Armed with a degree in English from the University of Ibadan, another in Theatre Arts, Film and Television Production from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Law degree from the University of Buckingham, England, Grace Egbagbe could safely be described as a triple threat.
A Tale Of Beauty, Brains And Class
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With a successful career in the media spanning 27 years at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) culminating with her role as Executive Director - Marketing, Grace Egbagbe's multiple degrees had infact been what first drew her into my radar. It would also turn out to be of help with landing a much-coveted interview with her.
I'd approached Ms Egbagbe at the Genevieve Pink Ball not quite knowing what to expect. But 5 minutes later, I was strolling away from her table with her phone number in hand and a mental victory dance underway. A phone call would follow suit but this time around we weren't quite done in 5 minutes.
"I'm tired of reading about myself in the media" she had protested after stating my purpose of calling.
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"I understand ma'am but this is a different kind of interview" I insisted
"You'll be inspiring scores of young women the way I was after reading that you'd bagged degrees in English, Theatre Arts and Law many years ago"
**pause**
"Ok. I have a young daughter so I don't really like turning down young people..."
In the 90's and early 2000's, Grace Egbagbe dominated the Nigerian social scene as her presence at any event guaranteed that said event was a success. However in the years since her retirement, Ms Egbagbe has been been relatively quiet.
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"I share my time between here and Washington" she explains.
"Since I'm retired and not doing much so I just relax and travel. I love to travel. NTA made me travel a lot, I used to go to the film festival in Monte Carlo every February and Cannes Film festival around April/May"
The first of 6 siblings, Egbagbe describes her childhood as one filled with a lot of love.
"My father believed in 'Spare the rod and spoil the child', but he also showed a lot of love and he believed a lot in education especially girl-child education. I'm the first and I have 6 other siblings and people wondered why my father wanted to send me to school but he insisted, spending his last money to send me to school"
So off to the University of Ibadan she went where she studied English. A chance meeting with a visiting professor from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) would however change her course in life.
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"My journey to the media was accidental. I was in the University of Ibadan and I was secretary to the English club. So at some point, we had a visiting professor from the University of California, Los Angeles and we were introduced. Apparently the night before he had seen me on TV because I used to act in Wole Soyinka's 'Ori Sun' theatre where I played the part of Yemoja on WNTV. So when he came for the meeting, he asked me if I was interested in a Theatre programme in UCLA and I said yes. So he said he would send me forms but I didn't bank on it. But like a true American he kept his word and sent them, I filled them out and the rest is history"
Recalling her time in UCLA, Egbagbe says she had the pleasure of being lectured by several Hollywood acts such as Maximilian Schell from 'The Man In The Glass Booth'. She also recalled the unfortunate passing of Carrie Grant who was scheduled to guest lecture but sadly passed on before he could make the visit.
An honest observation of an episode on the 'Good Times' would later land her an internship with the show's highly influential writer/producer, Norman Lear.
"I attended a talk that Norman Lear gave and I asked him a question about 'Good Times' because in an episode the week before, everyone was sitting on the floor and eating with their hands because Thelma, one of the characters on the show had her boyfriend who was from Nigeria visiting. So I said to him, TV is such a powerful tool that whatever people see especially the Americans, who are largely uninformed about other parts of the world, tend to believe. I said while there are people who sit on the floor to eat, there are also people who sit on the table and eat 3-course meals so that wasn't representative of Nigeria. He apologised and asked if I would like to be a consultant and I said I was still a student so he offered me an internship role instead. He introduced me to all the members of the cast from 'Good Times'. Thelma and Wilona even became good friends of mine"
Through the years, Egbagbe recorded several successes in her career including creating the hit TV show, 'Cockcrow at Dawn'. Speaking on such notable moments, she says travelling the world and her government-sponsored course in Satellite Communications at the University of Hawaii remain noteworthy for her. But an interview beamed worldwide with Wilona from 'Good Times' remains one of the greatest moments for her.
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"During the Olympics, I had the pleasure of interviewing Wilona from the 'Good Times' on the beach in Los Angeles and it was beamed on satellite. That for me was a great moment because I got calls from people in Nigeria saying they had just seen me on TV"
Not one to put up with injustice and malignment, Egbagbe says she was prompted to study Law for these reasons after her interest got sparked by the legal series she liked to watch.
"My interest in Law started from watching legal series on TV. I'm someone who tries to be fair and I've seen people maligned for things they didn't do and I've also been a victim of false stories so I took study leave without pay and went to the University of Buckingham because they have a 2 year program and I needed to get it done quickly. After that, I took a sabbatical to go to Law school and was called to the bar in 1985."
Currently working as a media consultant while also doing some minor legal work, Egbagbe says that retirement has afforded her more time to travel and sleep.
"Everyone knows not to wake me up till 10am because I'm still asleep. Although sometimes I'm up till 2am which is bad" she laughs.
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"I love to travel" she continues
"I've carried my suitcase across the Berlin wall when it wasn't down. I've also been to Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Russia and many other countries."
Of her biggest lesson, she says she's learnt that what will be, will be.
"What will be, will be. Also put God first in all you do and when you ask God for things and you don't get them, its probably because they're not good for you because He knows the future. For instance, I went into broadcasting purely by accident, I probably would have ended up as a teacher which was my primary calling and love. I love to teach."
Egbagbe who says that but for the support of her family, she probably would have found juggling career and motherhood much more challenging urges women to not see themselves as being in competition with the men but simply just work hard.
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"I believe in hardwork because that's what my dad taught me to do, he always said hardwork doesn't kill. But if you're operating in a field that is largely dominated by men and in a country where the men folk think they're all that, just do your best and don't try to overdo it because you want to be like the men. God did not create us the same way. So work as hard as you need to work, but don't work twice as hard because you want to prove a point to the men, because you will kill yourself and when you're gone the man is still there"
Describing herself as a natural worrier, Egbagbe says she would change that about herself if she could but has learnt to let go over the years.
In the style department, Grace Egbagbe has always held sway and she attributes this to dressing for comfort.
"Style is comfort. If you're comfortable you'll step out looking nice but if wear something uncomfortable, you'll look uncomfortable and there's no way you'll look stylish that way. I don't follow fashion fads, if it suits me I'll wear it, if not I won't. One must learn to study their body type and dress appropriately."
She goes on to list Iconic Invanity, Sunny Rose (who happens to be her niece), Valerie David, Unania, Karen Miller and BCBG as some of her favourite designers. She also pronounces deodorant as a must-have item for every woman.
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Attributing her still flawless looks to genetics and peace of mind, Egbagbe says she unwinds by watching movies and reading. On her current reading list - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
"I'm currently reading Chimamanda's books. I'm in the middle of Americanah and I was shocked when I saw my daughter's name 'Zemaye' because its a very rare name which you don't come across except you're from my place. So I asked my daughter how Chimamanda got her name and she said they met and she told her your name is interesting, I'm going to use it in my book and she actually did. I was impressed that she kept her promise because young kids these days don't keep their promise"
Straight-forward, jovial and completely down-to-earth, it's no surprise that Grace Egbagbe was able to rise through the ranks to the very pinnacle of her career. What's most important to her:
"Loyalty, honesty, frankness and kindness. They're things I value in a friend, family member or partner" she concludes.
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