Young mothers should do jobs that will allow them time for their children —Doyin Ogunbiyi

Doyin Ogunbiyi, a Public Relations expert is the Chief Executive Officer of CEDAR Communications, founder of Reach-Out Integrated, a three time commissioner in Ogun State (former Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development and the first female Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport) and the chairman; Board of Technical and Vocational Education, Ogun State. In this interview by TAYO GESINDE, she speaks on her journey to the top.

My sojourn in broadcasting

I came from a family of educationists and when I finished my A-Levels, they wanted me to do the same but I said no. Because there was no money to further my education, I had to stay at home. One day, I was at home speaking to someone when my aunty, Anike Agbaje who came for a visit heard me and asked my mum the identity of the person that was speaking such  good English; she replied that it was Doyin. She then asked me to follow her to Ibadan to do audition at WNTV, WNBS. That was how I started my career in the early 70s. I later studied Journalism and Mass Communication. I have a Masters degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan. I had my journalism training in London.

Prices paid to get to the top

Well, I am blessed in many ways because my path to the top was not too much of a struggle. I think my being hard working paid off over time. When I started my career in WNTV and WNBS, I was doing my thing and enjoying it. I was working hard and getting results unknown to me, my boss was watching me. He then advised me to go back to school and gave me his slot at a school of journalism and communication in London to study journalism. When I came back from my studies, NTA,  Abeokuta was just starting and because I am a native of Abeokuta, I was transferred to Abeokuta to head the presentation department. It was while on that job that the Ogun State Properties and Investment Corporation (OPIC) started and the managing director sent for me and asked me to come and head the public relations department of the organisation. I left NTA after 12 years and worked at OPIC for eight years before retiring. I then started my own PR Company. So, for me, the prices I paid were hard work, dedication to duty and perseverance.

How I became a commissioner despite not being a politician

Politics didn’t put me in the position of commissioner. I think it is the path of destiny because I became a commissioner during the military era. I was just picked from the blues without recommendation or nomination by anybody. I was at home one day, when my neighbour knocked on my door and said that I had been announced a commissioner.  I didn’t believe it because then, I was a nobody. In fact, that was when I was experiencing poverty. It was a week after the announcement was made that some people came to ask for my CV and asked for the local government I came from. The first portfolio was Information, Sport and Culture. Later when the Ministry of Women Affairs started, I was reappointed as Commissioner for Women Affairs. When Olofinmoyin, then, a Navy Captain, came to power, I was announced as the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport.  I was surprised because  I am a broadcaster and wondered  why I  was put me in Works but  despite that, I gave it  my all. I later asked my boss how he came about my choice as commissioner and he said it was because I am very hard working, a goal getter, effective and I deliver. All those are positive attribute of a good worker and I think that was why they kept bringing me back, because government goes government comes. I served during the era of Group Captain Sam Ewang, Olofinmoyin and during the time of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, I served as chairman, board of Ogun State Television and later, the chief executive of Culture and Tourism.

What motivates me

Firstly, let me say I am inspired by the Holy Spirit and by virtue of my upbringing because I came from a strong Christian home, a Catholic church for that matter. I am motivated by God majorly to do anything I want to do and I love making people happy. I don’t like seeing people suffer and that was what led me into social welfare. I go to motherless babies home, I do a lot of social welfare activity in my own personal capacity. Even quarterly, I overhaul my house to give something out to people as a family tradition.

Combining my career with the home front

At the time God decided to lift me up, my children were all grown up. If they had not grown to the extent of taking care of themselves and understanding the reason mummy had to come at night or why mummy had many visitors around, I may not have taken up the responsibility. So, I think it is just  following the time table of God for my life, that there is time for everything. There was time I had to take care of the children, give them my full attention.

Advice to young women on how to combine their homes with their career

Well, I have daughters too and I know what they do. What I recommend is that when a young lady is newly married, building a home and raising children, she has to be very careful. It is not the time that you are trying to build a home and family that you need a stressful career like politics that takes too much of your time. I am not saying women should be a full house wife; a woman must be busy with her hand and brain to earn income for the family. However, I draw the line between my home and my office. I tell people I am a woman in my home but in my office, I am not a woman, I am a professional. So, for young mothers, find a job that gives you more time for your children till they are grown up. Once they are all grown, you are free. It takes self discipline for a woman not to pay a price in politics because men will always be after them. To me, eternity is real; there must be an end to this journey and I will give all it takes to go to heaven. It takes the fear of God, good home training and self discipline and the grace to stand, otherwise you will continue to fall into every man’s hand, because they will always entice you with money. So, it is very risky for young women to go into politics unless they are single.

Advice for young people out there

I am passionate about the youth but I am not happy about what the society has to offer them. We are not helping the generation of our youth as a people and as a government. My advice for youths is for them to take their destinies into their hands because we lack role models now. We lack community training, especially in this democratic era where our youths are being employed as political thugs. Government is paying lip service to youth development. When they say they want to empower them, they give them rice and they give okada to those who are not trained on how to ride them. Our empowerment must start with giving our youths quality education.