I LOVE PUTTING SMILES ON PEOPLE'S FACES -Evelyn Obahor

 Evelyn Obahor is the delectable beauty of the famous Nightshift on DBN Television back in the 90s.

She was born in Croydon over four decades ago to medical parents, her father being a pharmacologist and her mother a nurse.

She grew up in the UK and had to return to Nigeria, the country of her parents to know her roots. She attended various schools there and knew that right from the time she could think that broadcast entertainment was all she wanted to do.

She started her broadcast career in Jos, Plateau State in the northern part of Nigeria working on programmes such as 'Behind the Clouds' where she worked with experienced hands such as Matt Dadzie, Sadiq Daba, Evelyn Ikhuenobe and many more.

While working on various productions, she was invited to join the crew on the set of Mr. Johnson film, where she worked in the costume department and having the rare privilege to work with Pierce Brosnan of the James Bond fame. While still on that set, she was called to work on set of a film called 'Ka Saramu Ce' where she works has a costumier.

But a day before the filming started, the producer and director of the film asked her to handle the continuity as the person in charge had not arrived from London. This was a huge task and responsibility because if anything went wrong, it was the duty of the continuity person to put it right, which means that she had to be meticulous; she carried out this responsibility successfully and was given great accolades for the job.

She left Jos after 6 years, returned to Benin City and worked as a continuity announcer announcing all programmes that had to come on air. About a year after, she went to Lagos where she worked at Mainframe Productions owned by renowned cinematographer, TundeKelani and was part of the crew that shot 'Ti Oluwa Nile'.

After working here for a year, she moved on to DBN Productions, where she worked as a production assistant producing scripting programmes and TV commercials. DBN Productions soon became DBN television. Evelyn was among the few people who mapped out how the channel should go and is proud to say that while she was there, DBN was the best station in Lagos.

She created and presented programmes such as the ever popular nightshift programme alongside Israel Edjeren and Ebere Acharike; 'Lunch Date', the first ever programme where personalities are interviewed over lunch in a live studio, AMTV, the first ever interactive breakfast programme, 'Home Video Review' where she criticised home videos, a collaboration with FRCN, where she presented with Bisi Olatilo, Soni Irabor and Zakari Mohammed and 'Family and friends' a Saturday and Sundaybreakfast show with Gordy Omolaiye, Segun Adebowale and Lanre Anjuola now Oyebode.

Evelyn left DBN in 1998 as manager programmes to set up her own production company producing programmes such as 'eve…the way we are', and also being a media consultant. She also presented NTA 2 'This Morning' with the likes of Femi Segun, Israel Edjeren, Sadiq Daba, GeenaEtuk and Marian Anazodo; the programme which is today known as 'AMExpress'. She also presented 'Hello Lagos' with Segun Adebowale on Silverscreen TV.

Evelyn returned to the UK and worked with Ben Television, the first black station in the UK, where she created and presented programmes such as 'Ben Breakfast Show' which is now the flagship of the station; on the ferminie side and 'Hey LetsTalk'

She left Ben Television to set up her own company, 'Justeve Broadcasting Network Limited now known as Floodlight Broadcasting Network Limited, where she has produced and presented flagship programmes such as 'Hey Let's Talk', 'The Justeve show', 'My World' and a reality show called 'The Big Search' working with Princess Deun Solarin, Omayeli Odeli and Sola Oyebade, where she is in search for a TV presenter of African descent. The show is currently in its second series.

Evelyn is blessed with a son, 20 year old, Daniel who has become a fantastic footballer, who currently plays semi-professional football for local football club. She also has three siblings, Ruky, Efe who recently passed on; and Richard. Evelyn has passion for children and is in the process of setting up a charity to help all suffering children in Africa.

She's the publisher of Hey! Magazine which will be launched at the end of this year, and Evelyn will die a fulfilled person when she has been able to impact the world by making a change and giving hope to all suffering and struggling people.

