Tell us about how you got into your current profession?
My first job out of college was at a non-profit organization that catered to Independent Colleges. Ever since my career has been in the Non-Profit field. I love to work for organizations with a service mission to help others or fight for what’s right.
Now I am in the Public Health sector working for the largest AIDS Service Organization. I work as the Director of Public Health –(Finance) overseeing the budget for the Division.
I also own ChiChi Emeson Cosmetics. This has been my dream and one of the main reasons why I moved to Los Angeles. The tag line for the brand is Bold and I intend to use this to help uplift women and help bring out the bold side.
Tell us about your breakthrough career-wise in the U.S?
Not sure what this means
When you mentor young Nigerians who look up to you on how they can make it in life? What advice do you give them?
Have integrity! Be a woman of your word. Be kind, be honest, and be considerate of the next person. Don’t judge anyone because you have not walked in their shoes. Also, you have to work hard. Nothing comes easy and in order to enjoy your success, you must have integrity in the work you do or will do. While loyalty is commendable, DO NOT have blind loyalty. Follow your gut, it will never lead you astray.
Tell us about your schooling. You were born here in Nigeria. Why did you relocate to the US?
I was actually born in Washington DC and went back home when I was 7 years old. Life was great growing in Nigeria. I attended Federal Government Girls College, Gboko and Abia State University. I really wanted to graduate in Nigeria and then pursue my masters in the United States but the University Strikes were so bad and I didn’t enjoy the
I came back to the US and went back to school. I attended Howard University where I got my Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. I got an MBA in Management from Strayer University and a second Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in Non-Profit Management
What were the major challenges you encountered along the way?
As Nigerians especially as Nigerian women, we DO NOT mentor each other. We do not bring up others after us or try to help each other if we have the means. We only join and promote after others have made a big deal of the individual or person.
This has been a challenge and not having a support system when I came back to America was hard. I had to encourage myself and push myself through so many things. However, that made me so strong and determined and what shaped me into who I am today,
How do you see the current negative image Nigeria is suffering from?
Nigeria has created its issues with Tribalism, Sexism, Homophobia and just the intense hatred we have for ourselves. Igbo man does not like Yoruba Man, and Yoruba Man does not like Hausa Man. After the last 2 elections, I don’t really follow Nigerian politics or leadership. I am not even sure how we can fix this but I have so much going on in
Why have you remained proud of being a Nigerian?
I love my culture, I love the layout of the land, I hold on to my childhood memories when things in Nigeria were good and that’s what keeps me going. I hope someday that Nigeria will rise again to reclaim its title as the giant of Africa.
Tell us about how you got into your current profession.
