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First female face on African TV…‘Why I discouraged my kids from broadcasting careers’

She is today regarded as Africa’s first lady of the tube even though broadcasting was not originally on her agenda. Mrs. Anike Agbaje Williams aged…

She is today regarded as Africa’s first lady of the tube even though broadcasting was not originally on her agenda. Mrs. Anike Agbaje Williams aged 78, shares her concerns on the declining standard of broadcasting and why she discouraged her children from the profession, among other issues.

Tell us about the feat of being the first face of Television in Africa?
Mrs Anike Agbajee Williams: It’s a very interesting story. I was sitting in my house with my husband when a permanent secretary in the ministry of information called me and said they wanted to start a new television station in Africa and he wanted me to go for the interview. I was reluctant and he insisted that I go for the interview. In fact, he said he was ordering me to go and I had no option than to go for the interview.
The day of the interview there were so many people that were being interviewed but I was the only woman amongst all. The others were all men, I was called in for the interview and at the end of the interview the panel that interviewed me rose to shake hands with me and congratulated me. I was surprised and they said that I should not be, that I did very well and were amazed by my responses to the questions asked. They then told me that they wanted to start training as soon as possible. They then asked when I would like to start the job and I told them in a week’s time and it was a deal.
When I got out all the men in the waiting room were anxious to know what happened and I told them. I then told them that I was surprised that they did not ask me one question and I felt I shouldn’t tell them anything because they did not ask. Then I was married and expecting a baby, I was four months pregnant. But no one seemed to be concerned if I was married or expectant. The men all laughed and thought that was a loose end on my part because for them there was no way an expectant mother would be given the job.  But as God would have it, I was selected for the training but still unknown to them that I was pregnant.
When we started the training which was taking place from morning to evening every day for a month, it was stressful for me. After a training session one day, someone came up to me and shook hands with me and said they liked my performance and they would like me to be the first face on television as they were starting television very soon. While he saying so I collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. I was in the hospital for a number of days. After I recovered I started my job and the first job that was given to me was to sign on the station, which I did and handed over. And that was how I became the face of television in Africa.
Did you study anything related to the media that helped you to excel in the training?
Williams: I never had any basic training in media; I was actually a technical staff in the radio station and just had formal training and had no basic knowledge of what I was getting myself involved with. I just gave my all the way I thought it should be and surprisingly it worked for me. Before then, I worked with the engineering department of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria as a junior technical staff.
Was broadcasting always something you wanted to do?
Williams: It was never on my agenda but with time it became my passion. I would say it was ordained by God that I was part of the broadcast industry.
What were some of your challenges back then?
Williams: Broadcasting does not know weekends, public holidays or even your religious obligations. As a media person you are all on your own when it comes to picking between your job and your personal life. Security for our lives and that of our family was a major challenge back then. Journalism takes priority over everything in your life.
You must have had a lot of interesting memories; what was your most memorable?
Williams: There was a day I had a temperature of a 105 degrees and I had to handle a live show on television. As usual, the slogan the show must go on was what kept ringing in my head. I had no other option than to soak a blouse of mine in cold water, wore it and wore another dress on it just to keep my temperature stabilize for the period I was going to handle the show. I presented the show which lasted over 30 minutes. I had to look composed and out up all the strength I could gather within me, had on a diplomatic smile and carried on with the show. Immediately I said good night ladies and gentlemen I collapsed. I was immediately rushed to the hospital and was there for a week where I was given intensive treatment. That day is always first in my mind because the doctors told us that we took a big risk with the kind of temperature I had to have gone on with the show. I thank God for my life today because when I look back I always ask myself what would have become of my family if I had died.
Female broadcasters these days say stalking is one of their major challenges. Did you such a problem back then?
Williams: Such did not exist back then because there was no room for such in the society. We were well respected by all. This is no way to discourage broadcasters of the present day. But it all boils down to the society in which we live in now, caution has been thrown to the winds. Most people do not want to know if you are married or not, they still stalk, back then that wasn’t encouraged. It is okay to appreciate broadcasters but not to cross the boundary. As broadcasters they need all the encouragement they can get and not constant harassment and intimidation.
How did you meet your late husband?
