Five audacious women, Uzoamaka Izukanne Igweike, Tarebi Alebiosu, Adedotun Akande, Ndidi Nwuneli and Mimi Ade-Odiachi tell TOBI AWODIPE about their walk towards becoming Bold Future Award & Bold Woman Award finalists.
Uzoamaka Izukanne Igweike
Can you share a specific moment or event that you consider a defining point in your journey as an entrepreneur?
A lot of events have led me to this point; from being brought up by parents who always had one small business or the other running, starting my first job at a firm that valued excellence, to SAP Consulting for businesses in the consumer products industry. But if I must pick one, it’d be winning the Tony Elumelu Foundation Grant with just an idea. I was frustrated by the lack of good quality chocolate when we had so much cocoa in Nigeria, and I had been researching the chocolate-making process so I could make some for my small baking business. I applied to the programme and pitched for making chocolate even though I did not have a product at the time.
The boost of confidence I got when I learned that my application was successful was indescribable. I felt like since they thought my idea was good, then I might be onto something. So, I set out to prove, among other things, that I could achieve what I had written in my business plan. It changed the course of my life.
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Knowing the story of Madame Clicquot, what attributes of her do you believe you possess?
We both share an obsession for quality. When I started Loom Craft Chocolate, I wanted the brand to be stand out for exceptional quality; look and taste delicious. The team at Loom and some of our vendors get exasperated sometimes when I push hard for excellence, but they are proud of the progress we’re making as a fully local brand. Our farmer partners’ work with specific parametres to prepare the cocoa beans we use for our chocolate and this attention to detail in every aspect of the value chain has set us apart. I connect with Madame Clicquot’s innovative spirit and tenacity in the work I’ve done to modify chocolate-making techniques to suit our tropical conditions. When I started making chocolate, all the learning resources described the process for working in temperate regions, but I improvised, adjusted and developed processes and procedures that enabled us make chocolate with the simple tools available. With Loom Craft Chocolate, I am boldly championing the concept of ‘Nigerian Chocolate’ on the global stage and have provided a proof-of-concept for value-addition at scale in the Nigerian cocoa industry.
Tarebi Alebiosu
Can you share a specific moment or event that you consider a defining point in your journey as an entrepreneur?
Before the idea of QShop took root, I ran an event tech start-up, which connected small ventures in the event industry to their target audience. One of the things we did to give maximum exposure was an event fair. The first edition of the fair was a success. The feedback, engagement, everything exceeded expectations. Naturally, I was on cloud nine. I felt I’d cracked the code and the next one would be even better. But the second edition was different. Attendance was poor, feedback was negative, and the glaring truth stared back at me: I had let success make me complacent. Instead of improving, I’d assumed that the previous success would carry us through. It was a hard pill to swallow, but it was also a wake-up call. I apologised to the participating businesses, acknowledged the issues and asked for feedback. The response? Respect for taking ownership for the mistakes and a desire to collaborate further. Those interactions reinforced the value of transparency and humility in business. That failure became a cornerstone lesson; it shaped our approach, reminding us to stay grounded, listen and continually adapt.
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What is the proudest moment that solidified your confidence that you’re doing the right thing with Qshop?
One of the most affirming moments in our journey came courtesy of Rally’s Closet. Prior to discovering QShop, she had invested in custom website development, but was left wanting a solution more intuitive and tailored to her needs.When she transitioned to QShop, not only did the platform ease her operational challenges, but also empowered her to have a direct hand in shaping her online presence. Rally’s passion went beyond just using our platform. She became a beacon of constructive feedback, always pushing us to elevate our game. It’s not every day you find a client who cares about your product as deeply as you do. But her support didn’t end at feedback. Rally took to her expansive social media following to endorse QShop unsolicited, which was both humbling and a testament to our impact. Through her, we received a cascade of referrals, each new client echoing similar sentiments about the transformation QShop brought to their business. It’s not just about building a platform. It’s about the Rallies out there, the relentless entrepreneurs who not only want to succeed but bring others along with them. The stories of Rally’s Closet and countless others affirm our direction and purpose. They remind us that we’re on the right track, and there’s so much more to achieve.
Adedotun Akande
Can you share a specific moment or event that you consider a defining point in your journey to becoming the woman you are today?
