The internet was abuzz over the weekend because of the racial slur at Yle’s Marja Sannikka discussion program where astronomer Esko Valtaoja used the racist N-word twice in a discussion which left the reporter Renaz Ebrahimi bewildered. Although Marja Sannikka later apologised over what transpired at the program; her apology left a large number of people of African descent with mixed feelings because she could have rebuked Esko Valtaoja in the first place.
Yle confirmed on Tuesday that the current affairs program will be discontinued on December 3 but pointed out that the decision to end the program has nothing to do with the aftermath of last Friday’s program.
While reacting to the disdainful scenario on a LinkedIn post, Oge Oguejiofor Eneh, a culture producer who is originally from Nigeria and has lived in Finland for over 30 years said she’s not surprised at all. She questioned Esko’s temerity in using the N-word in a TV station that functions on taxpayers money.
She opined that she went through the same situation at the Helsinki City cultural centre for many years as a culture producer. She said her task as explained in her job description in 2003 when she started working at the cultural centre was to bring multicultural tools to develop the cultural department of the Helsinki City.
She noted that a female colleague, a native Finn was fond of interrupting her constantly during weekly staff meetings. Whenever her boss permits her to contribute to the meeting, the colleague corrects her Finnish language in a demeaning manner, disrupting her speech and shaming her in the presence of everyone. The director (boss) only watched, did not stop her or say anything.
Oge said she went to her boss to complain about the lady who kept on ridiculing her in the meeting and she did nothing to halt her.
“The constant humiliation from the lady who is the office secretary at my workplace is nothing but a workplace bully, she remarked”
Oge pointed out that the lady was determined to get her out of her job because she thought she deserve her position. She recalled how the same lady brought her Finnish tests to ask for assistance in translating them into English because she speaks fluent English, yet the lady was able to squeeze her public space at work and contributed to her losing her job.
The Nigerian- Finnish culture producer affirmed that the lady created a drama, acted a horror script just to accuse her which led to the termination of her work contract.
Stoa Cultural Centre situated in East Helsinki has zero per cent immigrant or minority staff whereas East Helsinki has the highest population of immigrants. It is expedient for a Cultural Centre to integrate its population to avoid marginalisation. The whole Culture department of the city of Helsinki has a 1% minority background staff. The city has created many projects for integration but still missing out on the recruitment of minority ethnic Finns.
Oge, who worked for Caisa Cultural Centre, Helsinki Cultural organisation for more than eighteen years used her talent & skills to develop tools & methods to educate multicultural art education to kindergarten children, school children, youths and women. Her exploits at the Caisa Culture Centre got her an invitation to a Presidential dinner during the Finnish independence celebration.
