ENITAN Oshibodu was afraid she wouldn’t make 50 years, simply because her immediate elder sister died
at age 48 of cancer. She recently celebrated this milestone at the Civic Centre, Lagos. That fateful evening,
she looked really radiant and gorgeous and it was as if she just turned 25. For her, turning 50 is something
to be celebrated rather than dreaded, knowing she is quite lucky making it this far in life. Also in commemoration
of this milestone, she has documented her life experiences in a book titled Enitan: The stories
behind the smiles, with 50 shots of herself, each representing her fifty years on earth. She spoke to Sunday
Sun lately about it all.
By Christy Anyanwu
So how does it feel to be 50?
It’s awesome.We were three girls in my family but my elder sister didn’t make it to 50.By the time she was 48years,doctors told us her time was up because she had cancer. So, I live with that kind of experience, because I was with my sister and we were counting down for her to die. Ever since, I have been very mindful of my time, so I know it’s a privilege to be alive. For me, it’s like I’m living two lives. My sister’s and mine as I’ve adopted her two kids.I’m excited also,because people think I am younger and it’s a good time to let people know I am 50years.
You wrote a book recently about your life titled Enitan:The stories behind the smiles.What motivated it?
Attaining age 50 means a lot to me. I have had a pretty rough life and coming close to 50years I decided I wanted to do something, to put something on record. I have worked with important people and a lot of things have happened to me and that’s why I decided to use 50 pictures to illustrate my experience. I took notes as I reflected on my life and it was easier as I wrote. I didn’t have a title for the book when I started, I just knew I wanted to write about myself, my parents, why I am who I am and how I got to where I am, the people that influenced me, who helped me on my journey and who upset me because I believe I have upset a lot of people too . I had to stop at a point to ask myself if I was writing fiction, because if I was, I could use fake names but that didn’t serve my purpose as I have always been bold.
So, the book documented my experience though there are some controversial issues which I was pragmatic about without being subjective. If you ask anybody that knows me, they’ll tell you I have never been unhappy or sad, though terrible things happened to me.I don’t know how to be sad and I am too hyperactive, so I am always laughing and messing around. Enitan means a person of history which I am. Yorubas look at the circumstances surrounding the birth of their kids before naming them. I was named Enitan, because there was a death in the family at the time I was born. I titled my book Enitan: The stories behind the smiles, because there are lots of my experience people never knew about.
Where did the 50 pictures idea come from ?
The idea was to depict each year of my life. Since age 45 I took pictures, because people say I don’t look my age and I can’t get enough of that.
Some believe women don’t want to say their age because we live in a society where aging induces fear of physical changes and limited opportunities. What are your fears?
Recently, I asked myself, now that I’m 50years old,do I want to slow down? I was so looking up to my 50th birthday and it’s probably because of my late sister. I couldn’t think of anything but 50years. I have certainly crossed the bridge,because I have raised all my children, so it’s going to be a different ball game. No more worries or demands on me, because two of them are graduates and working, the third one is at the University of Kent and the baby is doing his A levels. So, I am now free and the answer to your question is rather than worry about aging, I am looking forward to doing something tangible with my time.
Could you tell us a bit about your childhood, education and career?
I grew up in Ibadan and practically lived most of my life there. I studied Communication and Language Arts at the University of Ibadan. Subsequently, I felt I had enough of Ibadan, so I relocated to Lagos. I did my youth service with NTA as well as had a brief stint with Daily Times of Nigeria. In those days people were “checking out” and I also traveled out. I was in the United kingdom in 1990 and I didn’t come back until I had my kids and I relocated to Nigeria with my children in 2003. When I returned to Nigeria, I bumped into Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the former governor of Ogun State and became his P.A for 2years but I had some issues with him which are in my book and I resigned. Subsequently, I worked with the Nigerian Stock Exchange for five years, but due to the capital melt down and the crisis at the exchange during Professor Ndi Okereke’s tenure, I lost my job and after, I moved around a bit and tried to settle down. Then I gave Alhaji Aliko Dangote a call and as soon as he heard what happened to my job, he hired me about four years ago and that’s how I joined Dangote Group. I work in the president’s office as Head of Facilities Management and I’m responsible for making sure the factories are in good shape always. It’s my duty to make sure the firm’s environment is in good shape too.
You can spend millions to build a house or a factory, but if you do not pay attention to your environment, it actually brings the value down and at the end of the day you may lose money. So, Alhaji is very keen about improving and sustaining the factories and surroundings. The factories are not only operating at full capacity but they are safe for workers and the neighborhood.
So with less responsibility now, what do you intend to do with your time?
I have written a book but that is not the only plan I have for my life after 50. I have another plan. I want to be known for something good. I will launch a foundation that will bring solar power into the country. I know a solar power company in the UK. It’s crazy that in this country where there is abundance of sunshine, we still have issues with power. I believe it will work in Nigeria. I don’t know what is wrong with our government, they install solar panels that don’t function.
What do you do to stay in shape and look good?
I modified some things I used to do before, I am a little more cautious now. I used to be a coke addict, I could drink a crate in a day. I had to stop, because it was showing on my tummy. Now I have reduced my intake of coke and I do not eat late at night because of my tummy. If I think I am stretching my clothes, I reduce my carbohydrate, like not eating rice in a week.
What’s your dress sense? I love clothes and fashion generally. I love jeans and shirts. I love true religion jeans. If I want to dress casual, I wear short dresses, but I love my gele as well. I make a statement with whatever I wear.
What has life taught you at 50?
Life is tough and not for the faint-hearted. I’ve also learnt never to give up, so at 50, I feel bolder and more confident and I believe the saying that time will set things straight.
If there is anything you would want to change about yourself what would it be?
To learn to talk less. My mouth is my problem. It’s a double-edged sword which pulls me out of every corner, but it also saves me sometimes.