She has interviewed several personalities, celeb, which include; Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, KICC (Hello Lagos), Sen. WahabDosumur(Hello Lagos), David Kolawole Vaughn (Hello Lagos), Ovation Publisher,DeleMomodu (Hello Lagos And Ben's Breakfast Show), Actress, Joke Jacobs (Hello Lagos), Fashion Designer, Beautician & legal Practitioner, Opral Benson (Lunch Date), Veteran Broadcaster ,Yinka Craig (Lunch Date), Actress, Dolly Unachukwu (Lunch Date), Actress, Ann Njemanze (Lunch Date), Broadcaster, Israel Edjeren(Lunch Date), Actor, Richard Mofe Damijo (Lunch Date), Ex-Lagos State Commissioner For Health, Leke Pitan(Am TV), Ex-President, Olusegun Obasanjo(DBN Television), Renowned Legal Practioner Carol Ajie (Am TV), Charley Boy(Nightshift),

Cinematographer, Tunde Kelani (Hello Lagos, Home Video Review), Producer & Director Zeb Ejiro(Home Video Review), Kayode Ajala (Lunch Date), Victor Azinge(Lunch Date), Beauty Queen, Tayo Parkes(Lunch Date), Alariwo Of Africa (Lunch Date), Late Swing Pawpaw(Lunch Date, Eve…The Way We Are), Producer, Femi Lasode(Lunch Date), Zaaki Adzee (Eve…The Way We Are…), Comedian, Ali Baba (Eve…The Way We Are…), Teju Babyface, (Hello Lagos), Radio/Television Presenter, Make-Up Artist And Fashion Designer, Yemi Pratt(Eve…The Way We Are…), Dare Art Alade(Eve…The Way We Are…), Make-Up Artist, Chidinma Ukonu (Eve…The Way We Are…), Actress, Lavonne CeleTawo(Lunch Date, Eve…The Way We Are…), Beautician, Juliet Hornsbey( Lunch Date), Deputy Governor Edo State, Mike Oghadome, Ex-Gov Delta State, James Ibori(Ben Television), Nigerian High Commissioner, Christopher Kolade (Ben Television)Boxer, Chris Eubanks(Ben Television), Pat Utomi (Ben Television), Gamail Onosode(Hello Lagos), Jamician High Commissioner (Ben TV), Barry Hugill (Ben TV), Beatrice Kolade, Flight Lieutenant, Gary Munroe (Ben's Breakfast Show), Simon Shimmens (Ben TV), Late Ambassador Segun Olusola(Hello Lagos), Patti Boulaye, Ex-Governor Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, Beautician, Lande Akitoye, CEO Ben Television, Alistar Soyode, Beautician, Amaka Olateju, Jewereller, Josephine  Adebolu, Beauty Queen. Chioma Isiuagu, and others too numerous to mention.

Evelyn's originality, she said makes her different from others, and the likeable lady considers herself a very unique person, which reflects in everything she does, adding 'I like to break all the rules.’

On her secrets of staying in power, she says;  'I don't really know how to answer that question, but let's just say it is by the grace of God. There are so many people who have come into the industry and are doing very well. So if I'm still here it just has to be God.’

One of her told her recently, 'welcome back from retirement,' and she said she is bringing back all the projects that she abandoned a few years ago such as her reality show, talk shows, magazine and  workshops for young people who want to come into the broadcast industry. 'Of course, my ultimate dream is to run my own TV channel,' she quipped.

Evelyn did not even think she would not be in entertainment industry, 'right from the time, I could think I knew that this is what I wanted to do and I haven't done anything else and that spans some 27 years now,' she stated, adding that all that she does is based on entertainment.

'A couple of years back I would have not been too positive but now one can clearly see a progression growth and that is a very good thing,' she explained, while assessing the entertainment industry.

On the craziest thing her fans have done to her, Evelyn recalled two incidents. One, she revealed was in Nigeria and the other was in the UK. 'In Nigeria I was going to see a friend, who was sick and as I drove pass a school, I heard 'is that not Evelyn Obahor?' The next thing I saw was the whole school chasing after the car. That was crazy and scary (laughs). Then here in the UK, I was getting on the train and there was this guy that saw me and screamed my name, then he ran after me and got on the train with me. There were other white people in the train coach I was in; the guy just started telling them that I was a celebrity. They all stopped what they were doing and started asking me questions they were somewhat in awe. But I was embarrassed. (laughs),' she recalled.

The plan of the talented is to keep doing things that would put a smile on people's faces, and she would want to take away their pain, 'I hate seeing people hurting and in pain.'

She advises creative and wonderful women; 'I say this to everyone who asks me this question. Never say you can't, how do you know you can't when you haven't tried and you haven't tried till you have succeeded.’

July 08, 2013