My search for
extraordinary personnel brought me across a triumphant media personnel Chinenye Anokwuru who I
caption “the Cultural Encyclopedia” because
she speaks Hausa, Igbo, a bit of Yoruba and Yala (a tribe in Cross River State).
She hails from Imo
state, Ahiazu-Mbaise LGA. Born in Sokoto, raised in Gusau Zamfara state where
she did her Primary and Secondary school. She attended University of Sokoto
where she defied the law of professional Journalism by graduating from the Department
of Chemistry Education with an outstanding result.
She did her NYSC in
Bayelsa state, currently working in AIT (Africa
Independent Television) Abuja alongside bossing her own company Benzene media
Ltd.
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| Snapshot of Chinenye Anokwuru on TV |
What do you see as your place of purpose in life? How did you come to
that conclusion?
My purpose in life
is to uplift the less privileged and downtrodden. I came to the conclusion
because that is what pulls at my soul every time.
Speaking on uplifting the less privileged, can you shed more light on
that?
I use my media platform AIT to track humanitarianism
by showcasing the plights of Internally
Displaced Persons (IDP) who are victims of Boko Haram.
At a point in the newsroom they started calling
me 'IDP' reporter. Others call me
E.S i.e Executive Secretary of IDPs
as an inside joke. Haha
I have been to Maiduguri, Yola, Bauchi, Mubi and
many other communities where they host IDPs. I visit these camps to hear their
stories. I work closely with the UN Refugee
Agency in Nigeria, covering their activities particularly in the Northeast.
I also have the opportunity to interact with
authorities of the United Nations seeking answers to some of the pressing
questions faced by the average Nigerian.
Who are the three people you admire most?
Firstly, my mom
because she is the strongest woman I know. May sound cliché but you’d have to
meet her to understand. She is more like a living saint. That's the way I see
her.
Secondly, myself
because over time I have come to realize that only I can be my biggest
cheerleader. Many people don't appreciate the efforts one puts into achieving insurmountable
goals. So I admire my efforts, cheer myself on and spread the positive energy
to others.
Thirdly, anyone
who’s down to earth regardless of status grabs my admiration.
From your perception, is journalism transparently practiced?
I am a journalist.
I would rather not throw shade at the profession but I can tell you that it's
really tough for Nigerians journalists to stick to ethics and transparency considering
there are diverse interests and journalists too need to survive. That's the
much I can say.
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| Chinenye Anokwuru Interviewing United Nations Secretary General's Envoy on Youth |
What are the requirements to be a professional journalist like you?
Well first off instead
of proceeding to the Lab or a classroom I chose journalism.
It takes passion at first followed by creativity and
then patience (Loads of it). You
need time to ease into it, go for trainings, understudy someone with more
experience, and rise through the ranks until you get to a point of stability.
It's not a day's job especially if you aspire to be good at it.
How can young people achieve their dreams in this economic recession?
Young people have
to be proactive, don't play around and wait for well packaged jobs. See
opportunities in the face of recession. There are 170 million Nigerians, start
a fish farm, poultry, laundry, something. They can also engage in the service
industry like laundry, fumigation, videography. For those who have jobs, you
need to put in 100% effort and dedication to avoid losing it.
Having my own
company is part of how I as a young person try to stay above water in the
recession, I don't believe in staying idle. I feel I have so much energy I can
use to add value to the society, help myself and others grow.
What’s your Creativometer? (What type of materials or activities gives
you deep inspiration?)
Hmm my
Creativometer, I will say sleep and shower
time. Those last few minutes before bed are crucial. They help me conceptualise
my thoughts and get ready for my next activity. When I need to come up with
something fresh I get into the shower. Haha
Wrap up
I believe her pool
of wisdom, experience and expertise no doubt has convinced young entrepreneurs
and parents out there that “a scientist can
become a great artist and vise verse, what matters most is passion, creativity,
patience and dedication”.
Becoming successful starts with you identifying the area you best function.
Chinenye Anokwuru is
the CEO of Benzene edia Ltd, a media outfit that she started by following her
experience and passion as a journalist. They offer movie production services,
documentaries, jingles, campaigns and autobiography shoots among other things.
Contact Benzene Media Ltd via Benzenemediacoy@gmail.com
Got a suggestion for us?
E-mail: majorpanedmajorfactor@gmail.com
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