The demands of entrepreneurship are tough and the roads are strewn with obstacles and oftentimes overwhelming. It is not meant for the faint of heart. It is more challenging for entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Issues bordering on hostile business environment, inconsistent governmental policies, power, inadequate manpower, lack of funding etc. are legion. All these factors tend to stifle businesses, worsening the unemployment problem. Succeeding in Nigeria requires much more grit and perseverance. It requires going the extra length. No wonder more businesses fail here, making it a graveyard of dreams.
It takes an iron willed person to succeed as an entrepreneur in Nigeria. It requires singleness of purpose, looking neither to the left nor to the right. It requires continuous inspiration from within, because the mountainous challenges can dampen the heart and soften the will to trudge on. Entrepreneurship is energy sapping and consuming here- it can consume ones entire being.
It is the reason the entrepreneurship landscape in Nigeria is mostly male dominated and can only take a thick skinned lady to make progress at all. This is one of the chief reasons women who have done well as entrepreneurs in Nigeria are more celebrated and you can count the numbers of few who have made success out of their enterprise. In Anambra, majority of the womenfolk shun entrepreneurship and are attracted to civil service. Women who brace the odds, blaze the trail and lead innovations in their industry are rare.
Chief Mrs. Amaka Ezechiedo, philanthropist, marriage counselor, queen of Anambra Event Management and CEO, Sparkle Tenet & Décor is one such woman who is dominating discourse in her industry, driving innovation and setting the pace. She is unstoppable and has a lot of surprises in the offing. She started as one of the pioneers of event magazine publishing in this part of the world and as an amazon who has uncanny eyes to see and explore more opportunities, saw the dwindling fortunes that had become the fate of event magazine business . Any other woman would have developed cold feet and accepted her fate. Many publishers of such magazines have already closed shop and are unemployed. But in her case as an innovative person, while in the magazine business, she was scanning for other opportunities or strategically positioning herself for new opportunities.
This she did and today she prides as one of the most sought after event planners in Igboland operating with state of the art equipment. There’s no high profile event she has not handled with excellence. Some of the events she has exclusively handled include Obi Cubana mother’s burial and many other events. Some of her other clientele include Chief Ebuka Okafor ,(Vixa Pharmaceuticals)Dr. Ned Okonkwo, Dr Ifeanyi Harry Jeffrey (Ocean growth Homes), Igwe Gerald mbamalu(Ezeoranyelu Ojoto) High Chief Kenneth Ifekudu (Agbalanze Onyekachukwu na Ozubulu)etc. She is an inspiration to other women and has not allowed making money become an encumbrance to daily improvement.
According to her, the secret of success in her business is being innovative and available. Since the industry is very competitive, she adds a personal touch to her business, taking charge herself and ensuring that the needs of her clients are met. To her, there should be no room for excuses in any business deal and customer satisfaction is key.
Chief Mrs. Amaka Ezechiedo is an inspiration to other women in business. Her story tells them that despite the challenges of the shark infested entrepreneurial terrain in Nigeria, they too can emerge victorious.
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