Pettite but mighty. Yecenu speaks only when she has something truly valuable to contribute. Never in a hurry to speak unconstructively. Let’s get to know her as she changes the health of mama Africa through the radio waves.
1. Tell us about yourself
Yecenu Sasetu, Health Journalist, food lover, last born/only daughter. Have a fear of being strangled so I don’t wear chokers or turtle necks. Oh, and I love popping bubble wraps…. hehehehe
2. Who is your favorite/inspiring African shero?
T.Y Bello; Talented and professional. Famous yet humble, her life is not all over the media except the work she is doing and she gives back to society. Most importantly, she loves God.
3. Talk about what you do and why what you do is so important in the society.
I am a Health Journalist; I talk about health and healthy living. I have a health programme called “The Clinic” on 99.9 KissFM Abuja. But my health talk doesn’t end on radio; my vision is to use media for good works and contribute to building a healthy society so I am constantly seeking ways I can achieve this goal. Recently, my friend Hope and I started a community service where we take hygiene talks to secondary schools in the rural areas in Abuja. We saw a need that these girls cannot afford sanitary towels, so we source for funds, prepare hygiene kits and then teach them how to keep themselves clean. So each girl goes home with at least a pack of sanitary towels, soap, underwear and even toothbrush sometimes. The idea is to teach the rural girl how to keep herself hygienic no matter the environment she finds herself. With time, we hope to get support from multi-level companies that produce these products especially sanitary towels for a constant supply.
4. What would you like to be written on your tomb stone?
”She did, not because society expected her to, but because she cared”
5. What does YALI mean to you?
YALI is me taking a bold step to dream bigger than I have done before. I know exactly what I want to do- Health Journalism, but I have been afraid to step out of my comfort zone. A little recognition begins to make you feel like a local champion but when you go out and meet people even younger than you doing amazing things in their country, you realise there’s more. YALI brings us all from around Africa so we can create a synergy of impact. So this is me stepping out on shaky legs to grow myself as an individual, a professional and an African Leader.
