The name Helen Sosu is not new to core followers of the nation’s entertainment terrain. In fact, she is one of the most creative female minds constantly helping to redefine and reposition the showbiz scene with her numerous laudable initiatives. Aside acting and presenting, now married Sosu, is also a model, writer, strategic planner, and organizer.
Helen Sosu
In this interview, Sosu, who has been off the big screens for a very long time, shared her experience with us. She also spoke glowingly about her new pet project for the under-privileged teenagers in the society, tagged, The Street University Project. The English graduate of the University of Lagos further elaborated on why she is passionate about the project, its attendant challenges, and how she intends changing the society with it. Amiable and cerebral Sosu, who is a poet and member of the International Society of Poets, also spoke on her marriage, men, how she intimidates them, and many more.
Enjoy the interaction!
Talking about Nollywood, do you still act?
I featured in a movie last sometimes in 2001, and the title was Enemy Within. And because of the time consuming nature of this project, I have also taken a long break from the TV as a presenter. But very soon, I would be hitting the airwaves with my own TV programme. It is actually a TV programme that would help change the society and empower our youths. Although, it is quite different from another TV programme the Street University Project is coming up soon. In fact, it is actually kicking off next quarter, which is early 2009.
You seem to be generating so much news with your Street University Project. What is it all about?
Basically, the Street University Project is a re-orientation and re-structuring programme for the under-privileged youths in our society, especially those on the streets. We mean those that actually come from the slums. These are basically youths whose parents or guardians can’t afford to take good care of them. We also want to act as mentors to these under-privileged youths, as well as role models, so that they do not end up committing various crimes in the society. We feel it is best for us to start taking charge now before it gets out of control. Again, as someone who grew up on the streets of Ajegunle and eventually made it in my chosen career and life, I am already using myself as an example. I know what the challenges are and what it is like to come out from the streets. It is not easy, I have those that I grew up with that are still there and living the street life. It is quite shocking and painful, that most of them can’t still differentiate their left from right.
The Street University Project is an eight-phased thing and we do different things in each of these phases. We embark on workshops, literary works, which is the area my latest book falls within, documentaries, radio/TV and the rest of them. We also have three stages of training for rescued youths and they are the green, yellow and red stages. Though, we usually go after these street kids, but sometimes they come to us. The red light is the initial stage, while the yellow is the training stage and deals mostly with our workshops and seminars. Lagos state government monitored the last one we did: And the last stage which, is the green, is the final stage and we already have ‘graduates’ from the project.
How long does it take to become a ‘graduate’?
Usually, it is between two and three months and the programme has been designed as a quarterly event and it takes place thrice in a year. At the end of the day, the graduates come out with skills, which is what they have been empowered with and you cannot take that away from them. And finally, at the green stage, they also have the choice of deciding whether they would go to the real university or not. Some of them are already in the higher institutions. We co-fund their education. In fact, seven of them are in different universities.
Why are you doing this with so much passion and enthusiasm?
Like I told you earlier, I grew up in Ajegunle and there were eight of us in one room with my mother, because my dad took a long walk at a time.
What was it like then?
Sincerely, there was so much love, and in the ghetto, you are your brothers’ keeper and we enjoyed ourselves. Though, it was not easy for my dear mum. Despite all these challenges, my mum made sure we all had basic education, though in public schools. I remember that my mum used to take us to the Apapa amusement park every Christmas and the Federal Palace Hotel, where she usually tells us to always read our books, if we want to make it in life. And today, all of us are graduates and some of my siblings are even working abroad. So I have chosen to do this for those whose parents cannot afford to do such things for them. It is a street thing and we are looking beyond Ajegunle.
How do you get these street kids?
Our team members are the ones getting the interested ones into the project, mind you, it is not every kid that would want a change. While some are looking for the opportunity that would help change their lives, others don’t want such to happen to them. In recent times, we have had several street kids from Mushin, Oshodi, Agege, Ajegunle and other ghettos, coming to us. And we are officially one year now. When these street youths or kids gain admission into our academy we organize workshops and seminars for them in order to change their orientation and ways of thinking. These trainings will prepare them for the challenges ahead. It would also help to change the way they think and reason.
Since you started, what will you say are the major challenges?
The challenges are enormous, but I’d like to thank God for giving me the vision and mission to do this. I’m not working alone, it’s teamwork and we are trying our best in order to achieve success. Our biggest challenge is how to maintain and continue with what we have started, and that takes us to the issue of funds and funding. Right now, we are still self-sponsored and seriously need the financial assistance of corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals. We are also grateful to the Lagos state government, for coming to monitor our last workshop/ seminar. We are praying, hoping and at the same time begging on corporate sponsors to come to our aid soon. It is no longer about me and what I want to do any more, it is about what should be done, to make the society a better place for all of us. Mind you, if you don’t act now, most of these youths would do something terrible tomorrow; therefore, it’s a collective responsibility. I cannot stop working for their transformation because we can help them to become something in life, if we give them the needed opportunities.
Having said all these, what is your vision and mission for the project?
First and foremost, I prayed that very soon we should be able to have our own building on our own land, where we can build hostels/housing for our students. We urgently need a multi-purpose building with all the recreational things in place. With all these in place, these youths can hold their own anywhere.
What is the age bracket of those you look out for?
Our target brackets are those from 11 to 25 years of age. It is so because we feel that is when they are easily manipulated. However, we do have a few that are below 11. Few of them are also above 25.
You grew up in the ghetto of Ajegunle, how much of the ghetto life is still inside of you?
Once a ghetto child, always a ghetto person; the only difference is that some of us, who grew up in the ghettos, are now polished and civilized. And despite the fact that I no longer stay in the ghetto, I’m still in constant touch and harmony with my ghetto brethren.
Tell us more about the book you wrote on this project.
Yeah, the book is titled the Street University and would be launched soon. It is a must read for all youths, because it would further help them to understand what street live is all about. Basically, the book teaches you how to make something positive out of your live, no matter your background. The book is also part of our enlightenment campaign drive for the entire project.
Aside the issue of funding, do you have other challenges?
Nothing much really, the main challenge is funding, other things are going on smoothly and people are responding positively, but the fund to drive the project has remained a big challenge.
So, what is the next level?
For us at the Street University Project, we sincerely hope that the next level would be to get a permanent place of our own with all the necessary recreational and administrative facilities in place. With this in place, we can help change the system and the society for better. Our dream is to make this project an institution.
And how is married life treating you?
It is fine, I thank God for everything, it gives me time to do what I am currently doing and that gives me joy. And my darling husband has been more than supportive and appreciates the things I do for the society.
And in doing all these, how have you been coping with attention from men?
Sincerely, I think I have been too busy for any man to look at right now. And for the stubborn ones, I think my presence intimidates them.
How did your husband win your heart?
He’s been there for a very long time, and because I cherish my privacy a lot, we shielded it from the public till we were ready for marriage.
In the next couple of years, where would you be heading with this project?
Hopefully, five years from now, we must have been fully established and must have gone round the federation with this project. And by then, I believe that we must have also gone round Africa and even beyond with our good works. This is a project that I want to outlive me and all of us that started it. Let me also use this medium to call on willing Nigerians, in both the public and private sectors to come to our aid financially.
First published, October 2008
Culled from Azuh Amatus’ best selling books, FAMOUS FACES…
