…Says “Celebrity status is by God, not my power. I arrived in the UK in 2008 with high hopes that were dashed”
By Christy Anyanwu, just back from London
Irene Eribo Ani is a go-getter. She’s one Nigerian lady that is resilient in all she does. She makes things happen and doesn’t take no for an answer. Speaking with Sunday Sun about her inspiring grass-to-grace story, it is obvious her hard work has paid off. Excerpts:
Who is Irene Eribo Ani?
Irene Eribo Ani, a.k.a Irensmart, is married and blessed with two lovely boys. I am the founder of Ebony Ambassadors, United Kingdom, Ebony Global Skill Empowerment Initiative, Nigeria, co-founder of the Nigerian Festival UK, and co-founder of UK Career Festival. I also co-founded the Fusionxpower Talk Show. I did my degree in health and social care and a master’s degree in human rights and international relations. These qualifications have enabled me to put theory into practice because I believe in the health and wellbeing of young people in the community. I am a community activist and advocate of various youth engagement projects and have created a unique organisation (Ebony Ambassadors UK) borne from the realization that every young person should aim to become independent through skills development. I work with different local authorities in three cities in the UK: London, Bradford and Birmingham. Giving back to the community is part of my passion, which has clearly been demonstrated in my various projects which have been endorsed and sponsored by various organizations over the years. These sponsors include: The Big Lottery Fund, Worldremit, Young Barnet Foundation, Space2grow Fund, Olu Olu Foods, and NHS Blood and Transplant, among others.
You were born and raised in Nigeria, but now you are a celebrity in the UK; how was it when you first arrived here?
You are right to say I was born and brought up in Nigeria. The celebrity status is by God, not my power. I arrived in the UK in 2008 with high hopes that were dashed. It was not ever a bed of roses. My community work was not noticed until five years ago. It has been one struggle or the other to achieve my dreams. This year marks my 15th year in the UK. I can proudly say I am living dreams, thank God I did not give up.
What brought you into the limelight in the UK and was there any discouragement at the initial stage?
My different skill empowerment initiatives, with more reference to Miss E.B.O.N.Y Creativity pageant/contest, brought me into the limelight. There was a lot of discouragement even from family members, but I chose not to be discouraged. When I look back to how far I have come, I thank God that I did not give up on my dreams. I have gradually become the most celebrated youngstar in the UK as a whole. I have been featured on more than 60 news outlets locally and internationally, like the Bridgette Tetteh Show on BBC Radio, The African Show on Blast1386.com, Against All Odds Show on Oasis Universal Radio, and 106.5 Radio, Leinerhertz, Hannover, Germany, just to mention a few. In addition, I have bagged over 20 awards/recognition due to my contributions to my community. I received the Universal Peace Federation Young Achiever award; EAWA awards for best community group organizer of the year; Africa business women award for inspiring and empowering women and lots more.
What prompted the Ebony Ambassador contest?
I had volunteered years back with a pageant organizer in Nigeria. I did not like the concept that pageantry was mostly for a particular kind of individual. To bring about the change I wanted to see, I created the Miss E.B.O.N.Y Ambassador pageant. Miss E.B.O.N.Y Ambassador UK is a creativity competition that empowers its contestants, Africans living in the United Kingdom, through skills acquisition, and promotes African culture in the Diaspora. This unique contest, which started in 2016 in London, remains the first of its kind in the UK.
With the recognition as the founder of Ebony Ambassador Awards in the UK, how have you been able to handle fame?
I am a very humble person. I remain myself. I believe that our work will speak for us. I love that I am famous because of my community work, but it does not get to me. I still do what I used to do, move with my old network and I am willing to support anyone anywhere I can. Since I became famous, my priorities have changed in terms of where I need to be. I get invited to high-profile and diplomatic events. I now choose where I need to be. My fashion sense has been upgraded as well because I need to dress for the occasion. It has alway been my thing to celebrate my wins, small or big. So, don’t be offended If you see me blowing my trumpet. That is just me. Back in the days, my very close friends called me Fefe-for-life (Notice Me) nothing has changed. I remain Fefe-4-for-life.
What were the challenges you faced at the initial stage? Did you at any time want to give up?
There were a lot of ups and downs, mostly during my first seven years. My project suffered due to financial constraints. There was a time when I didn’t have material to facilitate my skill empowerment workshops and I would have to borrow. Instead of carrying the materials, which included machines, in the taxi, I would carry them in a public bus as I could not afford to take a taxi. I struggled to have volunteers to support my work because the majority of people in our community did not like volunteering. During that phase in my life, I was doing the work of six people, as I could not afford to pay them. Truth be said, it was very hard, but giving up for me was never an option.
You are coming to Nigeria after 15 years in the UK, what do you miss about Nigeria? Are you visiting the country because the present Ebony Queen hails from Nigeria? What would be the focus of your visit with the queen in February?
I miss my cousins and friends. It is a tradition that whoever wins the Miss E.B.O.N.Y Ambassadors contest travels to her country of origin for a charity mission. It is coincidental that I choose to visit now that our reigning queen is embarking on her charity mission. The focus will be youth empowerment, skills acquisition and other community outreach like visit to orphanages, a local hospital, maternity ward, to hand out baby essentials, and visit to primary schools, for motivational talk and handing out stationery.
What is your advice to young African women who aspire to be like Irene Eribo Ani?
My advice to them is to take life easy. One day at a time. Don’t rush. It took me 15 years to get to where I am. As it is commonly said, “Time happeneth to it all.” They should find a way to volunteer. In volunteering, I learnt so many things and discovered my purpose on earth. Secondly, find a mentor. Don’t walk this journey alone. I have so many mentors, not just one. They all have supported me throughout this journey and still support me. Don’t be too competitive in the sense of trying to be everything and everybody; discover your purpose and passion and stay in that line because the journey is tough. You can only sustain what you have passion for. Lastly, don’t give up on dreams.
What lessons have you learnt about life?
One of the lessons I have learnt in life is not to look down on anyone. Help when you can. Nobody is stealing anybody’s dream. You dreamt the dream, it is unique to you and you alone. I don’t bother when people want to outsmart me because I let them into my space. They don’t go far and they won’t go far. I have learnt to do good even when it is not reciprocated. Also, life is a theatre stage. There is room for everyone to perform. Wait for your turn. Lastly, believe in yourself and don’t be a people-pleaser. The nature of life is that you can’t please everybody. Do what makes you happy and you will find peace, which I now enjoy.