Rachael Edem Talks School, Working Students, Love and An Absolute Disdain For A Certain Lecturer...

Rachael Edem isn't tall, neither does she have an imposing physique. But she stands out in a crowd. Her ebony skin and striking features effortlessly reach out and magnate you. It's not surprising, then, that when MACOSA Digest Editors *Grace Abang* and *Eunice Thompson* sat down to an interview with her, she admitted she loves being seen and craves global recognition. With an eye on becoming a television broadcaster, this 300-level Mass Communication student with truck loads of confidence is dedicatedly working towards achieving those goals. In this interview, Rachael bares her mind on self-sponsored students, lecturer-student relationships, feminism and much more. Find out why she typifies the cliche that mighty things often come in small packages.

MD: Please, tell us about your journey into Mass Communication and your perspectives of the discipline.

Actually, Mass Communication wasn't what I initially wanted to study: I had passion for Theater Arts, because I love speaking, I love presenting and showing myself to the world. I love being heard and I like comments like “this girl is really good”. But my mom said “No!”, so I believed outside of Theater Arts, I can still showcase myself to the world, and at a point I had to consider mass communication.

MD: So, being an extrovert, you want the world to know about you …

Rachael. Absolutely, yes! 

MD: And what would be your preferred specialization platform? Radio, television or Public Relations?

Rachael: Broadcasting, definitely. But television precisely, not radio … I want to be seen: in as much as I want to be heard, I want to be seen.

MD: No interest in voice-over work then?

Rachael. Exactly!

MD: So what do you think about the unbundling of Mass Communication as a course in Nigerian Universities?

 

Rachael: Mass Communication has been an existing course in Nigerian universities and has produced lots of journalists, broadcasters, presenters and so on. I personally think that the course should not be unbundle but rather the Government should pay adequate attention to universities offering this course.

MD: ICT has changed the way many things are done: as a communicator interested in television broadcasting, have you made any audio-visual productions? If you have, could you tell us about them and how you went about it, and if you haven’t, why haven’t you?

 

Rachael: Yes, I have made an audio-visual production before, though it was not a studio production. I made a video where I had to sing any secular song, mimicking the singer. But since I could not make use of the studio, I had to use my phone to make the video.

 

MD:  What does a studio have that you can't do without? The course Video Field Production Techniques exposes students to how videos can be made without studios ... Why not apply those lessons?

 

Rachael: Of course I can still do a good production with my phone, but when I needed to do that video, I couldn't get a good phone.

 

MD: Many students have internet enabled phones and spend lots of time on them: how do you think this impacts on the academic performance of students?

 

Rachael: Students get to learn about new development in the country and the world at large via the Internet

MD:  But there are many complaints about falling standards of education: where do you think the greater responsibility for this lies: with students, with lecturers, or with the system?

 

Rachael: It lies with the system. Our educational system is so poor: our Government should look into it.

 

MD: Speaking about our Government looking into education matters … What is your opinion of the law in Nigeria that lecturers (and bosses) must not have relationships with their students (and staff), even if such were to be between two consenting adults?

 

Rachael: I totally disagree with this law. In as much as it is a working environment, two grown up adults can be in a relationship with interfering it into/with their work/businesses.

 

MD: Interesting! Could you give us an insight into your family background?

Rachael: Actually, I come from a family of two, myself and an elder sister. I have my mom, but my dad left long ago. We're just cool, can't say we're so rich but we're balanced.

MD: As the second child of a single mother, how do you cope with the needs of life?

 

Rachael: I won't say life has been hard, neither will I say life has been easy but life has placed me in a normalize center.

 

MD: Could you be a bit more specific about the challenges you've had and how you dealt with them? There are many youth in your shows and considering how well-grounded and level headed you've turned out to be, I'm sure many can learn from your experience.

