an ace broadcaster, Mrs. Shade Haastrup, Assistant Director, News, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA),  has made her mark in her profession. She explains her foray into the field, the  accompanying challenges and also speaks on her marriage with TOLUWANI OLAMITOKE. Excerpts:

WHAT attracted you to  broadcasting?
I came into the profession actually by a  stroke of luck or would I say accident. I had just finished secondary school education and was whiling  away the time at my aunty’s  place at Bodija, Ibadan. She was running a  salon.   then came in a  woman  looking  for  a voice  for a  particular role on a radio drama.

She’s Mrs. Marcus.  She must have had me speak,  being a regular visior to the salon. I got to the WNTV/WNBS premises,  my performance was impressive because  I have  a  broadcaster’s  voice.

I was then  17 years plus. It then  occurred to me I could go into the profession. I was invited for audition,  interview and was employed at Western  Nigerian  Television (WNTV)/Western Nigeria  Broadcasting Station ( WNBS).

I worked  with veterans like Tunde Marcus, Alex Conde, Yanju Adegbite and my husband, Deji Haastrup who was a D-J with a good voice. While on the job, I realised I had to go to school and improve myself on the profession.  I went to the  Nigerian Institute of Journalism between 1976 and 1978. 

I became a freelancer  with Radio Nigeria between 1977 and 1979  and anchored the programme,  Sunday   Stereo fiesta,  on the FM with Sonny Irabor. After being  awarded a diploma  in journalism, I  joined the Nigerian  Television Authority (NTA). NTV was a place to be. I had the most experience as a  television journalist here. I worked  with Lekan Alabi, Dotun Oyelade, Biodun Oduwole, Segun Oyedele, Mutiu Akinloye and many others.

What other profession would you  have been if you hadn’t gone into broadcasting?
I would have been a lawyer.  I can talk  and  I’m blessed with  logical   wisdom  to argue. You can argue with me on a point at the end of the day,  I will put my points down and you will agree with me.
 

How did the glamour of being  a tv  girl affect your private life?
I’m not the typical tv glamour girl, but a tv journalist. People know me by my reports and not newscasting. I dress the same way    as on    television outside. Glamour girls will go out of their way to buy clothes specially  for  television. I’m simple in my dressing , be it  work cloth  or church wear or any outing  at all.  My father always said I’m  elegant in my simplicity.

You must have had many admirers then and had had to contend with love advances and passes  made at you...
I  coped superficially. Most people knew me with my boyfriend,  Deji Haastrup. We courted for eight years. We became inseparable. We were then often refered to as  snail and the shell.    I knew what I wanted to be  his wife,  have  his children and build a home and future  together and so,  I was focused and  ignored  love advances  from other men.  We met in 1977 on the job and while courting,  we  spent  our holidays in England  with his father, a retired ambassador. I cooked for the father and stayed under his roof. His family loved me and I got on  well with his mother.

What stood your spouse out among other men?
I have  penchant for tall men. I’m a small person. Most tall men are attracted to short women. He was very gentle,  good looking and  had a good voice lots of women sought after him because of his voice. He is an introvert and I, an extrovertboisterous. I didn’t need his permission to stand up and dance at a party because I know he .  wouldn’t dance.

We’ve been married for 33 years and deep down,  we are friends and really love each.  Sometimes , he would travel and come back home saying, “I’m happy being back home.” And pulling his legs,      I  would  say, “to your lousy wife?” and smiling, he would   reply, “don’t mind that.” When he travels, I  find myself tossing  on the bed.  I have come  to  realise his presence  besides,  me  gives me   assurance  of security.

How has it been all these years?
It was fun getting to see the best well dressed people, best fashion and the who is who in the society. There was the exposure to the high and low. in 1988,  I  got  a  fellowship award – Rotary  Group Exchange Fellowish. I was elated. Another was the Visnews fellowship. I was the only female broadcaster to receive the award. Visnews (a television agency)  encouraged  television broadcasting in developing countries.

I travelled with journalists  from China, Zimbabwe, India and some other countries and was the only female among them. We visited five countries in  three months.  I presented a paper at the Ecounter 88  Session, in  London, Canada. I  also  had the opportunity of visiting the White House and peeped into the oval office. 

Reagan was then the  president,  but   he  wasn’t around,  so we couldn’t  have access to his office.  NTA has been good, but the remuneration  is ridiculous. But in all, I am fortunate to have worked with the best broadcasters in Nigeria, worked with humane beings. There was the exposure to the high and low. I don’t think about the negative side. I can’t have everything or have things too smooth.

It is believed that due to their   exposure and glamorous life, female  broadcasters are unable to keep their homes. How have you been able to keep yours?
I  debunk the claim, it’s not true. Because we are visible, people tend to talk more about us. How do they know what happens in the bank, civil service setting or shopping complex.  Issues where there is man and woman  are not peculiar to journalists or television broadcasters.  Human  beings are not different, we are subjected to same feelings and emotions. What about those in church who have affairs with one another? God has helped me to uphold my home.

My husband, being a media person, tends to understand me. It thus helps  when you have a  spouse  who understands the nature of your job. There are  many women with good homes in the profession.

What role  does  romance play in a relationship?
you continually renew  love you work at it. Until recently, I didn’t understand what it meant to work at it, keep the light of  your  love  burning. My husband does not like me fat, so I make conscious efforts  at watching my weight  by  eating  less and exercising.  We both have common passion— we watch movies outside the home and also like to eat outside at restaurants. We go out as couple or family with the children.

Are you fashion freak?
No. I wouldn’t want to be one. I’m very conservative. I dress simply  but elegant. To office, I always like to dress casual. i put on  skirt, blouse,  loafers, not too many high heels. Being a short person, I like dresses that are short, these  look better on short people, it makes me look cute.

Most of my clothes are on the knees. When I wear a  long  skirt, I wear a short top. I like defining my  fashion sense. My husband  is a great critic, he knows what suits me and buys me these.
Don’t you wear trousers?
Not anymore. I have gone  wide  at the hips. My husband doesn’t like trousers fitting tight round my hips. A woman who dresses like that looks vulgar and obscence to him. If I travel and it’s cold,  I put on a loose trouser. I’m adverse to fashion that exhibits  people’s private parts. I have no regard for youth that does that and worst, mothers. This is vulgar bad fashion sense. I feel embarrassed seeing ladies and women in this. I’m opposed to it.

What was dating  like in your days?
Exciting. I tell my children our youthful days were   fun. We attended  parties  discos  and  come back home  safe. Today,  when my  son is  attending a party, I’m afraid. There’s so much of insecurity around.

What do you consider a must    when dressing up?
My earrings and wedding band. I don’t take  the band  off unless I have to wash probably  in  the kitchen. Whenever I forget to wear these,  I feel incomplete.

What do you do at weekends?
I take a walk in form of exercise and  clean the home.  I’m passionate about cleanliness. I do the laundry and go out to events if there is any.

If given  N50 million, how would you spend it?
I will buy a house for my mother, make her more comfortable and  put money aside for my children. This will help them  in  starting  life comfortably when married and also encourage them to save.  My needs are limited. I can go on holidays  with my family. But I won’t because of  having  such a huge amount  change my car. All I need is a nice  car that is working. I will also  eat well and buy a  few good clothes.

you are also close to your mother-in-law. What about  a house  for her?
She is comfortable. I  believe   if she needs one, my husband can  always buy it.

Your hobby?
Dancing to music in any form and taking care of my home. I’m house proud.