A former actress cum beauty queen and healthcare practitioner in the United States of America, Regina Askia-Williams has revealed the scariest moment of her life.
The mother of two in a recent interview with The Punch said, “The September 11 attacks indeed have to be the scariest moment of my life.”
Having survived the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre, New York, on September 11, 2001, Regina Askia shares her experience.
“I survived the attack on the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001. At that time, I was a manager at a company called Corporate Guard, which ran due diligence on Nigerian businesses seeking to partner with foreigners. We also marketed LaCampagne Tropicana Resorts. Our office was on the 79th floor of the International Office Suits. The planes hit just above our floor. I missed that catastrophe because I was pregnant with my second daughter, Teesa, and she was really hard on me, which made me late to work that day. I thank God I was late. The first call I got after the incident was from my boss, Mr Akinboboye, who was so relieved I was safe. I still get goosebumps when I think of the incident. I thank God for His mercies.”
Shedding more lights about herself and her personality, Ms Askia said, “I am now a nurse in New York City, United States of America. I assess patients, diagnose their condition, write a plan of care, prescribe medication, monitor their response to treatment and be sure they are restored to their healthier selves. To be in a position to practise and earn great income anywhere in the world is a good thing and I am grateful.”
Relocating to the United States of America when she was very popular in Nigeria at the time wasn’t such an easy decision to take but Ms Askia said she had her reasons, “Life takes us on many roads. Yes, I was popular but was I happy? It feels good to be hailed and fawned on but was my joy to be based on what everyone else demanded of me? The question was, what did I want for myself? I wanted a well-developed career with great pay, a family, a husband, travel around the world and I chose the latter. Those were the things I wanted for myself. Don’t forget that Nollywood, in my time, was just beginning to blossom. The popularity and panache we brought to it in my time catapulted it to where it is today. The entry of Netflix and Amazon have definitely been game-changers. Not only does Africa now have the opportunity to tell her stories authentically, she earns an influx of financial payout at it. Thankfully, I have been able to hit it big in two amazing careers in one lifetime and the journey has had its ups and downs but here I am sitting comfortably and pretty solid on all fronts, careers and family, and I am grateful for this.”
