Iretiola Doyle is a broadcaster, actress, mother and motivational speaker. Fondly known as Ireti, this 46 years old diva started her acting career about 20 years ago in Nollywood in a movie entitled, Sakobi the Snake Girl. She is currently in Tinsel, a popular soap opera. She spoke with Adaeze Amos about why ladies should go for medical check-up and not devote 100 per cent attention to fashion, among others.
How come that you present a Hausa show on telly but you are Yoruba?
Yes I present a Hausa show called Turingiwa, produced by Mnet. I speak Hausa fluently because I lived in the North for 12 years. I schooled there. I had a diploma and a first degree from the University of Jos. Life back then in the North was beautiful and very peaceful. It was very accommodating. It did not matter who you were or where you were from. Anyone could come in to study or live a good life. It is very unfortunate the damage that has been done to that beautiful city over the last couple of years.
What really makes you sad first as a woman and as a Nigerian?
What makes me sad is the way people die of diseases that are curable. I mean you can save your life by just being aware and knowing what to do so that you can detect it earlier. You can live a good life, so why are you wasting away. There is actually no reason for anybody to be ignorant. There is a lot of information out there and you have to get it, especially on such a disease as cancer which has been killing people and the information is often repeated everywhere. I don’t frown at this because repetition is the key of learning. It is being said on end.
As a Christian, what is your impression about women who refuse to go for medical check-up when they notice signs of such scourge as cancer?
It puts me off. The Bible says ‘my people perish for lack of knowledge’. This can be interpreted in so many ways. You die from the lack of knowledge of His words. God charges you to take care of your body; your body is your responsibility. That you are a born-again Christian does no exempt you from taking care of yourself in order not to be down with a disease. You owe yourself a duty to go for regular checkups. If you cannot afford to go to the hospital, there are some ways that you can check your breasts at home.
There are certain centers which run medical tests on cancer and some other ailments; don’t take such centers for granted. If you notice any explainable pain in your body, go and check it out. What are you waiting for? You are waiting to drop dead? There is absolutely no reason for that. We need to build this nation and it is only people who are healthy and strong that can do that. I’m 46 years old, going to 47, which means I have had my fair share of medical scares. Even if you are not afflicted with the disease, you know what it means to be afraid of a health situation. But fear is a crippling emotion, there is no point being afraid. The beauty of checking yourself is that nothing takes you unawares.
By the time it starts presenting symptoms, you are already aware. Knowledge is power. Now that you know, what are you doing? Even if it is terminal, which means you are going to die within a period of time, you would know. This means that you have been given notice, you can prepare, ensure that your last days are comfortable and you make a proper exit. In all situations, give thanks. But I think that the people that know are luckier than those who don’t know because at least you can do something about it.
As you speak, there are some people who have lost one or two relatives to cancer; can you reach out to them?
Oh my God, my arms around you, my prayers around you. There is nothing, there is no one that can console you apart from God. I have buried a child, so I know there is nothing you can say to anyone who is in that situation that can make them feel okay. I’m not trying to patronise you, but I’m just saying as a Christian, I know that even when it doesn’t look, sound or feel like it, it is well, because the word of God says so. I urge people to create awareness about some of these diseases that kill people. Don’t forget to go for checkups and there is no excuse for not going. There are places where they do free checkups now and they are begging people to come. Any type of cancer, breast, cervical, whatsoever, if detected early, something can be done to save your life.
Let’s take our lives seriously. Life is such a beautiful thing but it is so short and it is good we live it well. One would be stupid to think that going for medical checkups is a sin. Life is like buying a brand new car and enjoying it, and you have driven it for one, two years without taking it for servicing, you don’t take it for checkups, you don’t top up oil or water and it would knock without notice. Whether you bought it brand new or second hand, please go for checkups – check your breasts, kidney, liver to know if everything is well, at least once every year. If I feel something strange, I’m very quick to see my doctor. When I notice something is wrong, I don’t take it for granted. I go to see my doctor and tell him how I feel knowing that sickness and disease have no respect for social class.
Now that you are close to 47, what is your watchword?
My watchword is moderation. I do everything in moderation. This also applies with everyone. Eat right, have a good rest and more importantly, the emotional state of mind is also very important. Let things go, we are living in a country that is stressful already. Why are you bearing grudges so much. Bitterness is a disease, it kills. Keeping malice too is not good health-wise. Learn to forgive, let go for your own sake. When you forgive people, you are happier and you carry on with your life. But when you are bitter, you don’t move forward, and it is like a bile, a cancer that would eat you up from the inside. Apart from going for body checkups, also take care of your mind, spirit, body and soul.
I try not to keep malice. I’m much better than I used to be. The truth of the matter is, if you are not a close friend of mine, the chances of you upsetting me so deeply is very slim because our interaction is limited. Why am I getting upset; why am I spending or wasting all that energy, getting upset and angry. It is good to be happy, find ways to make yourself happy. This has been my advice to people.
How do you make yourself happy?
In big and small ways! Something as small as buying myself an unexpected ice cream, a pair of really nice shoes, going on a major trip or sometimes just being in my room not having to cook, clean or wash for anybody. No matter what is confronting you, be happy. In all things be happy.
What do you do to remain slender?
I don’t joke with my exercises and I eat right.
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