Re-branding Africa's Image
“I Am African & I Can” is a women’s empowerment blog that highlights stories of black women’s struggles and success.
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By Hadiatou Wann | 03/15/19
Idia Aisien recalls sitting in a classroom in high school and learning about the assassination of Nigerian journalist Dele Giwa. When she realized that he lost his precious life for putting out information about the president, the little voice inside of her told her that she would one day become a journalist.
Years passed and her dreams of becoming a TV personality unfolded right before her eyes. A fairy godmother did not emerge and grant her this wish. It took years of hard work and perseverance. Today, at only 27 years of age, Idia is an award-winning TV host, business and news anchor, the founder of not-for-profit organization “The IDIA Project,” and has 200k followers on Instagram.
When Idia left her birthplace, Lagos, Nigeria, she set out to see the world before settling in the United States. She studied in Washington, D.C. and earned her bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a minor in International Business from American University. Then, moved to New York to pursue her master’s in International Public Relations and Global Corporate Communications at New York University (NYU). She has worked for FOX 5 News, the AARP Foundation, Discovery Communications, the Foreign Policy Initiative, the United Nations and Atlas Mara.
After completing her studies abroad and gaining experience in the work place, she moved back to Nigeria to work for a private equity bank. Shortly after, she met a producer and became the host of “You Got Issues and Style 101” on Spice TV. After working with Spice TV for 3 years, she was offered an anchor position on Arise News.
She grew up watching her mother involved in philanthropic work. This seed of selflessness was planted in her from a tender age. When she reached the level of success she set out to accomplish, giving back was the missing piece of the puzzle.
The birth of “The IDIA (International Development Initiative in Africa) Project” dates to 2017, when Idia decided it was time to give back in major way. She grabbed her camera and traveled across Nigeria to film content and figure out which partnerships to seek in order to carry out her mission. She was tired of seeing a poor image of Africa constantly being disseminated across the world. With a camera in her hands and the ability to persuade, Idia possessed the power to change the narrative and re-brand the image of Africa.
The broadcast journalist says that before she had investors jump on board, she invested a lot of her money to push her project to the forefront. “If you don’t invest in something, you can’t expect someone else to invest in it,” she said.
“The IDIA Project” gained press coverage and created buzz. She is very proud of the positive feedback the project has received thus far and understands that, “It’s not the solution to everything, but at least it’s an attempt.” It is an attempt to showcase the beauty and strengths of her country. “There’s no point of saying one country is better than the other. It’s about showing dynamics of what each country can do to improve the world,” Idia opined.
Kiki Kamanu, Idia’s good friend, explains how they met: “We were introduced in 2012 in the US by my brother and became fast friends because we had similar interests including our love for modeling and international travel. Fast forward years later, when she began to spend more time in Lagos, she became my muse and featured in several of my campaigns.”
This year, with enough knowledge and experience on her plate, the journalist felt it was time to share some of the things she’s learned over the years as a TV personality. She launched “Diary of a TV Girl” on her YouTube channel. It’s a gift from her to every aspiring journalist. She is shy by nature. It took putting herself through modeling to get to a place where she can comfortably and overtly communicate in front of a camera.
Idia's friend Kamanu adds: “Idia is driven and always accomplishes what she sets out to, no mater how seemingly insurmountable the task/project may seem at first. I am proud of all that she has achieved and cannot wait for the world to see what she is working on now!”
As an anchor, she is making more money than the average person in Nigeria. This does not sit well with everyone. She says that one time, a co-worker told her that she made too much money for a woman. Surprisingly, the person who told her that was also a woman.
Just because someone is a journalist does not mean they know everything that is going on in the world. Idia says that it is not possible to “sit down and read about the entire world.” Because she’s always meeting new people, she can pick different brains and be informed about stories that are circulating around the world.
Being a journalist keeps her at the tip of her toes. Although she shows up to work prepared to deliver, every day, she is reminded how much she doesn’t know. “You can never feel like you know it all,“ Idia said. This mentality gives her room to grow as a professional who is on a mission to make an impact on the world.
Idia never took “no” for an answer. She gave it her all, and once she got what she wanted, she reached out to make an impact. With a bubbly personality and a spirit of giving back, this journalist wants to be respected for her hard work but remain that down-to-earth woman anyone can have a cup of coffee with.
Welcome to Idia’s World
Photo credit: Idia
“There’s no point of saying one country is better than the other. It’s about showing dynamics of what each country can do to improve the world.”
Photo credit: Idia
“I believe in preparation. Things didn’t just happen for me. I was very persistent.”
Photo credit: Idia
“I don’t like anything empty. I like things that have some sort of substance.”
Photo credit: Idia
“The degree helps you get in the door. To move up, you actually have to have learned something.”
Photo credit: Idia
After work, Idia enjoys watching Netflix
Photo credit: Idia
“It’s not just about the money. I have to have knowledge to be able to pass it on.”
Watch Idia introduce her project to the world
Connect with Idia:
Facebook: Idia Aisien
Instagram: @doctoridia
Email: idiaaisien@gmail.com
Website: http://theidiaproject.com/
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