 

Rachael: Well, I have faced the challenge of not being able to pay school fees at the appropriate time, no money to purchase text books. As for school fees, I borrow from close relatives and friends, add it up with my little savings and I make sure I pay them back once m able to save up. I don't buy text books, rather I try to read from my friends who are able to get them.

 

MD: Do tell us … Is Rachael Edem in a relationship?

Rachael: Of course!

MD: And is this special someone a student here?

Rachael: Actually, yes. He’s is an Electrical and Electronic Engineering student of UNICROSS and is in his final year … Ever since I got into this university, this has been my first relationship and it will be my last.

MD: So you’re in a committed relationship with your boyfriend: do you live together? And co-habitation is not uncommon in among university students these days: what is your perspective of this trend?

 

Rachael: No, we don't live together. Indeed, cohabitation is really common amongst university students now, but I believe that if a student who stays with the opposite gender, and is in a relationship, and does not forget or lose focus on his/her reason for being in the university, then I have nothing against it.

 

MD: Can we expect wedding bells ringing for you and your friend soon, or you've not yet crossed that bridge?

 

Rachael: I can't say: it’s all in God's hands. Personally, I want to finish with my education first, but if it comes, I won't turn it down.

 

MD: What is your perspective about Big Brother Naija? Would you live in the Big Brother House if you had the opportunity?

 

Racheal: Wow! Big Brother Naija is my favorite reality TV show. The show has brought out many Nigerian youths to spotlight, some get to meet their spouse in the house, I will encourage the organizers of this show to keep it up. Yes, with everything in me I will love to be a part of the show if I have the opportunity to.

MD: What're your thoughts on the perceived immorality of the programme and its alleged tendency to encourage laziness in youth?

 

Rachael: The show is rated 18 and I believe that anyone who is up to that age is an adult. I do not see the programme encouraging laziness rather it is educative to an extent, there are some task they carry out that are educative. Let's not forget that one who is lazy is lazy, no matter what so it shouldn't be attached to the show.

 

MD: What would you say makes you unique?

Rachael: Hmmmmm … I would say it’s the way I speak and the way I carry myself.

MD: But everybody speaks and everybody carries themselves: what's special yours?

Rachael: Everyone speaks, that's true, but some people lack confidence when speaking. For me, whatever comes out of my mouth is power.

MD: You mean you're the voice of the spirit?

Rachael: Exactly, I am!

MD: As an attractive young woman who loves the spotlight and has the lorry-loads of confidence, have you ever taken part in any beauty pageant? What advice would you give a youth who wishes to take part in pageants?

 

Rachael: Yes, I have. Pageantry is not all about the beauty, it has a lot in it, before going into it, you should ask yourself the following questions; Do I have the confidence to do this? Am I ready to wear the crown? Will the crown change my kind of person? … If you can give positive answers to these questions, then you are good to go.

MD: What does it take to "wear the crown"? What is it about that could be challenging? Is it not just to go around smiling and looking pretty? How difficult can that be?

 

Rachael: Ah, it takes a lot of work … you have tickets sales to do, catwalk perfectly, etc. The crown is not all about going around smiling and looking pretty: once you win a crown, you automatically become the brands ambassador and at such it’s your duty to make people see the better side of that brand/organization.

 

MD: Times are hard for many people: what would your advice to students be, to help them cope with the demands of tertiary education?

 

Rachael: Hmm! My advice will be: get involved in a business. I have several of my course mates who do businesses after school hours, some even sell things in class and even in the hostel it will help lessen the burdens on your parents’ shoulders.

 

MD: If upon graduation, you don’t get employed after a while, what would you do?

 

Rachael: I will get self-employed, I have baking skills so I can manage with that.

MD: Why do you think you would be "managing" your baking work? Don't you think you could become very financially sufficient from being a baker? You don't seem to think baking could be the enterprise that you "make it" in, and would be able to provide jobs for other people through?

 

Rachael: I do know that baking can be the enterprise that I can use to be successful, but it depends on the capital put into it. If I have enough capital then I am settled but if I don't, I have to manage with what I have.

