HH People:
Give us a little background about your growing years.
Ifeoma:
I was born in Lagos, but my family moved to Kaduna shortly after. We left Kaduna during the 1983 Maitatsine uprising. We were living in GRA and the Maitatsine movement was concentrated in some parts of Kaduna. When my father heard about the riots, he drove our entire family back to Abuja that same night. My mum had told us that there was an owl called willie-winkie who punishes kids who make noise at night, so my siblings and I had to enter the car and lay down quietly. There was a lot of hooting that night and I was quite tempted to join, though, in retrospect, I realise the hooting was a signal for safety. I’m not sure how the hooting signalling was set up. From there, we moved on to Enugu where I attended primary school at Ekulu Primary School, Secondary at the Federal Government College Enugu and my University was UNN. I eventually moved on to Imperial College London.
HH People:
What is the most interesting/striking memory you had as a child?
Ifeoma:
This is an interesting question. I remember we had a Muslim neighbour whom we used to visit back then in Kaduna. I would join them during their prayer sessions. One day, I told my mum that the Catholic faith and Muslim faith were similar. Explaining further, I mentioned how we took breaks to say the angelus and pray with beads and the Muslims also took breaks to say the Salat. I even recited some of the Salat prayers for my mother. But she was not impressed at all. In fact, the conversation brought about such an extreme ‘African mother’ reaction. She panicked and told me never to speak of such things again. Lol! I understand the experiences that may have made her less open-minded, but I doubt I would react the same way if my child were to make such a statement today.
HH People:
We would never have imagined this part of your past. It makes us wonder what other random things we don’t know about you.
Ifeoma:
*Laughs*, well, I bet you didn’t know that I took part in an amateur art exhibition once or that I have a secret pen name. Also, and let’s keep this between us, I have a bartender training from my time in Beer and spirits industry so I’m a rusty mixologist.
HH People:
What?! So many surprises. Let’s touch base with the present. What has your experience in the Group been like?
Ifeoma:
It has been interesting. I joined during the week of the 2019 selection announcement, so it was straight into the thick of things. However, as someone who thrives on activity and challenges, it was right up my alley. I really enjoyed that first week. One of the things I appreciated when I joined was how group staff were open, willing to share their stories and inspire action. After I joined the Foundation, the former CEO, Parminder Vir, talked to me about leaving a legacy. Then, the first time I met Owen, she took her time to share her experiences at the Foundation and tips on how to succeed. I also had the same experience with many colleagues in the Group. No one was too busy to help the ‘new girl’ on the block. In fact, the first time I prepared to pay seed capital, ENN, the Group CEO, called me and talked to me for 15 minutes; then he called John and Chinazor our senior financial executives to chip in. We all agreed on a process to make it work flawlessly. Nothing is done in isolation; it really is a Tribe over here and this has been very defining of my time here.
HH People:
Speaking of your time here, what was your career trajectory before joining the Foundation?
Ifeoma:
I started working in my undergraduate years. I was Human resources Manager for AIESEC in 1998 and led a lot of Leadership Development Trainings and seminars which helped to train me. I also co-led the UNN Delegation to WALDS (West Africa Leadership Development Seminar) where we were hosted by the Vice president of Senegal in Dauokro in 1998. After I graduated, I started my career in Real Estate.
In 2003 I joined Procter & Gamble in their Customer Business Development and moved to Sales Strategy and Planning for most of my career. I also managed Key relationships for the Business. I had worked across the West Africa region, so I speak passable French. I also have East Africa work experience. I have worked in Procter & Gamble, Diageo and Coca-Cola international.
HH People:
Wow, quite the portfolio you have here. We know you have authored a few books. Can you tell us about your first novel? What inspired it, how you began it?
Ifeoma:
Actually, I wrote my first unpublished novel in primary school. I lost the manuscript, but I remember the storyline. It was based on African folklore. However, my first writing to reach the international stage was my BBC playwriting competition radio drama submission which was shortlisted for the Africa Region English category final list in 1996. This was based on the Osu caste system. I have written ten books but only two are known in my name.
HH People:
Ten books? That is prolific. Is writing still in the pipe for you with your busy professional life?
Ifeoma:
I still write, it calms me. Recently, one of my books was considered as a giveaway reading for kids by an organisation for new customers but it came after I had already joined TEF so there was potential conflict and I refused to explore that opportunity.
HH People:
You are obviously good at multi-tasking. But how do you handle challenges?
