AN INTERVIEW: THE SHIFTING GROUND FOR SEXUALITY - REV. FR. CHIJIOKE AZUAWUSIEFE, JS

A Jesuit Priest, a blogger... Rev. Fr. Chijioke Azuawusiefe SJ,
hasbeen around the media for a long time. The colourful characterwhose
friends and family fondly call Fr. Aticoco hosted USN correspondent ,
Prince Stanley Nwanze aka Alinko, at the London School of
Economics(LSE) on the 29th of July, 2013. He spoke on communication, success and more...

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE IN LONDON?
I am a Post Graduate Student of Global Media and Communications at
London School of Economics(LSE).
HEARD A LOT ABOUT YOU BAGGING UNCOUNTABLE DEGREES, PLEASE A BRIEF
HISTORY ON YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND.
(Smiles) What you hear is different from what the reality could be,
but anyway as a priest I have a degree in philosophy, I have a B.A.
Hons. in Philosophy, then I have a B.A.Degree in Theology and as a
communications student, I have a B.A. Degree in Communication Science.
IF YOU TALK ABOUT COMMUNICATION IN NIGERIA, YOU TALK ABOUT THE AZUH
FAMILY, YOUR ELDER BROTHER, YOU, YOUR YOUNGER ONES ALL INTO
COMMUNICATION. DID YOUR DAD STUDY COMMUNICATION BACK IN THE DAYS?
Let me begin with the 2nd question, is my dad or was he into
communication? We lost my dad last November. Officially, communication
as a discipline or mass media as a profession, no but my dad was a
consumate communicator. Hewas the spokesperson for the Igwe cabinet of
Azia in Ihiala, Anambra State. So if we ended up all in the
communication industry, maybe we are just a cheap of fame. He was
someone who could at any point hold any audience and communicate and
also give out information. He was vast in the culture, in the
traditions, in the customs of the people and the use of proverb. He
was actually a meticulous keeper of history. He was never without pen
and paper. He kept diaries all his life.
Talking about myself and my siblings(the Azuh family) in the Nigeria
Media Industry, it's passion, it's interest and then you have some
families that are renowned in Economics, Law, Accounting and so many
other professions and for the Azuh family it is communication and am
glad my brothers are good at what they do. When you have the required
training then you bring in your passion and interest, then you work
hard and God blesses your handwork.
HAVEN STAYED IN THIS COUNTRY YOU MIGHT HAVE COME ACROSS ONE OR TWO
PRIESTS, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE SEXUAL AND MORAL CHALLENGES
THEY FACE.
Maybe I wouldn't be in best position to answer that, every individual
will have to answer for themselves and then what challenges do they
face in this country in terms of their sexuality and morality I
wouldn't know. Every individual has got one challenge or two that they
live with, priest or no priest but what other priest experience here I
wouldn't know.
London is a cosmopolitan city and like every other big city it will
come with economic, financial, social challenges and people have to
grapple with those challenges the way they can.I have met some priests
but our discussion haven't been anytin on that.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT LIFE AS A TEENAGER?
Life as a British Teenager is a life that is lived within the context
of its own culture. This is a liberalised culture, this is
apost-modern culture and who ever is born and brought up in this
culture will have to grapple with all these cultures, the shifting
ground for religious settings, the shifting ground for sexuality and
all of those. The youth of this country, their growing like every
other youths in other part of the world.butresponding to the issues of
their own culture.
YOU ARE STUDYING GLOBAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS, HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE
TO FINISH UP WITH YOUR STUDIES IN UK?
Will be rounding up here in LSE on the 2nd of August, 2013 but then
will continue my program in L.A. Carlifonia next week at the
University of Southern Carlifonia.
DO YOU INTEND STAYING BACK IN CARLIFONIA AFTERYOUR PROGRAM?
Oh nooo....(smiles). I do my studies, I go back home. The work is back
home waiting for us, we have to really work. For Nigeria to be better
than what it is today, we need to experience the newness of an
evolving better society.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY ARE INTO COMMUNICATION
AND THOSE WHO WISH TO STUDY IT?
It's all about passion and interest and put the rest in the hands of
the almighty.
THANK YOU PADRE AND GOD BLESS YOU.
Bless you too and see you back in Nigeria.