 

MD: You’ve worked as a teacher: how did you find the experience and how has it impacted on you?

 

Rachael: It was not easy at all … I had to plead with my colleagues to help stand in for me while I attend lectures. I’ve also missed some early morning classes because of this. The experience is not a good one (having to work and still be in school).

 

MD: OK: but what's the experience of nurturing young minds like? How does it feel being in your lecturers' shoes?

 

Rachael: Yes, but in as much as I love teaching, having to teach and the student seem not to follow or understand whatever you have being saying is really frustrating! It’s not easy waking up in the morning and going to classes, then you admit exams or test only to realize that the student didn't get anything you had been teaching in class!

 

MD: What is your Life Philosophy?

 

Rachael: "Life does not give us what we desire, but what we deserve"

 

MD: And as an extrovert, how is your social life .... parties, outings and the like?

 

Rachael: I love outings.

 

MD: This leads us back to academics … How has the flow of your studies been since year one?

Rachael. (exhales heavily) Well, … when I got into year one everything was OK, I had the best time. Entering my second year, obviously I felt misplaced. Now in my third year, I’ve often felt like dropping out. The stress is just too much. But thanks God, I nurtured this mentality to never give up since I have just a year to go. I keep saying 'Rachael come-on you can do this, you've come this far, no point dropping out, just pull through it!

MD: And who would you say is your favorite lecturer in the department and your least favorite lecturer?

Rachael. My favorite lecturer is Mr. Godswill John while my least favorite is one of my female lecturers, let’s call her Lecturer XYZ.

MD: Really! Well … No one is interested in why Mr. John is your favorite, but tell us: why is Lecturer XYZ your least favorite?

Rachael. Seriously, I feel she's too uptight. Though she claims to be nice, I don’t think she is nice a bit and she has this look that drives students away. You know as a lecturer even if a student isn't good at a course you teach, at least you should be approachable just in case students want to meet you personally for clarification. Have the student-lecturer relationship. But this lady is so puffed, I can't approach her for fear of being shunned. I mean once I see her passing by, I usually stop and ensure she passes before I move on.

MD: And what's your opinion of Feminism?

 

Rachael: I stand the ground that legal and social restrictions on females must be removed. Each gender should have equal rights without any form of discriminations.

 

MD: So you don't believe it's a man's world and women should be content as junior supporters?

Rachael: I don't believe in that, I believe that both genders should be given equal rights, after all, "What a man can do, a woman can do more better".

MD: And if you had the opportunity, what would you change in this department?

Rachael. Hmm … I would put greater emphasis on practical work, for sure. Well-equipped studios would make this possible.

MD: Ok … and what do you love about the department?

Rachael:  It's unique. From my angle the uniqueness starts from the lecturers, out of 100%, I can say 90 are good, you can approach them because they are good. They don't just lecture: they teach. You can't come to school without getting something. Unless you don't want to learn. The lecturers’ methods are so explanatory. To anywhere, I will boast of our uniqueness compared to other institutions ...

As for my H.O.D, … he's someone you can walk up to and talk to like a father ... he tries to ensure we students are comfortable. Students feel free confiding in him our anxieties … .

I also think our V.C in the space of one year, has really tried. Since he came into office, we have had better security on campus … No more killings inside the school, at least we aren't doing the Temple Run anymore! Everything is calm. He even brought up a program, the FOTOS (Feed One Train One Student). I've never heard such in the history of this institution. Sincerely he has done a lot.

MD: And what would be your advice for someone aspiring to study Mass Communication?

Rachael. Ok, in as much as I never wanted to study mass communication, I can now testify that Mass Communication is a great course you would love. But you need to stay positive; … You've got to take your studies as a priority. Just as the Bible says 'God First” ' right here take you books first before anything else. If you're expected to be in class do so; do your assignments; sit for your tests; write your exams and I bet you … if you won't graduate with a first class you would go with a strong 2.1.