Barcelona Chose Me, Says Journalist Chiogor Ikokwu
The importance, role and influence of the media in election campaigns cannot be overstated; these and other challenging topics are being addressed by journalists around the world. In Barcelona, Chiogor Ikokwu seeks to enlist colleagues on a mission which will offer an African perspective on cultural, commercial and political issues of the day. We sat down with her to talk about what brought her to Barcelona and her new organization, The African Press Club—an international community of journalists whose mission is to inform, inspire and connect people across the world.
Who is Chiogor Constance Ikokwu? Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I describe myself as an energetic, life-loving, focused, hardworking and tenacious individual. I’m an optimistic person that always tries to see the good in everything. I am interested in social justice, equity and fairness. Injustice is my biggest peeve. I can’t stand it. I also like spirituality, media, literature, etc. I try to give back from the much that I have received. I believe that’s the only way society regenerates itself. I therefore, see everyday that I wake up as a bonus. It means that my work on earth is not yet finished, so I give it my all.
Where are you originally from and how did you end up in Barcelona?
I’m from Nigeria and I arrived Barcelona last year to begin my doctoral degree in Political Communication focusing on the Role of Media in Elections at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). I’ve always been asked why I chose Barcelona. I think that Barcelona chose me or to put it in a different way—it was meant to be. Three years ago, I was searching for schools to start a doctorate program. I was eager to return to academia after many years of working as a journalist and later, as a strategic communications adviser. I also wanted to go abroad for a change of environment and a different experience. At the PhD level, admission is more complicated because of the fact that you have to find a supervisor interested and familiar with your subject area and willing to add you to his/her academic workload. As fate would have it, I bumped into a colleague at the library. We had not seen each other for a while. We exchanged pleasantries and asked each other the status of things in our lives. This colleague informed me that he was doing a PhD in Barcelona. I was very surprised because Barcelona is normally not a study destination for Nigerians. He advised that I apply, which is what I did. The rest is history.
What’s the experience so far? Is it worth it?
It’s definitely worth it because I am doing what I want to do. One of the great things that life has taught me is that it pays to do what you love. You can’t go wrong with that. For instance, I am so glad that I followed my heart and became a journalist, even when the wages and conditions were not exactly great. If there was ever a second coming in life, I would become a journalist again because it’s so much fun. For me, it’s like being paid to play and work at the same time. The job can be time consuming but it fed my soul. It gave me meaning and I felt like I was doing something worthwhile with my life. Secondly, Barcelona is a vibrant city totally different from other places I’ve lived in. My life here is very busy. I am buried in books at least 80% of the time. PhD is a very difficult and lonely journey. It is hard but I won’t change it for anything. I’ve always wanted to do this. I am grateful for the opportunity. But I am also trying to have a social life, which is tough. I write a weekly blog, I’m learning Spanish, and I’m building a press club. I am happy with the results so far.
What do you write about in your blog and how do you find the time?
It’s all about discipline. You can do anything that you put your mind to. I find the time because I did not come all the way from Nigeria to waste my time. I do not have that luxury at all. I think the most important thing is that I am doing the things that I want to do. It doesn’t feel like a burden. The scope of my blog is wide. I write about anything that I find interesting in Barcelona. However, it’s always presented from an African perspective. That’s what makes it different. My perceptions and views of the world are totally different from maybe that of a European, American or Asian. If you read my blog on any topic, you would have an understanding and learn something new about my country Nigeria, and by extension Africa. I also interview people that have something purposeful to say and touch on socio-cultural issues in Barcelona too. I decided to do a light-hearted blog because it’s easier to manage given my school workload. If I were to do a purely journalistic piece, I won’t have the time to do all of the investigations, numerous interviews and follow other strict requirements that it takes. Plus, this is relaxing and therapeutic for me. Please check out my blog: www.africanpresslcub.com and let me know your thoughts or simply drop a comment.