As Africans, we value education as we have been told over and over again that education is the key to success. We hear this at home from our parents, at schools from our teachers, and successful older siblings, relatives, and friends during the family gatherings.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that among the list of the most successful immigrant groups in America today are Africans from Nigeria. More on that in our previous article, here.
MBA from Harvard, got a job at JP Morgan, then Quits to pursue her own Business
However, that grit to pursue education to the highest level possible, as a means to open the doors of opportunities is not unique only to the Nigerian-Americans community. That grit shines across the face of the African continent like the Sun.
To drive home that analogy, is 34-year-old Naa-Sakle Akuete from Maryland. She was born to African migrant parents who fled their home country Ghana, due to the political turmoil in the 1970s that ensued after a military coup.
It was an uphill task for her parents to raise Naa-Sakle and her two older brothers. In 2002, when Naa-Sakle went to join a boarding school in Massachusetts, her mother Eugenia had to move back to Ghana. Prompted by her Naa-Sakle’s grandmother’s sickness, and Eugenia was the one to take care of her in Ghana.
During Eugenia’s stay in Ghana, while looking after her aging mother, she came up with the idea of bulk shea butter distribution. She followed that idea with action and soon launched the company, which she called after her daughter, Naasakle International.
Her prominence in the shea butter industry gave her wide recognition that she was appointed the first President of the Global Shea Alliance, a consultancy organization that advises governments and NGOs on the best practice standards on shea butter and fair trade policies.
Through her mom’s newfound business opportunity in Africa, Naa-Sakle began getting exposure to the world of shea butter. However, it was not enough to overly excite her.
Like Mother, Like Daughter
Naa-Sakle’s interest in the shea butter business picked when the same tragic event that befell her mother also happened to her. Her mother Eugenia got sick, and it was upon Naa-Sakle to look after her.
“Back in 2013, my mom was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. I started helping with her business operations to keep the company running. Then, while my mom was in remission, she got seriously ill with bacterial meningitis. At that point, I took over her business,” said Akuete during an interview with Vogue.
As her mother was becoming more hands-off the business, Naa-Sakle was getting more hands-on.
