JANET ETUK

Janet Etuk was born in Kaduna, Nigeria in 1995 but moved with her family to Akwa Ibom State in 2000 due to the Sharia Crisis in Kaduna. Janet received a B.A. in Communication Arts from the University of Uyo, Nigeria in 2017. After her studies, she moved to Lagos where she is currently an Audit Associate at KPMG Nigeria. As a strong advocate of inexhaustible knowledge, she is presently undertaking her certification examination to join the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

“Life has taught me that we write our own stories.”

Q: Tell us a few things about your country, and also your life's story!

I am from Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. It’s located in the Southern part of Nigeria, and my tribe happens to be one of the minority groups in Nigeria. I was born in Kaduna and relocated to my home town due to the 2000 Sharia Crises. Leaving Kaduna was indeed a traumatic experience, we had to make our escape at night. 21 years have passed since that event, but I still count it as one of the blessings in my life. That experience gave me a solid voice and a unique way of facing life's challenges. I studied Communication Arts at the University of Uyo. There I fell in love with Organizational Communication. I am making a career of Audit in Accounting and this mentorship programme has given me the opportunity to find the middle ground between my outspoken nature, my love for Organizational Communication and my interest in Audit.

Q: What was your experience of the global pandemic crisis? Did it change your life and/or your views about the world? If so, how?

The global pandemic crisis has changed my views about the world and life in general. It hit home the fact that life is indeed fleeting. I lost my doctor and a friend during the pandemic, their deaths left me broken. I wished I had done a lot more with them and said a lot more to them. The experienced showed me how fragile life really is. It also hit home that the world is more connected than we acknowledge. For a breakout that started in China, the speed at which the spread took place is indeed amazing. During the pandemic, I became purposeful with my interactions. I realized that it is not enough to be physically present with family and friends, other connections matter (emotional and mental connections).

I also understood the importance of mental health. Being alone with little or no interactions with people took a toll on everyone. Some people were able to handle it better than others. Mental health is important and the pandemic gave us the ability to finally acknowledge this and talk about it openly. In 2021 it is finally okay to say "I am not okay". It gave us the avenue to be vulnerable and finally talk about these feelings with friends and family.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently?

The most predominant challenge of my society currently is the case of unemployment and insecurity.

1. Unemployment: Unemployment is on the rise in Nigeria. As of the fourth quarter of 2020, unemployment was at 33.7%. I have been unemployed, I understand the anxiety and despair it brings. Graduates are being churned out from university every year, only to meet a society with little or no jobs. Some decide to learn a trade, while others decide it is best to join internet fraud in a bid to make "Fast Cash". This is really another pandemic my society faces.

2. Insecurity: There has been constant kidnaps, insurgency, killings, invasions and ritualistic murders. The news is constantly brewing with these incidents and the locals live in constant fear. This situation has you wondering, what next? Will I be a victim too? I live in Abuja which is relatively safe but states around Abuja are constantly under attack. So, am I really safe? This challenge is a poison to Nigeria and it is constantly spreading. Living in a society that puts you at risk of an unexpected demise is worrisome.

Q: Can you share with us some of the hurdles that you have had to overcome in your life so far? How did you handle them? 

My life hasn't been a bed of roses, no matter how much I would have desired it to be. I'll share with you some hurdles I have overcome in my life so far.

1. The 2000 Sharia Crises: I am a survivor of the 2000 Sharia Crises. I was just five years old at the time, and the horrors I saw have had a scarring effect on most. I had no vice to latch onto except my imagination. So, I became creative, I became a story writer. I began to spin heroic tales in my head from that period. I created a world in my imagination where the good guys always won. That took me through childhood and somehow purged me of what I had experienced.

2. Death of a benefactor: I lost my father in 2007 and he was the sole benefactor we had. When he passed on I had to help out in some way. I took on odd jobs, assisted my mother at her restaurant after school, made sure my school work was completed and my grades stayed up. This helped me develop core values - discipline and responsibility.

3. Unemployment: After my undergraduate education, I was unemployed for a year. When this happened, I decided to take up training and during the course of one training course I discovered my passion for Audit. I started going in search of jobs related to Audit and I got one. I am still improving myself daily. This experience made me realize the importance of constant self-development.

Q: If you were to ask one thing from our current leaders, what would it be?

Where is this journey headed? What significant and worldwide beneficial changes are you going to make? And are there milestones to monitor these?

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you?

Accountability is important to me and having a mentor gives me the opportunity to be accountable to someone. So far, I have had the opportunity to develop healthy relationships. I want to be a leader someday, and I believe that the best way to lead is by first following. Having vocational guidance is also key to me, and having a mentor gives me the opportunity to have someone guide me through my career choices and all stages of my employment.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share? 

Life has taught me that we write our own stories. Whatever you put into life is what you get, if you are disciplined and you stay true to your goals and aspirations, life rewards you with success. What you sow is what you reap.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives!

Orondaam Otto and the Slum to School Foundation

Q: Share with us a phrase, a poem or a story that you love or you find interesting!

C'est la vie, pas le paradis - This is life, it is not paradise

Q: Can you share with us a project that you would like to make happen for your country or a cause that you are passionate about? 

I am passionate about having a platform that matches students with promising grades with companies for internship programs. This will help the unemployment situation in Nigeria.