Leading Without Limits

The Spark | Ignite / Connect / Achieve
www.thesparkng.com
FAST FORWARD
Arit Okpo
The Amplifier
You cannot meet Arit and not be enamoured by her charisma. As you
start to talk to her, you witness something truly special- the gem that she
is begins to unveil even brighter, as question after question meet answers.
Arit Okpo is the media entrepreneur to watch out for. She currently
focuses on documentary filmmaking, voice-overs, TV presenting and
event moderating. She has produced and presented content for the
EbonyLife TV platform and is the current voice of CNN’s African Voices
as well as season host for web talk show Untold Facts, produced by The
Initiative for Equal Rights. She shares about her journey, her struggles and
the glory...
...On Beginnings
Hmmm...I was a performing child.
I recited Bible verses in church, I
acted in dramas and participated
in reading competitions in school. I was
confident and outspoken. I remember
doing one of those Nigerian Television
Authority (NTA) exchange programmes
that used to be so popular in those days
when I was about 7. I have a picture in
my head of myself in a double wrapper,
holding this microphone with the
cable dangling behind me. I was such
a talker that everyone thought I would
become a lawyer. My mother tells me
often that my favourite question has
always been – Why? Of course, I didn’t
think of these things that I enjoyed as
a pointer to a career; all I knew was
that they were fun and I was good at
them. I got into school, was placed into
the Science and Technology class and
ended up studying Biochemistry. That
was never part of the grand plan but
I’m so glad I found my way back.
…On Challenges
I think that one of my biggest challenges
has been creating a bridge between
being a creative and making a career.
As a creative, I like to make things, but
I haven’t always thought about how to
monetize these things I make, or about
how to ensure that said monetization
is commensurate for my work. So, I’m
learning to approach work from two
angles – first in the sense of what it is
that I am creating and then alongside
that, making sure that the job is paying
me and building my career.
Very closely related to that has been
creating strategies and plans to make
sure that I actually do the things I
dream of doing. I constantly have plans
and ideas, but I haven’t always been
structured in breaking down these
ideas into a realistic plan. It has been a
beautiful (but not always easy) journey
of turning my passion into a business.
.
…On the Moment that
Changed Everything
The big spark moment was working
with Mo Abudu at Ebonylife TV. It was
a transition into working in the media
full time. I had been planning a softer
entry into the industry and working
and learning during that period
jumpstarted that process beautifully.
Before this break out moment, I had
felt insecure about my ability to do the
work that I do, I struggled to accept
that I did deserve everything that
was coming, I felt that things needed
to be more difficult for me to earn
them. I have a fierce work ethic and
such a willingness to do well; if I had
added more self-belief to that already
powerful mix, what a time it would
have been.
“Governments need to
ensure that policies, job
positions and opportunities
actively exist
for women, and not for
figurehead positions
like officer for women’s
affairs and all of that,
but for strategic and
influential positions.”
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ark
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