Nita Byack Osahon George is the Secretary of Actors Guild of Nigeria, Abuja chapter. An actress, women’s advocate and founder of the IWATCH, an NGO, the mother of two told ENE OSANG in this interview that she prefers acting roles that bring respect and dignity. She also regrets that some women take the emancipation idea too far, adding that a true Nigerian woman is an epitome of motherhood
What inspired you into acting?
I have always wanted to be an actress sincerely since I was a child. Most people say that but honestly being an actress was my childhood dream. My father tried very hard to kill that but as God would have it I have been able to pursue my childhood dream.
Did you study theatre arts in school, tell us about your educational background
I didn’t study theatre arts I did sociology but I was a member of the drama group in my primary and secondary school. I was born in Abuja; I did my primary education at handmade international nursery and primary school in area 3 and secondary school at GGSS Dutse. I then proceeded to the University of Abuja in Gwagwalada. I am hoping to start my Msc soon.
Do you turn down any roles as an actress?
I don’t take every role because Nita is a brand so I’m being careful not to tarnish the image. I’m trying to identify myself with strength and purpose so that other people we look at me and want to be an actress; you know how people see female actresses in Nigeria.
Who is your role model in the industry?
I have role models and so when I see something I like in you, I want to be like you in that aspect and like that. Joke Silver is one of my role models because I love her persona and I am a woman who loves respect.
How would you describe the Nigerian movie industry?
The Nigerian movie industry is evolving, yes most actors and actresses are becoming producers and I also believe I will produce one day because we are all trying to make things better in the industry. As an actor you see what directors and producers do that needs improvement, as well as the flaws you may want to correct. Sometimes you point these out to directors or producers but not everybody takes your correction and that motivates you to also produce and that was what made me come out as the Secretary of Actors Guild Abuja chapter. I’m not a politician in mentality but I thought the way things were was crazy so I decided to step in and see what change I can effect. I have not achieved so much but with the help of our national president Ibinabo Fiberisima who has done so much for the industry we are improving.
What would you say about the controversies around the Nollywood national president?
Honestly speaking I didn’t like her initially but after I met her I loved her and she is one of my role models. She has indeed instituted obvious change in the industry. When we talk about women getting into politics Ibinabo is the kind of women we should talk about because she can actually make the change. Yes she is an ex convict but we don’t care because all we want is change and for actors lives to be better. She is working on royalties, health insurance scheme, working for a ministry to be established for the industry, planning an inter-state competition to see how we can harness cultures to bring peace to the country, she is doing a whole lot of things that I ask her if she has any time for herself and kids because her life is just AGN.
Do you have any regrets in life?
I regret that I don’t have my mother and elder sister but just a sibling and my father and they are my joy, every other mistake is corrective.
What would you say you have achieved in life?
My greatest achievement is my marriage because it spurred me into everything I am today, it is my foundation and I am holding firmly on to it. I really don’t look at the number of films I have done but my family and how to make others happy is what I really want to achieve.
Where should Nita be in 5years time?
Nita is going to be an accomplished woman in every aspect of life. I see myself as a mother of great children, a great Nigerian woman who will institute positive change in the country.
How do you relax?
I really do have a lot to do but I relax just lying in my bed or in the swimming pool with my children.
Tell us about your NGO
The NGO is called Initiative for child and women development (IWATCH) we are a women and child advocates and we try to advocate for especially the less privileged girl child.
Why do you think there is a lot of NGO’s unlike before, could it be because of the financial benefits?
The world in its entirety is taking a new turn and everything is changing. For me, I decided to focus on women because a lot of children are turning into something else as women now ignore their natural position to focus more on making money. IWATCH tries to identify their strength and help then maximize it.
How do you get funds to run the NGO?
I do all of that from my personal money apart from some patrons and matrons who give a little support we don’t have sponsors yet, sometimes it affects me but I can’t stop because I have to be a success at everything I lay my hands on.
As a northerner how do you feel about the insecurity situation?
