Mr. Wichita

Meet Fayola Oyatayo, the Las Vegas native whose “Mr. Wichita” persona has made him a sure bet with area business owners looking to promote their products or services locally. 

Already larger than life at age 27, the 6-foot-4-inch, oldest of three children, born to Steve and Elizabeth Oyatayo is no stranger to name recognition, sporting a 13–14 points per-game average during his final two years of playing basketball at Sterling College in 2016–17. A one-time financial advisor and banker who started off his professional career working on commission, he has recently become a bona fide social media presence here after launching podcasts on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, including “Wichita Life,” “Face to Fay” and a video production and marketing company “Fay Solutions.” Factor in two sideline color commentary host positions for the University of Kansas football and Wichita State basketball programs, and it’s easy to see why his brand has become so readily recognizable so quickly among area residents.

It was after losing his job as a local business banker on March 17, 2020, due to Covid layoffs that Oyatayo’s meteoric rise in popularity began to gain momentum. Working strictly for experience without financial compensation over the next six to seven months, his passion and expertise at promotion became impossible for area businesses to ignore. 

His involvement with “Wichita Life,” a podcast devoted to people and events that impact the community, bolstered his social media presence locally. Launched in April of 2020, his third episode focused on local reaction to the death of detainee George Floyd at the hands of police during an arrest, and the subsequent rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. The segment struck a chord with viewers, catapulting his commentary presence to must-see-TV status. 

“I used that platform to shed light on the situation,” he said. “I talked to our chief of police, and that’s when that show took off to a whole new level.”

Subsequent partnerships with local and national companies continue to bolster Oyatayo’s star presence. Dressed to the nines in tailored business suits, his charismatic personality has elevated him to sought-after personality status at events — not only in Wichita, but across the globe. As a grand spokesman he has hosted numerous upscale events for celebrities, universities, companies and international public figures, including the 80th birthday bash of mega pastor Enoch Adeboye in Nigeria in 2021. Listed among his more recognizable business clients are The Walt Disney Company, Kendra Scott designer jewelry, Meritrust Credit Union, TempleLive Entertainment & Events, and Chicken N Pickle restaurant and sports bar. 

His sponsorship by JP Weigand & Sons real estate company in Wichita helped to solidify Oyatayo’s social media presence here in 2021. Johnathan Weigand, director of strategic initiatives for the company, considers him a visionary and asset to his business and the community.

“He’s a dynamic, forward-thinking individual who has a lot of charisma,” Weigand said. “Wichita is extremely fortunate to have a man with his talents in our community. Social media has become so prevalent in the marketplace, and having somebody who is an expert to assist with maximizing exposure and driving traffic always adds value.”

Jacob Wayman is in the process of opening his third Orangetheory fitness franchise in Wichita. He credits Oyatayo with helping his business to bounce back following a drop-off in membership during the Covid-19 pandemic. “I’m blown away by Fay’s work,” he said. “He knows how to get traction in social media and brings passion in every project he does, even small projects. 

“He really understands what vision you have and can make it a reality by putting his own spin on it. All he has produced for us is really gold.”

Active in Christian ministry since childhood, Oyatayo can be found playing drums at church worship services each week at all three Life.Church locations in Wichita. 

David Mckinzie, who played football and basketball with Oyatayo in high school, said it was their mutual love for God, media and sports that cemented their friendship from early on. Their “Power of 2” podcast has become a way of life for the two entrepreneurs in their work together.

“We just connect on a lot of things,” Mckinzie said. “We both have the same outlook on life: No.1, keeping God first, and No. 2, huge aspirations in entertainment and media.”

While in high school, the two began promoting and organizing events, planning several school dances, pep rallies and other school activities. But it was Oyatayo’s connections in Washington D.C., forged during his high school and college days through his involvement with the National Prayer Breakfast event, that helped open doors for them to pursue their partnership in media, Mckinzie said. From these connections came opportunities for both men to interview several celebrity athletes, musicians and politicians. 

In what is largely perceived by many as an ego-driven profession, Mckinzie believes it is Oyatayo’s “servant heart” that continues to endear him to those he works with: “You don’t find that (modesty) too often in the media industry,” he said. “With the talent he has, Fay could easily be like, ‘I want to be in front of the camera. It’s all about me.’ But he takes the opposite approach and says, ‘I want to help you. Let me walk you through the process.’

“He is a great visionary with great stage presence. He has a great eye for the aesthetic and knows what a commercial social media post should look like. Those things make him him.” 

Elizabeth Oyatayo said her son’s outgoing personality and faith in God have defined his life’s journey since childhood. Always a hard worker, his high-energy approach and dogged determination seem to serve him well in his social media roles, she said. “He has fought through so many odds, with people trying to discourage him that Wichita is not really (suited) for his kind of personality or the vision he had. 

“Fayola has proven himself through his faith, hard work and diligence, remaining consistent in all he does. His personality growing up has truly set him up for where he is today, still growing to the glory of God.”

His reliance on God’s guidance has left his detractors scratching their heads, wondering how a man with limited financial resources and media experience has achieved swift success through seemingly unconventional means. Yet to him, his path has always made perfect sense, a journey fueled by conviction and obedience.

“I didn’t come from a big trust fund or internship,” Oyatayo said. “I did this through faith. People ask me, ‘Where did you come from?’ This is just me doing what I’m doing.”

Though his vision is to eventually parlay his recent media success into a host role with a major network, he fully expects to maintain ties with the Wichita community. His gratitude demands it.

“Wichita is a big reason for my success, and I will never ignore that,” he said. “Whether it is having a house or headquarters or owning a gym or restaurant here, Wichita will never be forsaken.”