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Profile in Excellence
A tribute to Dr. Ifesinachi Ugwuonye, JD By Chief Mrs. Gertrude Ezegbunam
The face of a modern African woman – mother, friend, breadwinner, mentor, confidant, high achiever, homemaker, epitome of beauty and you can go on. Dr. Ifesinachi Ugwuonye I have witnessed you through all of these and more and you perform all of them with grace and smile. You are a role model for all our Nigerian and African women. I have alOther traditional rulers have expressed desire to have their communities included. The current Trustees are working on the additions. We also have Board of Directors which comprise of men and women of different professional backgrounds. As for what the future holds, I hope that the Foundation will at some point function independent of my personal financial contributions. I hope that the Foundation outlives me by several hundred of years and that the beneficiaries today will become the benefactors of tomorrow By God’s grace, we will not stop until everyone is doing well. It was in appreciation of my contribution to the community 20 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
ways thought that you are capable of achieving great heights but when you informed me you were going for your law degree, I was surprised but I knew that you are a determined woman and I encouraged you to shoot for the sky and you did. I want to tell you that I am proud of you the way you raised your children while making waves in the community and your life. I that these traditional rulers came together and conferred a Chieftaincy Title - Ada di Ora mms of Ezeagu Local Government Area on me. This is why some people address me as “Chief” or Ada di ora mms. I have additional Title - Ada e ji eje mba of Enugu State from the Enugu folks, based equally on my contributions to the community. What are the dreams you hope to fulfill in the future? My dreams for the future are several. But most of all, I hope to positively impact my environment through my works. I hope for a more friendly environment where my children and their peers can feel safe and accomplished. I hope for a community with less bitter-
know most women would love to be like you. It was not easy but you knew the end result you wanted and you aimed and achieved them with all the distractions. God will continue to give you strength to persevere. You know that I will always support you in whatever endeavor because I trust that you will not give up. And thank you for being you.
ness and more goodwill towards one another. Tell us the high and low points of your professional career and what you could have done differently? Well, in my profession, high and low points are things of every day. You want those deals closed, period. But seriously, in my career as a mortgage banker, my real satisfaction comes with the ability to help yet another family close on and move into their dream home. In as much as the money that comes with it is welcome, the happiness of these people as they achieve their dream is inestimable.
SUMMER 2013