Why I am passionate about children and survivors of rape —Evelyn Obahor

Evelyn Obahor is the producer and presenter of Justeve Show in London and the founder of JUSTEVE organisation, which supports the survivors of rape. In this interview by TAYO GESINDE, the former DBN presenter speaks about her career and other issues.

Choice of career

I can’t say what really inspired me to go into broadcasting, all I can say is that right from the time I could think, I knew that I was going to be in the entertainment industry, but what I didn’t know was the role I was going to play there. I found myself in broadcasting and I loved it. Even when I relocated to the United Kingdom, I did not leave broadcasting.  I have my Television show, THE JUSTEVE SHOW, which is broadcast in the United Kingdom, America, Canada and in February 2017 the Caribbean. I’m also in the process of publishing a magazine called Hey! I also have a fragrance called JUSTEVE LONDON.

Challenges faced

There are challenges on a daily basis; one of them is having team members who do not know where you are coming from. However, I am grateful that I have a great team that gets me and the job going. For instance, guests can cancel appointments at the last minute but you have to have a backup plan. Alternatively, it could just be a guest is arriving late and altering the programme a bit. However, I coped with the challenges by just getting on with it. There is always a way out, just find it. There is nothing wrong with failing, the important thing is to have a vision and follow it. My mother used to tell me while I was growing up “never say you can’t, how do you know what you want when you haven’t tried and you haven’t tried until you’ve succeeded.”  I have grown up with that and so nothing fazes me.

My role models and mentors

Though this may sound arrogant to you, the truth is that I am my own role model. I look in the mirror everyday and see a better person than I was yesterday. Of course, it’s not an easy thing; it’s a personal thing that I strive to do. I guess everyone is different. However, people like Soni Irabor and Bisi Olatilo used to encourage me a lot in the early days of my career, especially when I wanted to throw in the towel. When I was in the secondary school, Chika Okpala of the Giringory fame saw me direct a play I had written and acted in. He pulled my ear and said he doesn’t want to hear that I did anything else in my career when it comes to making choices. So, maybe I would call them my mentors, people who motivated me to be where I am today. But above all, there is nobody I’ve seen and said I want to be like that person. I’ve always wanted to be me. I remain myself till this day. Don’t get me wrong. I admire the likes of Oprah, Tyra Banks, but I don’t want to be like anybody. I work better just being me.

My experience as a broadcaster in Nigeria

My life as a broadcaster has been very interesting. It has afforded me the opportunity to meet different kinds of people from across the globe, interacting with people from all races, religion, sexuality, and all walks of life has made me to see life differently. It’s really not about where you are from, your religion or sexuality; it’s actually about us as human beings. That’s what I see and it has made me wiser. I am therefore grateful for the privilege and don’t take it for granted.

Some of my achievements in broadcasting

I believe being able to put smiles on people’s faces and inspiring them with what I do are important. For example, when someone walks up to me and says I watched your show and I was inspired  and because I saw that or because Evelyn said that, I was able to do this, that would be my greatest achievement. Another one was when I created a reality show and I was in search of a television presenter of African descent here in the U.K. We held auditions and sent people into a house where we drilled them in different areas of TV presenting, till a winner emerged. It was a very interesting process and seeing all contestants; both the winners and evictee doing so well for me was an achievement. Also seeing my show being aired in major countries is an achievement, I thank God for this.

Defining moments in life and in broadcasting

Every moment is memorable to me. I come alive when I’m in front of the camera. Otherwise, I am a very shy person. I worked with someone from BBC on an event and I was commenting for five hours nonstop. The director was in awe and asked me how I did that. I told him I was taught to work giving my blood. But the most memorable would be presenting nightshift. That was awesome! I still get people today that call me nightshift.

Other things I am passionate about asides broadcasting

I am passionate about children and survivors of rape. I am a survivor. I have an organisation where I help people who have been raped. It’s called Haven of Light. The focus is the Justeve organisation supporting survivors of rape.

Advice to women

My advice to them is that they should be themselves; believe in themselves and never let anyone put them down. Women are life influencers, keep being strong, the world cannot function without women, and we run the world. So, there is no need to be in the shadows. At the same time I am a firm believer that men should be respected. They should be in control and by  that I don’t mean he should step all over me. But once you know you’ve got it, you rule.