Continued from last edition
I think it’s easier for people out there, but for the East it was not easy at all.
When I got back to Awka, it took a long time before I could secure a job and I didn’t have what to bridge it with. Life after graduation wasn’t that easy because we didn’t even have that much options and mentors to guide.
Sincerely, a lot needs to be done in the East with regards to job opportunities and skills acquisition. Young people need to network some more.
Between writing and speaking, which do you prefer?
I prefer speaking because, I think it has made me a better writer, different from other people. I tend to write the way I speak. And it helps me to still be frank and myself. If you see most of my write – ups, especially on Boldnaija.com, it still comes out the way I speak.
So, probably because I am a broadcaster, I was trained to speak, naturally, I prefer speaking.
You were recently appointed SSA to the Governor on Broadcasting, how have you been handling it?
I was supposed to have resumed in 2018, but I was already in a new job in Lagos, so it took a lot of time to leave my former job be back to Anambra State.
I resumed in February 2019, so I am back to broadcasting fully with the Anambra State Broadcasting Service, ABS. But then, I had to go beyond that, I came up with a vision to impact the youths. I had this dream to start up a live show, where I directly interact with the youth, talk about topical issues like drug abuse, suicide and lots more. Hear from them and through them have solutions to those problems. Because many a time, the youths are relegated to the background, the elderly ones condemn them without listening to them directly. There are always two sides to the story, so I have decided to be a link between the youth and the government. I have decided, with the Light TV show, to give the youth a voice in the society. Instead of going to the government for funds, I decided to use my salary to set up the program. And it’s going well.
What do you regard as your greatest achievement in life?
The greatest achievement that I have made in life, I would say it is the fact that I have a conscience of flesh. Not my children, family or heights I have attained, because they are ephemeral. I have a conscience that chastises me and drives me to do the right things and allows me live a life that makes me humble myself to apologise to God and man when I am wrong. I feel that is the greatest achievement I have been able to nurture.
Have failed in any venture, that you felt like giving up?
Yes, many times, especially when I am overwhelmed with work. My present project in the Light TV show, due to financial constraints and other stuffs, I felt like giving up. But at the end I keep pushing, because I plan to own my own studio, but if I give up now with the Light TV show that dream would never come to light.
Do you have any mentor?
The Commissioner of Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. CDon Adinuba is my great mentor. I get inspired each time he talks, he may not know. He is a truck load of ideas. Prof. Stella Okunna is another personality that inspires me, another is the Commissioner for Basic Education, Kate Omenugha.
Internationally, I look up to Oprah Winfrey, because she is black and has been through a lot and the fact that she never gave up. I can easily associate with that, because we have same skin colour even though we live in different continents. I don’t have mentors who are fair skinned. I want that person, I can easily identify with, though not perfect but surmount all odds to be the best.
Mentorship for me, doesn’t mean that the person is infallible. I have happiness knowing that my mentor was there and conquered, blazing the trail. So, I have mentors who have failed, succeeded, and inspired me to know that in spite my feelings that one day somebody can count me worthy to be a mentor and still say ‘oh yes, she is not perfect, but I love her’.
What do you have to say to young girls about setting their life goals?
Okay, it can be challenging to set life goals. For many girls, it’s all about getting married, since they believe the burden should be on men. I have to use my life story, but I don’t regret it, I got married to someone who is actually part of my success story, but initially I refused to accept him. Do you know why, I like to be focused in what I do. If what we do is to share ideas, let it be that. For him, he was my personal development partner. The premium you place on yourself in the beginning matters a lot. And this starts from the family, my family instilled this attitude of self-reliance in me, I was told that I was the best and then I grew up to be self-dependent. So, a young girl should aspire not be dampened to the level our customs and tradition has placed us. Ladies should try to develop themselves from the beginning, to have a sense of who I am. Try as much as possible to have people you look up to.
Following your social media platforms, you follow trends in Nigeria, what do you have to say about Nigeria situation?
I follow trends but not bumper to bumper. I follow trends and try to place my own voice trying not to be bias. To Nigerians, I think we should try not to paint our country bad with the negative stories we amplify through social media platforms. Most people want to come to invest in our country but when they surf the net, they encounter evil stories of Nigeria, these scares them away.
What is your message to young people?
I understand the challenges we face daily in Nigeria because the opportunities are limited. I have interfaced with other people in other countries and I know how far they have gone with opportunities availed to them. So, young people should be aware that if they want to be saved, they should also know that they have a duty to protect society. They should do that by not involving themselves in vices that could harm the lives of others.
They should learn skills, be it digital or technical. Reappraise your crowd, network with those that can help you. Be that solution Nigeria is waiting for and not a problem to the society.
Thank you for your time
You are welcome