Ifeoma:
I agree with the popular saying: “tough times don’t last but tough people do.” Another mantra that inspires me is: “you can focus on problems or solutions. The choice is yours.”
HH People:
What is the most difficult setback you’ve had to navigate in your career? How did you overcome it?
Ifeoma:
Around 2016, I decided I was really tired of Sales Strategy and Planning; I wanted something I was passionate about. All through my career, I have mostly enjoyed developing people to become the best of themselves. I wanted to move to either Capability Development or External Relations. But I had very strong industry credentials as a sales strategist having launched a lot of products successfully. (I launched the imported pampers in Nigeria and my team started off Francophone West Africa division with 26 countries for P&G). Eventually, I took a gap year where I ran an Entrepreneurship Hub and showed that I could build capability in businesses. It was from then on that I joined the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
HH People:
Given your Corporate Leadership experience, we are curious: if you were President of Nigeria, what would you do differently?
Ifeoma:
Hmm, that’s a tough one. Nigeria is an interesting contraption. If I were the president, the first thing I would do is to revert to a true federal structure with more power at the regions and give each region targets of contribution to the centre. I would run Nigeria like a business that has raw materials around the country and treat each region as a subsidiary with full P&L.
By the way, that was how Nigeria was run in the early ’80s which is why we had so many Agric products and raw material processing and manufacturing centres in the North e.g. Groundnut pyramids and Textile industry from Cotton etc. We had Cocoa crops and manufacturing hubs and car assembly plans in the south and Abeokuta Iron and Steel Complex in the central region was supposed to provide raw materials for all the regions. All the regions thrived on their strengths.
Also, I would constitute an accountability matrix for governors. Each governor needs to show 3 focus projects in their state (with Healthcare & Education improvement projects a must.) Every month, they would present to their state milestone achievement monthly and quarterly to the centre and it would be televised.
This would drive people to have more confidence in their leadership and pay taxes needed to run Nigeria.
HH People:
Wow. These insights are worth reflecting on. But let’s focus on you. If you could take five years off work and not have to worry about money, what would you do?
Ifeoma:
I did it already though it was not for five years. I took one year off twice. I focused on capability development projects and revived my writing.
HH People:
Okay, we get it. You took the time off and have no regrets. But most people have a bucket list. Can you share three items on yours?
Ifeoma:
Just three things? Hmm, Well, I’d love to go to Cancun – I loved Monterey, so Cancun is next. Then, Sky diving. I chickened out last minute once. Lol. Thirdly but not least, I definitely want to get Nsibidi tattoo. You see, my grandmother had her name tattooed on her shoulder in Nsibidi as the daughter of a king.
HH People:
Lol. We didn’t see the tattoo response coming. On to other things, what’s your take on balancing work and family as a leading female executive?
Ifeoma:
There is no magical solution to work-life balance. Some days work wins, other days life wins. You can’t have it both ways 100% of the time. Ask yourself what is important to you and be prepared to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve it and be content with your resolution. I took two career breaks as I wanted to connect more with my kids. Within that time, some of my contemporaries rose to very senior positions. I was happy for them and content that I had the time with my kids who were my priority at that time. The truth is over 5 to 10 years’ time frame, if you are good at what you do, you catch up anyway so why sweat the small stuff?
HH People:
What are you currently reading?
Ifeoma:
Nerdy stuff, haha. How to strengthen the drug supply chain in emergency situations. I told you it was nerdy. Every three years I try to gain competency in a technical skill away from my comfort zone. Now it’s supply chain. My last was tech.
HH People:
Okay, let’s try a lighter question, lol. What kind of music do you enjoy?
Ifeoma:
Jazz. Nat King Cole and oldies and Chris De Burgh. I sit in a dark room with AC, play the music and just let my mind wander. It’s my stress reliever and also that’s where some of the novels come from.
HH People:
Who are your biggest influences?
Ifeoma:
My parents: My dad was forward-thinking, he used to cook when we were growing up and used to say there is nothing like male or female when you go to the market so be self-sufficient. My mum was the same. She used to ask: “how does your being female change the price of garri in the market?”
HH People:
What advice would you give young professionals looking to make a difference?
Ifeoma:
Be crystal clear what you want to achieve in life and go for it. There is nothing worse than a life of regrets. Also, don’t focus on problems, be the solution. That situation that feels overwhelming today will be stuff you laugh over next year.
Very interesting, nice one