The best days of my childhood was my time in the boarding school. I was glad to be away from home on my own exploring the world through the lens of a nine-year-old. I played all the pranks possible to get as much attention as I could. I was the unpunishable junior. The long and short of it was that I was a very troublesome girl. The interesting part of it was that I was also a problem solver and defended my friends each time they were faced with bullies. Growing up into a young lady I became a fighter; I could open any door without fear and was never afraid to jump.
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I always assumed I could navigate my way either up or around anything. In 2000, when my son was diagnosed with autism, I simply waved it off as one of the bumps along the road and expected that with the wand in my hand things will fall in place soon enough. I didn’t realise that it will be the bump that will shape my life forever. That was my defining moment. I needed to restructure my life, beliefs, thoughts, emotions and intellect. I had to empty myself to start life all over again. This led to the birthing of Patrick Speech and Language Centre and Puresouls Learning Foundation. As I look back on that defining moment, I realise that it marked the beginning of a journey that would shape me into the woman I am today. That moment opened a door to a world of self-discovery, growth and empowerment. It taught me that stepping out of my comfort zone could lead to remarkable transformation. Today, as a woman who continues to strive for positive change, I stand tall on the stage of Autism Awareness; proud of the world of possibilities we have built over the years.
What are your future aspirations for the centre and for the broader autism advocacy in Nigeria?
One of our future aspirations is to collaborate with universities to integrate autism awareness into their curriculum, supporting our mission to help as many children as possible reach their full potential. This will help improve the quality of teachers, healthcare professionals as well as therapists in the field. This will bridge the gap of delay in diagnosis and intervention.
Autism diagnosis will be early leading to improved outcome for individuals living with autism in Nigeria. We are also looking to utilise technology to create apps and online resources that aid individuals with autism in communication, learning and daily life skills, promote research initiatives to better understand the prevalence and specific needs of individuals with autism in Nigeria, as well as encourage employers to create autism-friendly workplaces.
Ndidi Nwuneli
Can you share a specific moment or event that you consider a defining point in your journey to becoming the woman you are today?
In May 2007, when I was nine months pregnant with my second child, my husband was shot in the knee by armed robbers in Lagos. The personal and medical ordeal, coupled with the fact that his mother had died tragically five months earlier, made it a very difficult time for us. Over a seven month recovery process, I was compelled to dig deep into my faith and support system for courage and strength to get through this period. I emerged with greater clarity about my purpose and the gift of life, a deeper relationship with God, and significant sense of humility and empathy.
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Knowing the story of Madame Clicquot, what attributes of her do you believe you possess?
I admire many attributes of Madame Clicquot. The three that resonate most with me are her vision, courage and tenacity. Through my roles as the co-founder of AACE Foods and Sahel Consulting, and Founder of LEAP Africa and African Food Changemakers, I have demonstrated my vision for a vibrant and dynamic African Continent, which is respected as a world region, the courage to push against all odds in the challenging food ecosystem and to develop strong brands and drive impact, and the tenacity to stay the course, in spite of the obstacles and roadblocks that we have faced in the Nigerian business terrain.
Mimi Ade-Odiachi
You have been able to turn your passion into a successful business; did you envision this when you first started about 30 years ago?
I didn’t initially envision turning my passion for garden design into a successful business. I was simply helping my mum run her business while I figured out my career path. But when I started sharing my work with others and receiving positive feedback, I realised I had the potential to build something special. I saw my garden designs could be used to help others and make a positive impact on the world. While I didn’t start with a specific business plan, I’m grateful I’ve been able to turn my passion into a business. It’s been an incredibly rewarding journey, and I’m excited to see what the future holds. If you have a passion for something, don’t be afraid to pursue it. With hard work, dedication and the support of others, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
The Bold Woman Award by VeuveClicquot is in its 51st year; what would winning it mean to you?
It would be a tremendous honour that my work and dedication to helping others has been recognised by others. It would also mean I am part of a long and illustrious line of women who have made a positive impact on the world. I’m particularly inspired by Madame Clicquot, founder of VeuveClicquot. She was a bold and visionary woman who overcame many challenges to build one of the most successful champagne houses in the world. She is an inspiration to entrepreneurs and women everywhere. Winning this award would be a reminder to me that I’m capable of achieving anything I set my mind to. It would also motivate me to continue to work hard and make a positive impact on the world. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be nominated for this award and honoured to be considered among such a group of accomplished women.
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