Journalism came to me by accident-Eugenia Abu

By MCPhips Nwachukwu

Eugenia Abu needs no introduction. She is in her own words a multi genred professional: a journalist, poet and an educationist. The popular screen diva is also a creative writer and has published, A Blink of an Eye, a collection of essays and Don’t Look at me Like That, a collection of poems. Despite the intense demands of her job, Abu still, also finds time to run summer workshop programs for school pupils. In this interview, She spoke about her career, writing and education project. Excerpt.

You are one of the fascinating personalities in television journalism. Can you share with us the story of this interesting journey?

TV Journalism actually found me, not the other way round. I actually wanted to be a Lawyer, but I found myself doing TV by sheer providence. Instead of Law, I got English and wondered into a Radio Station in 1979 in Benue State to audition B that is how my Broadcast journey began. After my youth service in 1981, I worked briefly at the Benue state Ministry of Information before joining NTA Makurdi as an Editor.

While you were young, did you really set out to do journalism?

No I did not as you have seen in the earlier question.

So, how did it come about?

It was honestly by accident, man proposes, God disposes.

How did your growing up help to shape you professional carrier in journalism?

To be a Journalist, one of the things you must be is confident and well researched. Know a little bit about everything. And although I did not plan to be a Journalist as a young girl, my socialisation helped. My father was an Educationist so he encouraged us all to read widely. So I am an avid reader. He also encouraged us to be expressive without being loud or rude. Kindness and charity was also a big thing in our house.

So this basically helped to get me truly focussed when I became a Journalist. I also travelled a lot as a growing child. So this has helped my ability to be multicultural. I know that people may not necessarily be the same but we all belong to the same humanity.

Eugenia

What was the climate of television journalism like in the 80s when you joined the profession and what was fascinating about the industry then that drew your interest?

TV Journalism in the eighties was not as sophisticated as it is today and the challenges both in operation, presentation and equipment available was not quite the same then. Today everything is digital and you better know what time it is otherwise the industry will leave you behind.

Also at the time human resource-wise there were more undiluted professionals. Today there are so many other but again quite interestingly today also there are many more educated Broadcast Journalists. Butt in the past there were many more TV Journalists who did it for the passion and they were exceptional at their jobs and deeply respected.

Actually at the time I did not consider fascinating, I joined Broadcasting as an Editor and Reporter not a Newscaster. News casting came later on. But today as Editor of 27 years, I can spot a wrong spelling, bad usage in a script faster than you can say jack. It just becomes part of you.

Was it as glamorous as it is today?

That’s an interesting question. The glamour of these days was an old money kind of classic glamour. Today it’s more glitzy and that understated classical glamour is missing. You know glamour with an attitude, 60′s in the 90′s kind of glamour then. Today because it’s an all comers affair, it’s difficult to discuss the glamorous from the unglamorous.

It will be interesting to hear what the initial challenges were like?

There weren’t many women reporting at the time so you seemed a bit odd on the terrain and women were considered for a while just the pretty faces but as the Lola Alakijas, the Chris Anyanwus and the Hauwa baba Ahmed, the Sienne Razak Lawals began to do incredible stuff, women were given the opportunity to prove themselves and Boy, did they become the brilliant Reporters, Presenters, Researchers and Documentary Producers or what? Nationwide, the landscape for TV Journalism for women began to change.

Also there were equipment that were not in keeping with the times and as the manufacturers continued to change them in short spells of time, the challenge became to keep up with the latest technology while the ones at the station two months before suddenly became…… theses were challenging times but more than all of this was the challenge of creating content in a Nation that was still shy about commenting on National Issues or on any issue for that matter. Respondents were far and few between. Not like now where people are more vocal and willing to talk.

Apart from the core work challenges, did you beauty raise some ch alleges too in the early days of the job?

Now McPhillips am I honestly supposed to answer this question, what beauty? How is it related to the work?

How ?

I already answered(Laughter).

You display a lot of carriage and confidence, in the way you go about the job. What are your secrets?

Knowledge, confidence, respect for everyone big or small, kindness, family, mentoring younger staff and trust in God.

Interestingly , you still find time to write. Tell us about Blink of An Eye?

It’s amazing isn’t it? My work schedule can be tough but when you have a passion for something you find the time to do it. I write late in the wee hours of the morning like 2a.m. or 3a.m. I n the Blink of an Eye, is a collection of mostly already published articles, most of them in the Guardian some when Ama Ogan was Editor of The Sunday, others when the current

Eugenia Abu

MD Emeka Izeze was Editor and also when Kingsley Osadolor was still at The Guardian. But compiling it for the Book took two years.

When you want to write, no matter in which subject you want to write about, what are the things that move you?

Man’s inhumanity to man, injustice, betrayal, love, poverty, freedom fighting, life generally and people watching. I am disturbed by violence against women, immorality, wickedness, sadness, greed and lack of contentment. I also love children a lot sometimes I write about them too.

Apart from blink of an … have you written other things?

I have been blessed to be a multi-genred writer. In fact Benjamin Ubiri describes me as a Jollof Writer. (Laugh). No seriously I am a short story writer, a poet, an essayist and a researcher. I am also writing a cookbook. But next week God willing, I will be presenting my 2nd Book and my first Poetry collection to the public in Abuja. It is called ADon’t look at me Like That@ Poems of Life, Freedom and Redemption

These days you are more occupied with the TTW project. What gave rise to this project?

I attended a writers conference organized by the British Council in 2007 which was very exciting and when I returned I wanted to give back and encourage young persons with writing talent like my father had encouraged me. So I basically did a test run and got about fifteen young persons between the ages of 7-14 together and taught them to write short stories and poetry.

My friends came to give me support by being resource persons. The maiden Edition for instance had Henry Akubuiro Literary Editor of National Life talking to the children about being a Journalist. Today the writings of the children is published in a collection called AThe Man Who Despised the Poor@ and the kids are very excited.

How do you go about sponsoring it?

To be honest it has been hard. We usually get soft sponsorship like drinks, foods and sometimes gift for the children. Best poet, best short story etcetera. But as it grows bigger people are beginning to show interest. This year was the third Edition with The Adventure and Charity theme and we had up to 40 children, it was awesome.

So it is our hope that by next year bigger sponsors will relieve us. Currently the parents pay for food and administration. The rest is from our Pocket and Goodwill from our friends. I have about six volunteer facilitators, it’s not easy dealing with young persons.

Most importantly, how do combine this with your full time television job?

Indeed we believe that it would in the years to come. We are currently just trying to consolidate Abuja first and make it the annual Summer Writing Workshop to beat in the country. It=s for one week and the children learn a lot of things, new words, writing, perseverance, charity, how to cross a road for instance, Etiquette and how to cook. This year TTW was invited to engage children to write at the Garden Literary Festival in Port-Harcourt and we were also in Lagos to address young persons. I was invited by The Green Festival at the Lagos Book and Art Festival to discuss the Book in my life.

Most of the children had such sparks in their eyes when I talked about the Books I have read and the ones I have written. All of a sudden everyone wanted to ask questions about Publishing, writing, how to go about it. There is hunger for reading, writing among the youths and we must encourage them. So our prayer is that sponsors will help us reach these children. From my various encounters, my conclusion is that Nigerian children are incredible.

How do you hire your resource teachers?

My Resource Persons came from among my friends mostly. But those we need we write ahead of time. They have all being wonderful giving of their time.