Our woman crush Sunday is a vibrant and pretty media personality, popularly called Fresh Presh by friends and close pals.
Pretty Precious Werner Ahiakwo, is a mass communication graduate from Rivers State University of Science and Technology (now known as Rivers State University) and works with Silverbird Group.
She is bold, intelligent, fearless and beautiful.
Here is the conversation Springpoint had with her. Enjoy!
1. Full name and alias: Precious Werner Ahiakwo. My byline is Precious Ahiakwo. Friends call me Fresh Presh.
2. State of origin: Rivers state
3. Educational background: I studied Mass Communication at the Rivers state University of Science and Technology, now Rivers state University. 2003-2008 I also studied Journalism at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRSC Lagos state in 2011. I have also attended various trainings in broadcast and investigative journalism.
4. Marital status/Number of children: I’m a single mum of a lovely daughter, Jovita. She will be 14years old by July 6th.
5. How did you get into broadcasting?: From childhood, I have always had this flare for writing and reading. I listen to radio and watch television a lot. I even read newspapers a lot. During my fourth year at the university, I had the opportunity to write for a now defunct newspaper, Niger Delta Standard Newspaper in Port Harcourt. That was in 2007 (not precise now). Then, my very senior colleague, and a veteran, now with AIT Uyo, Idongesit Ikono, allowed me handled the entertainment section of the Newspaper, while he concentrated on sports. I named the section, “Entertainers’ Haven”. This was inspired by my very senior colleague and friend, a veteran in broadcast journalism, Gbenga James, now in Lagos state. I focused mainly on up coming music artists and comedians, especially in Rivers state, to promote and encourage them in the industry. I featured artists like Waconzy, Frank D’ Nero, Duncan Mighty, Burna Boy, Bulk Wild, M’Thrill, Mr 2Kay, Vananga, Maja Briggs, LilyJean, Fortune, Lami-li, Muma gee, and comedians like Baba Funky, Romeo without Juliet, and others I can’t recall for now. They are all successful now and don’t even remember this ladder of exposure they threaded. I even worked from Lagos state where I visited the Teslim Balogun stadium, meeting and hosting Nollywood stars in my column. After my professional Journalism certificate course at the FRCN, I practiced broadcast journalism for the first time at the Voice of Nigeria, Ikoyi Lagos state where I co-presented live sport before I finally left back to Port Harcourt. I was one of the pioneer staff of Radio Port Harcourt, now Wave FM. I freelanced for Gardencity FM, was previlaged to work with the Voice of Germany and the BBC in Enugu.
6.Whats your biggest motivation? my passion for the practise of journalism is my biggest motivation. It even baffles me! (Smiles). I have had very good reasons to quit and switch profession, but passion drives me on. I love this profession! I’m a born journalist (laughs), that’s if there’s any word like that! But if I’m given an option to choose along side journalism, I will choose running a restaurant! (Laughs) because I enjoy cooking a lot! Its one of my hobbies! I cook good food, not just food! (Smiles) Any awards yet? Yes, the Trend Setters Awards in collaboration with Africa Update Newspaper recognized and awarded me with the Best Reporter 2019. Plus other nominations and recognitions in different categories.
7.future goals: To run a TV program like Christiana Amapour’s. Interviewing people that matters. Unveiling issues and proffering solutions through the TV program. Also majoring in under cover investigative journalism. I enjoy investigative journalism a lot.
8. If you were to chose, would it still be journalism? Heaven’s Yes ooooo!!! Its a love theng! A passion!
9.whats your biggest fear? As much as I have no fears, I fear for lack of protection, and insecurity when one puts everything on the line to reveal rots happening in the society. I remembered while monitoring the 2019 gubernatorial election in Rivers state, some hired political party thugs in Ogba, Egbema, Ndoni local government area attacked and beat me up, while I was investigating a suspected electoral malpractice and bribe. My phones were smashed and confiscated by these thugs. It was an experience that even raised the blood pressure of my parents and almost killed them! The thugs were identified but and nothing was done even after reporting to the police uptill date.
10. Place of birth/ State of origin: Rivers state
11. How long have you been practicing journalism? since 2007
12. Describe your first assignment as a reporter: One of my major breakthrough in journalism is the discovery of a rural community which its dwellers are all gradually going blind. Some are already blind while some are partially blind. I discovered it when I went to cover a medical outreach with some Laboratory scientists in Mbuitanwon community in Emuoha Local government area, Rivers state. I stepped out of the event to get a story outside the main event and interview an elderly woman who spoke to me about their greatest challenge. I was happy that the story after broadcast attracted several medical outreaches by politicians, religious institutions and NGOs which featured eye surgeries for some. It also attracted some international media which I personally led to the area. I’m still following up on the story to unravel the cause of blindness which is still unknown. I pray some researchers will come to the area to find out the cause and proffer solutions.
