Today’s Woman Crush Wednesday, Ifeoma Adibe-Chukwuka is a woman of many parts. Social impact and women empowerment are what would best describe her focus as an entrepreneur. She is the Founder of Omaness Skinfood Company, an indigenous West African company with an all-women direct sales force.
The purpose of the Omaness Skinfood brand is to create products using homegrown ingredients that nourish and enrich African skin, and it is doing so well in achieving its business mission and objectives. A notable characteristic of the brand is its commitment to women empowerment. Omaness, through its growing skinfood merchant network, helps dozens of women across Nigeria to earn a sustainable income and gain financial security by directly selling products to customers every day both offline and via social media.
Ifeoma is also the founder of AYECI Africa, a non-profit organisation founded 15years ago that focuses on closing the gap in educational outcomes and employment opportunities for resource-poor children and youths in Nigeria. Her intervention with AYECI Africa has directly impacted the lives of over 20,000 young people across Nigeria.
Success is relative to every individual. Ifeoma defines it by her own terms. For her, success especially as an entrepreneur is measured by the impact and influence her work has had in the lives of hundreds and even thousands of women who find meaningful work, and the difference this can make in the lives of their families and the future of their communities.
With the level of impact Ifeoma is creating as a focused social entrepreneur, her good works and voice for social change have not failed to go unnoticed or unheard. She is an alumnus of the Cherie Blair Foundation Mentoring Women in Business Programme, and in 2020 was featured in the Cherie Blair Foundation Global Campaign for Women Entrepreneur as the only African female entrepreneur alongside 14 other influential female leaders such as Hilary Clinton, Sheryl Sandberg, and Indra Nooyi.
Ifeoma was on Ynaija’s Powerlist as one of the 10 most influential social advocates in Nigeria, and was also featured as one of the female entrepreneurs to watch in Africa by Leading Ladies Africa. She is also a recipient of the Lagos State Government Award for advancing literacy and youth development. Her recognition both locally and internationally helped secure Omaness an endorsement and funding from Mastercard.
We are deeply impressed with how she is using her business to pursue social change and women’s empowerment. It is obvious she is not all about profit-making but working for the common good and betterment of society. This is highly commendable and that is why she is our Woman Crush Wednesday.