Women of Legacy

Miss Jennifer Ehidiamen
Journalist, Youth Activist

My name is Jennifer Ehidiamen. I currently live in Lagos Nigeria where I serve as a professional journalist. My parents are both from Uromi, in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State. I am committed to exploring and using the Media as an advocacy tool for Youth development and empowerment.

I am very passionate about youth development; this is reflected in a weekly column called "Dis Generation" in The Nation newspaper and "Before Graduation" www.beforegraduation.com a project aimed at connecting youths to internship opportunities to create a social reform in the education sector in Nigeria.

My venture into development work can be traced as far back to 2005, when I participated in Global Exchange, a youth volunteering program sponsored by Voluntary service Overseas and British Council. For six months I worked in Terrence Higgins Trust, Birmingham UK and PRTV, Jos Nigeria. I also supported my team in carrying out different community service projects, including a six-week Skill Acquisition Training for inmates in Jos Prison. It was a very eye opening experience.

My classroom education includes- Primary School in Lagos, Junior Secondary School at Federal Government Girls' College Benin City, Senior Secondary School at Ikeja High School Lagos. And College at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.

I graduated from The Nigerian Institute of Journalism with distinction (first-class) in 2008/09 with an OND certificate in Mass Communication. During my one year compulsory Internship, I was working with a local Newspaper in Lagos but later got an opportunity to serve as an Atlas Corps Fellow 2009-2010, volunteering with One World Youth Project (an organization I volunteered long-distance with for 2 years while in college) in Washington D.C. as Communications and School Partnership Director and building my capacity in non-profit management. During the one-year fellowship, I had the opportunity to serve as a panelist on Georgetown University's GAIN & Center for Social Impact Communication (CSIC)'s conference on how to use Digital Media to communicate Africa and African issues.

I love writing, poetry, traveling, photography, cooking, research and learning new things to be excited, challenged and productive, while growing through life. My first book "In Days To Come" was published in 2004 by Young Poet Society U.K. "Preserving My Saltiness" was published in 2011 by Step Out Creatives Birmingham U.K.

I currently freelance as CP-Africa's Features editor and a freelance reporter at Global Press Institute. My experience in international Journalism includes covering President Obama's Meeting with Young African Leaders in Washington D.C. and also reporting live on the first Rolex Young Laureates Awards in Geneva, Switzerland.

I recently served as a speaker during the World Press Freedom Day 2011 (WPFD) that held in Washington DC between May 1st-3rd. I spoke on youth consumption of the New Media, its challenges and opportunities, under the theme "Digital Native: The New Media Generation."

In November 2010, I was awarded the LEAP Africa Nigerian Youth Leadership Award for outstanding Nigerian youth leader. I believe God created Youth for a purpose and thus should not be wasted in frivolity. Favorite quote: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Have you read "Preserve my Saltiness" by Jennifer Ehidiamen? Read some reviews on Amazon and buy a copy!

Also available in a Bookstore near you:

• Naija-Sistas Book-stop, Henry Nelson Consulting26 Festival Road off Adetokunbo Ademola Street. Victoria Island, Lagos.
• Terra Kulture (Bookshop), Plot 1376 Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island Lagos.
• Florence & Lambard Publisher and Booksellers, 202-204 Ikorodu road, Palm Grove, Lagos.
• Latter Rain Assembly Bookstore, Plot 4 Akilo road Ogba, Off Oba Akran Avenue Ikeja, Lagos.

Questions for our Women of Legacy

As a child growing up, what were your aspirations?

As a young girl, I was so sure I was going to end up as a lawyer :) I really wanted to be a lawyer. But then I realized I enjoyed writing too. So I thought, I will be a Lawyer and a Journalist/Writer. But along the line, I gave up my Law ambition. Looking back, I think I was infatuated with the idea of being a Lawyer.

What are the main ingredients of your success thus far?

God. Smart-Hard -work. Commitment. Maximizing small opportunities. Learning from Failures. Believing that I can do all things through Christ. Celebrating other people's success. Facilitating the success of friends. Positive attitude. Avoiding dream bullies and "bad belles"/ wrong companions. Taking things serious and lightly.

What is your advice to up and coming Journalists, Authors, Social Entrepreneurs and Youth Activists?

Believe in yourself. Listen to constructive critics but never give room to any dream bully. If your efforts are true, your reward will be sweet. Keep to heart this wise quote that reads "A beautiful life doesn't just happen...it is built daily by prayer, humility, sacrifice and love."

What is a typical day like for you?

Right now I am currently studying. So on a typical lecture filled day, I jump out of bed to prepare for the long lecture hours ahead. In-between class breaks, I tweet and blog (I freelance as an online publicist for different organizations to pay the bills). On these days, I am glued to my phone and computer screen. But other days, I try to socialize with my friends and play catch up or write or read a book :)

What is your vision for the Nigerian Youth?

We live in a very unique time- economically, socially etc. My vision for the average Nigerian youth is for them to first discover their God given talent and use it for the good of all, for us not to succumb to societal pressure and start thinking with our belly instead of our head and heart. The Nigerian Youth must have access to the right information- either through education or others; a well-informed youth is an empowered youth. The Nigerian Youth must find their voice and use it wisely, instead of allowing themselves to remain passive or relegated to the background. In a nutshell, my vision for the Nigerian Youth is for them to be empowered enough to be producers and active members of the society instead of just passive onlookers and consumers. And when they need to consume information, to know the right platform to go.

Who Inspires you and why?

God is my number source of Inspiration because He knows me better than myself and anyone else. Pastor Tunde Bakare also inspires me a lot. His teachings and passion for a New Nigeria actually helped shaped my passion too. My Mum, Mrs. Margaret Ehidiamen, is also a big inspiration because she has shown that women can be achievers whether as a full time housewife or a classroom teacher. Using small opportunities to do big things and make positive impact counts a lot. I am inspired by a lot of other people- writers, social entrepreneurs, teachers/lecturers, colleagues, friends, mentors etc. The list is very long. I thank them all for inspiring me and I try to follow their example by living my life in a way that will inspire others positively too.

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