Wofai Samuel, an on-air
personality is an amiable, energetic lady, and fun to be with. This Cross River
State-born persona is the last and only daughter of her parents.
Wofai as
she is fondly called by admirers is also a broadcaster who loves travelling, watching
movies and singing, especially when she is downcast.
“I sing
to derive my inspiration,” she said.
This
Environmental Biology/Zoology graduate of the University of Calabar feels
elated that her country clocked 55 years some weeks back, and she assured
Nigerian women that she would have done a lot to put smiles on their faces if
given the opportunity.
“It’s
amazing how enthusiastic and elated I feel about Nigeria’s 55th independence anniversary. I want to
confidently say that Nigerian women have become more aware of the polity and
their supposed roles in nation building for their children and great grand
children. Thus, we have become more proactive. It’s a pointer to the fact that
putting smiles on the faces of Nigerian women would be effortless if that
opportunity comes. I would dwell more on the basics, which I feel centres on
enlightenment and self-realisation, then I would provide endless opportunities
to express themselves productively and confidently. These basics cut across
women in all strata of society, whether in urban or rural areas,” she said.
Wofai is
not done with what she would have loved to do for fellow women.
“Also, I
would also have loved to develop/nurture positive mind sets and right attitudes
in women. Once these are achieved, everything else is secondary. I would like
to see more Nigerian women compete and complement activities on the global
scenes, especially with their contemporaries,” she stressed.
Apart
from her obsession for empowering women, Wofai also has an undying passion for
her job. Hence, she talked about the most thrilling aspect of her career as an
on air personality.
“Engaging
political stakeholders in intelligent discussions on live TV platforms has been
one of my most thrilling experiences as a broadcaster. The feedback from our
astute Nigerian citizenry has been exceptional. Getting on TV whether for a
political interaction or hosting celebrities on red carpet is always
interesting because I get countless feedbacks and lovely amazing comments,” she
said smilingly.
This
damsel asserted that women would have achieved a lot more if they had loved
themselves the more. And which is why “the affirmation of women being their own
worse enemies is not new to me at all though I have had very cordial working
relationship with various women in different spheres. There is bound to be
rivalry, especially with women who see others as competitors. But God has
helped me overcome this by accepting women just the way they are, whether they
are highly placed than me, on the same cadre or even coming behind me. I subtly
create an air of ‘let’s be our keeper, look out for me and I will do same for
you’. The aura of ‘if we must compete, let’s be positive about it’. Our
collective success matters most in the end because we could easily assist one
another to grow,” Wofai stressed.
She has
been making efforts in her own little way to fight this silent battle
relationship amongst women.
“I have
been helping to nip this situation in the bud by constantly sending out love
messages on unity via my body language and disposition. For a female boss or a
woman above me, respect is the thing she may need to be at ease with me. This
has worked for me a great deal,” she recalled.
As a TV
personality who has anchored numerous red carpet events, she believes so many
Nigerian women are getting it wrong in the fashion circles.
“For me,
the highest fashion blunder most women commit is dressing in a particular way
that doesn’t fit the occasion. My advice has always been to study the event
properly before time and choose the right clothes and accessories
appropriately. Women have flaws a lot in this regard. They should know exactly
when to go denim, girly, conservative and sensual,” Wofai advised.
She also
unfolded experiences she had had with women on the red carpet and how the
majority of celebrities fumbled with their questions.
“This is
inevitable, I think women fumble with questions on the red carpet a lot more
than politicians do on my live shows. What do you make of a celebrity who is
asked to qualify a subject in one word and she gives you a sentence. When you
ask for a sentence, she gives you a word. It’s so funny and this always recurs.
My production crew will always lose their cool at the sight of some of these
excerpts. Very few celebrities get it right,” she said.
But one
thing this affable lady does not regret in life is her sex as a female. Though
Nigeria is a male-dominated society, she is still proud to be a woman.
“Nigerian
women make the best out of anything. And for me that creative, undaunted, resilient
spirit in women makes them unique. In the international clime, we have got
Nigerian women complementing their foreign counterparts favourably. This has
made the global audience realise that we’ve got a lot to offer the world. The
opportunities enthroned in them is maximised to the letter making even the male
folks here delegate more challenging responsibilities to the females. It’s
evident in politics, media, oil and gas industries, to name a few. I will be a
Nigerian woman over and over again,” she shrugged.
What
lesson has life taught her?
“Life has
taught me patience, humility and appreciation for my mother. Life has also
taught me to trust God in all ramifications.
But one
memory which has been etched on the mind of this TV girl is the thing some male
fans did to her some months past.
“Two
male fans once knelt in front of me at the airport, asking if they could marry
me. That was highly embarrassing; I felt like disappearing into thin air but I
handled the situation,” she retorted.
Posted By: ADAEZE AMOS