My heart aches and I wish I could single handedly change the situation I saw a scene of the Emab plaza blast and I had instant headache and I asked what does Boko Haram wants. They should come out and say what they want maybe it will change the situation, maybe if the mothers of these children did their work properly Boko Haram won’t see them to adopt and make them this vicious. Honestly my plea is to mothers to train their kids because these young men are the way they are today because probably they were neglected. If a woman brings up her child the way they ought to be even when he finds himself in an environment such as this he wouldn’t dare to be part of it. Somebody might hear me and say I don’t know what I am saying because I have not found myself there but I pray I don’t find myself there and also for God to give those who find themselves there the grace to identify what went wrong.
What is your take on the abduction of schoolgirls?
The situation is unfortunate and regretful that the girls are yet to be rescued but I encourage us all to keep fingers crossed because I believe the security agencies are working on that. Nigerians expect regular updates from them but this is security and you don’t expect them to say everything they are doing but we are hopeful, supportive in whichever possible way and also keep praying for their safe return.
You are part of ‘create her space’ what is it about?
The create her space is an advocacy and campaign project aimed at getting the public aware of the need to participate more in politics and occupy relevant offices. The project was initiated by the Women Trust Fund (WTF) but I was hired first as an actor before I joined as a women’s advocate election is by the corner so it’s just a way of sensitizing the public.
How would you describe the average Nigerian woman?
The average Nigerian woman is strong woman and a fighter who is unaware of her strength and what happens when you don’t know yourself is that you become vulnerable. The Nigerian woman has the potential to make the country greater than the plan on paper. With women occupying relevant offices in the country, Nigeria would become that dream country; seriously I am not saying this because I am an advocate but realistically.
What are the indicators to prove that?
I don’t like to talk terminology or statistics; I am more of a realist. A Nigerian woman is a mother who forgets herself to think about her children, husband, relatives and her home so already, the average woman has the interest of her society at heart so what do you expect when she is given a decisive position. Before she makes decision she thinks of her family and relatives because she wants everybody to be happy and have a good life. I won’t step in and see my ward not looking happy and walk past her because I would ask her what the problem is.
Do you think it is only through politics that women can create the desired change?
That is another thing I cry about because you don’t wait to hold a political office before you make the necessary change. For me create her space project is not just in politics but what you do with the space we all occupy in our community or where we live. Calling for women to participate in politics is in the right direction because political offices seem to be the only decision making offices right now.
Do you agree that the ills in the society are because women have become too committed to chasing career?
I like the fact that you are asking the right question because my NGO focuses on the role of women in the society. First of all whether we like it or not members of society are made up of people from different family unit, and the family is the smallest product of the society so, product of a family is what constitutes members of the society. The way a mother brings up a child determines who that child would be in the society. A lot of women are getting the emancipation talk all wrong because that women have been emancipated does not mean they should care less about their family. Rather, it opens the floor for them to achieve more as you can be a mother yet achieve your dream. Emancipation is not about the moment you have an issue with your husband you seek divorce because that is selfishness. I am not saying when marriage is bad the woman should remain in it no, it is because we are forgetting the wisdom and natural intuition that a woman is blessed with there is no home a woman cannot hold if she decides to and that is why I believe that women would make a great nation.
So where did women get it all wrong?
We got it all wrong because firstly, we have inferiority complex and we try to be who we are not. We are Africans, Nigerians and a Nigerian woman is a mother so we can only solve our problems if we embrace who we are and love ourselves.
Does this means women should not be in active politics?
Not at all, I am a mother, a wife, actress, activist and I did all of these successfully because of my husband’s support which is also possible because I have been able to make him trust me and believe in what I do. If your husband don’t have confidence in you no one outside can and this can be achieved when your way of life, discussions with him and how you handle issues within the family makes sense. I will say this with every sense of pride that my husband trusts me because I have been able to make him do so with my actions, you can’t force people to trust you.
Women have to deal with their families and be able to build their homes before they join politics because whatever you do in your home is what you will take to the office.
Do you see women occupying more political positions come 2015?
With the way President Goodluck Jonathan has paid attention to women issues I see more women occupying appointive positions if he remains the President but if a new person becomes the President we can only pray that the person consider women.
Are you a politician you talk like one?
No for now, I am just focusing on my acting career and making my country what it should be at every level with my acting career, with my advocacy and even in my family.
