She has become a household name in terms of image consulting. So when I was told by the organisers of the Exquisite Lady Seminar that she was one of the speakers, I knew I was going to have an enlightening time, and I sure did.
Dressed in an army green lacy skirt and blouse with beaming black sequence beneath and a big, black and bold belt sitting comfortably on her hips, she reeled out etiquettes, stressing the importance of image and building confidence in her listeners. The resounding applause that followed her highly motivating session spoke loudly of how much impact her words made in the lives of her audience. Talk of one woman who knows her onions and she readily comes to mind. It is true that you only have one chance to make a lasting first impression and need a further 13 minutes to correct a bad impression made, she indeed made a long-lasting impression on everyone and that cannot be forgotten in a jiffy.
Tutored by her maternal grandparents, her immediate siblings and cousins who total sixteen in number, she reminisces: “It was fun and great learning. My grandparents were learned academically and socially. They imparted wisdom by practical teaching.”
A beautiful, bold and excellent communicator, lawyer, image consultant, former beauty queen and principal partner at Fruition Image Consultants Ltd, Ifeoma Williams is my Leading Woman for this week.
She was crowned Miss Lux in 1998 and has since lived to fulfil her dreams. “It began with entry and qualification through an essay competition element,” she says in response to a question on how she emerged the winner at the pageant. And comparing pageantry of those days to what obtains now, she adds: “In my time there was no swimsuit segment, it was quite cerebral. I commend current-day pageant organisers for toeing the cerebral path.”
Ifeoma qualified as an image consultant in 2006 after a short but successful legal practice career. “I simply decided to answer my life’s call to human capital development and enhancement,” she tells me. That decision led to the birth, in 2006, of Fruition Image Consulting Limited.
“Our vision is to be the number one, holistic, effective communications solution provider for both individuals and corporates in Africa,” Ifeoma says about Fruition Image Consulting Limited. “Image enhancement is about putting your best foot forward as an individual or a corporate body, and engaging your audience appropriately and effectively – ‘communication’ through words, looks and comportment. For corporates, through activations as well as events and interactive packages.”
As a certified image consultant, Ifeoma believes that the average Nigerian is image-conscious. “The world is increasingly one ‘glocal’ village – that is, global as well as local in one breath. The importance of positive image projection has caught on in Nigeria,” she explains further.
The saying ‘How you dress is how you will be addressed’ has always been proven to be true. Ifeoma agrees to this and tells why. “At first sight and within seven seconds, people judge whether they want to associate with you or not. The first ‘sight’ or port of call is your physical and visual appearance. The seven-second judgment leads to association, rapport, then eventually trust. It is therefore important to look the part,” she advises.
For the legal beauty, “Style is more than pure appearance, it is the conveyance of an aura of distinction as hard to define as it is easy to recognise. It goes beyond the outward dressing. However, I define my dress style as classic.”
As busy as Ifeoma is with appointments, she admits that family and work can be balanced. “The sheer grace of God is what has helped me to balance work and family. To do this, one must be ‘deliberate’. Know when to face one or the other. For a family to thrive, love is required, and this is spelt T-I-M-E,” she says.
She is too grateful for life given to her by God to consider anything an insurmountable challenge. But if you ask her what her challenges are, she is quick to tell you: “Professionally, the lack of infrastructure, particularly electricity.” This seems to be the cliché among many people and, sadly, it is true.
Ifeoma tells me the day she will never forget was the day she gave birth to her first son. She describes it as “an awesome experience I can never forget”.
“I celebrate motherhood,” she adds. “I am glad and proud to be first a woman, secondly a wife, and thirdly a mother. I do not take any of these for granted. In awe of God, I stand!”
Ifeoma’s customer base has continually increased based on referrals. Little wonder she has numerous clients in almost all sectors. “Your work must always speak for you. If it doesn’t, then you must either work hard to make it so or ask for God’s guidance on what you are meant to do because once you find that thing that makes you tick, the sky becomes your starting point and not your limit,” she says.
With the desperation of wanting to excel by all means come misguided or deliberate actions with their attendant consequences. For youths that are desperate to make it by all means, Ifeoma has this to say: “A good name is priced over mundane wealth. When you are patient, you will perfect your trade and become sought after. The worldwide web (www) has also made the world a tiny place.”
To the womenfolk, she says: “Love yourself. Have only one competition – YOURSELF! Aim to do better than your last performance.”
And her parting shot? “Embrace life’s goodness. Seek the good in all you meet. Have no regrets, just experience. Seek to make your own positive impact.”
By: KEMI AJUMOBI