Williams: My husband was a lawyer and rose to the position of a chief judge of Oyo state. He was the first chief judge of the high court back then. I thank God for the way I meet my late husband, I met him in a miraculous way. The person who introduced me to him unknown to me wanted to use me to extort money from him but everything turned around. It’s a long story I don’t want to discuss on the pages of newspapers. But I thank God that he gave me the privilege of having someone like my husband in my life. Not many husbands back then would allow their wives to do such jobs but he did. He understood what my job took and encouraged me to carry on and for that I keep appreciating him till this day even though he is late.  
Did any of your children take after you by venturing into media?
Williams: Yes they did, they are very gifted in the area of broadcasting. They were all handling programmes on television and radio but I had to discourage them from giving their all to broadcasting. They had their own souls and determination, so I told them that after working for a while they should quit broadcasting. I encouraged them to do something else asides broadcasting because I have been there and know what it takes.
Why did you discourage them from broadcasting?
Williams: Because broadcasting or even journalism as a whole does not want to know anything about your personal feelings or problems. Whether you are well, sick, sad or happy, in broadcasting the slogan is that ‘the show must go on.’  There was a day I was driving all alone at night during an imposed curfew and I was stopped and harassed by soldiers and policemen on my way to work. These soldiers were ready to shoot at sight and at every point I had to come down and explain to them that I was a journalist and I was on duty and had a show on television. At a point I was tired of having to explain myself to every security personnel because they were so many of them at different stops. Now I want to ask if any bullet had escaped by accident where would I be today, long forgotten, if I must answer.  It was God that was protecting me and that is why I did not encourage any of my children to go full time into it. Broadcasting is a job which takes priority over every area on one’s life. It does not recognise curfew or sickness. Whatever is happening in your life does not matter, all that matters is that the show must go on.
They are doing well because of the training I gave them. They are doing well in their various chosen fields and I trust God that they give me peace and I am proud of them all.
Having spent over 35 years in broadcasting, do you think the standards are improving or falling?
Williams: The standards are falling every day. Every day you hear wrong pronunciations and stresses on words which give the word a whole different meaning to whatever story or report the word is being used.  There are so many wrong expressions being used in journalism today. When I was in the service, I always took time to correct people because they always made use of such expressions daily thinking it was the right thing but these days I wonder if there are no people to point out these mistakes and correct them. A lot of these errors are going on in journalism. Wrong dressing is also on the increase. You see a broadcaster on television and you will think she or he was just picked from a party or carnival to come on screen. There is also limited commitment to the job.
How do you think these can be corrected?
Williams: Except someone is willing to take up the courage to put things right in the system, everything will continue to be wrong. Back in my days smart and simple was the key word for journalists, irrespective of broadcast or print. You see ladies dressing and showing off everything, leaving little to the imagination and they say they are being smart as journalists. Things need to be set straight in the system and fast. The standards are falling and having given over 35 years, it hurts to see things go this way. Nigerian journalists, in terms of dressing, should be setting a standard for other countries and not the other way round.
If given a second chance would you go back to broadcasting?
Williams: I don’t think I will go back because after 35 years, the job has taken everything out of me, except life. All you get at the end of the day is a pat on the back and someone telling you that was a very good show and that’s all.
What are your regrets in broadcasting?
Williams: The regret I have is that the standard we set is being allowed to diminish. I and some of my contemporaries keep asking then what was the essence of all the years we gave to the job for, if standards we set are not been improved upon. It pains my heart, when I see some broadcasters, ‘why, what did we do wrong,’ is the question I always ask.
After broadcasting what have you been up to?
Williams: After giving 35 years of my life to broadcasting I have dedicated my life to God. Before I retired, I went for a seminar and someone said we should do something for the Lord and I took a decision since then to do something for the Lord when I retire. So I joined the choir. And the very first month I joined I was asked to sing a solo in church.
What was your personal guiding rule as a broadcaster?
Williams: I always told myself I could do better; there is no limit to improvement in journalism. The slogan in broadcasting then was ‘you are as good as your last performance.’ Anytime I am congratulated after a live show, I always say to myself that I can do better. I never relied on commendations I got from people.
You were recently given an award, how do you feel about it?
Williams: I am happy for the award given to me by Rock City F.M. in Abeokuta recently for my contribution towards to broadcasting in Nigeria, I feel highly honoured. I pray for more awards, who knows, one day we will be given a national award.
Your age contradicts how you look, what is the secret?
Williams: My secret is God. I eat a lot of fruits, vegetables and drink lots of water. 

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