I never thought I would take broadcasting seriously – Jennifer

Give us an insight into your background. Jennifer Nzewunwah or Twirlz is the last child in a family of five – three boys and two girls. My father is a retired air force officer. I’m a graduate of Sociology from Covenant University, Ota. How would you describe your first stint with radio?A bunch of nerves […]

Give us an insight into your background.
Jennifer Nzewunwah or Twirlz is the last child in a family of five – three boys and two girls. My father is a retired air force officer. I’m a graduate of Sociology from Covenant University, Ota.

How would you describe your first stint with radio?
A bunch of nerves and excitement, but at the end of the day it went well.

Was being a radio personality always something you wanted to do?
To an extent yes, I’ve always loved being in control and using my voice as an on-air personality helps me do that. I just start talking and make sure that while I’m doing so my listeners are having a good time too.

What led you to your career in radio?
I like to communicate with people and for me radio has always been a form of expression. It was only natural that I use it as a platform to promote honest and sincere messages. I think somehow I subconsciously wanted to be a radio presenter because I used to listen to the radio almost every time, practicing with the mirror and my dad even got me a very cute mini iPod-sized radio on one of his trips. Still, I never really thought I’d take it seriously.

How would you describe the radio landscape in Nigeria?
There are a lot of challenges. The media industry is blossoming by the day but a lot needs to change. We need more funding, more resources and a lot more. However, I can beat my chest and say things are a lot better than when I first got into radio and so there’s hope for better days ahead.

What are some of the unique opportunities of being a radio host?
You get to know a lot of details before the public do. Also, you have a lot of influence in your immediate community and can use that ability to change things for good.

Local content has always been every radio’s mantra. How do you keep your station visible and involved in the society?
It’s by sourcing stories that either impact positively on people in the immediate environment and pass a positive message or helps keep them safe and out of danger. We discuss things that people can relate to in their everyday life. These people in the immediate environment, they are our society.

What is the most challenging part of the job?
Sometimes waking up very early in the morning and coming back late, not having public holidays and odd hours as well. I guess that’s what we signed up for so can’t complain. Though, it’s extremely challenging.

What is your favorite part of the job?
The feeling of power; people who don’t know you or how you look like are hooked to your voice and interacting with you nevertheless.

What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
The largest room in the world is the room for improvement.

Do you have a favorite hobby outside of radio?
I actually love to read different types of books (novels) in my spare time and I like to travel by road, but our roads aren’t encouraging at all.

What’s one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
I am a couch potato really, so most of the time I just lie on my couch and read a novel and see a movie when in the mood, or just sit at home. I love spending time alone with myself.  On air I might sound outgoing but love my privacy. Nothing extraordinary.

What’s the biggest gaffe you’ve made on air?
There was this one time when I thought I had switched on the mic and I was off-air only to find out I had been talking to myself for almost two minutes. I felt so stupid! Lucky for me, I wasn’t saying anything silly. Or it wasn’t the other way round where the mic would be on and I would be blabbing away saying something different.

What was your last non-industry job?
I worked at a bank briefly, then left. What advice you would give people new to the career? Practice, practice! Never look down on yourself, never make any one make you feel less of as well, but also never think you have arrived, keep improving.