasting in Nigeria with several media houses offering top quality programmes to attract audience and ensure survival. In Lagos, OAPs play crucial roles in the survival of stations as the audience members queue behind stations with the best of the best presenters. Some of the best OAPs in Nigeria are in Lagos. Among them is Tolu Oniru popularly known by her studio name – Toolz. This is one OAP and social media influencer whose success story has inspired many young girls into developing a passion for broadcasting. She is among the best female OAPs in Nigeria.

Who is Tolu Oniru?

Tolulope Oniru popularly known as Toolz is not just a sensational OAP but a hot anchor whose captivating programme presentation skills mark her out as one of the best in the country. She was born in London, UK, on July 6th, 1982 into the Oniru family of Iru land in Eti-Osa local government area of Lagos state. She is distinguished by her ability to blend of natural humour, love of most things, showbiz, passion for music and strong African entertainment knowledge. Toolz is one OAP whose On-Air and Off-Air personalities exude infectious charisma that makes audience members like her beyond the microphone.

Early Life

Toolz grew up in the United Kingdom where she had part of her education. She had her primary education at Talbot House preparatory school in Bournemouth, United Kingdom, and her secondary education in Nigeria before she relocated back to the UK to study at City of Westminster College. She then proceeded to University of Westminster where she obtained a degree in Business and Communication from.

Toolz was initially supposed to read medicine but that didn’t seem to be her passion so she had to abandon that plan to opt for the entertainment industry. She was once asked in an interview why she dumped medicine for entertainment, she said; “It is one of those things I just fell into after I finished from the University of Westminster, where I studied Business and Communications. When I did my A levels in mathematics, biology and chemistry, I was planning to read medicine but after studying chemistry for a year, I realised that it was not really for me. After A levels, I told myself I wouldn’t be going for medicine and I had to convince my parents on my decision. They freaked out! After university, I found myself at this sales job which I did for about seven or eight months. After that, I ended up working at MTV but I soon realised that entertainment obviously, was my thing. At that level, my parents supported me.” That’s Toolz for you, always following her passion and excelling in whatever she chooses to do.

Career

Toolz has an impressive career record, having worked in United Kingdom and Nigeria. She had worked with MTV Europe and Walt Disney Pictures in the United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria in 2008. She currently hosts her own radio show ‘The Midday Show with Toolz’ (weekdays) on one of Nigeria’s top urban radio stations – The Beat 99.9FM. Toolz also hosted ‘The Juice’ by NdaniTV which aired on Africa Magic Entertainment. Her career in Nigeria actually began in 2009 when she auditioned to be a radio presenter at the Beat 99.9FM. A friend had mentioned the new radio station to her before she moved to Lagos. After a successful audition process, Toolz began hosting her own radio show in April 2009 and her blend of natural humor, love of most things showbiz, passion for music and strong African entertainment knowledge makes her show one of the most sought after –by listeners and celebrities alike.

Toolz has also featured as judge in some events. She was part of the judges at the 2011 and 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards. She also has interviewed popular African entertainers on her talk show “The Juice” prominent names like Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Rita Dominic, Davido and Yvonne Nelson to name a few. She is also the host of X Factor West Africa.

Toolz was a guest co-hosted 10 episodes of Ebony Life TV’s ‘The Spot’ in 2014. In the same year, she was listed on YNaija’s 10 Most Powerful People In Media list. In July 2014, she started a weekly feature – Afrobeats News on Capital Xtra one of the biggest urban music radio stations in the UK. She has graced the cover of numerous magazines (In Nigeria) including This Day Style, Genevieve Magazine (twice),TW, Complete Fashion (twice), YNaija! Magazine, Allure and My Streetz. Her career part so far is characterized by Success stories. She launched a lingerie line called Sablier in 2018, for plus-size women, basically to promote body positivity, self-love and acceptance for full-bodied women.

Personal Life

Tolu got engaged to her boyfriend of three years, Tunde Demuren, on May 25th, 2015 after he proposed on a beach in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. They got married in 2016 in a grand wedding in Dubai attended by very high-profile personalities in Nigeria. They held their traditional wedding 8 months after at the Landmark Event Center, Lagos. There were rumours late December 2019 and early part of 2020 that the marriage which had produced a son was about to crash. This intensified after Tolu allegedly removed her husband’s name from her instagram bio. This happened shortly after their fourth wedding adversary. But Tolu came out to clear the air after her husband wrote her a caring message on Mothers’ Day and she responded in an appreciative manner too.

Tolu has a very sexy figure which has contributing in giving her a unique personality in the society, especially among OAPs in the country. She used to be embarrassed about her curves she says that she got her figure from her mum. Reports have it that while she was growing up she used to do her best to hide her hips by wearing baggy tee shirts moreso because back then, the vogue was to be slim with no curves and in the UK, everybody was going skimpy during the summer. Here’s what she said when asked about her figure in an interview with The Net: “My body is very womanly. My mom has this figure so I got it from her. I work out and tend to lose weight on my upper body. I have always had killer hips and when I was growing up, I did my best to hide them. Back then, the vogue was to be slim with no curves. When I was in the UK, and everyone was going skimpy during summer, I would hide my curves in baggy T-shirts.” Today, she is loving her body and evening winning awards as the sexiest OAP due to her unique curves.

Awards

Tolu’s impressive work as an OAP has not gone unnoticed. She has been honoured for outstanding performance by various groups. In 2014, she was nominated for the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for Favourite Nigerian On-Air Personality. Nickelodeon Kids’ Awards is one of the most respected in Nigeria, so to even get nominated for any of the awards on that platform means you’re too good. Tolu has won several awards including the following awards; 2010 Nigeria Broadcasters Awards – Radio Presenter of the Year, Dynamix All Youths Awards as Radio Presenter of the Year in 2010, FAB Awards as On-Air Personality of the Year 2011, Nigeria Broadcasters Awards as Sexiest Media Personality in 2011, The Future Awards On-Air Personality of the Year in 2012, and Nigeria Entertainment Awards Media Personality of the Year also in 2012. She truly has an intimidating pedigree which makes her a top OAP in Nigeria.

Finally!

Toolz is described as having the most curvaceous body ever owned by a Nigerian presenter. But make no mistake, her body is hot but not hotter than her talent expressed in unique presentation style that the audience love. She is regarded as one of the best voices on radio. She is also a role model and an inspiration to many young girls who have passion for broadcasting.