In a world that glorifies the specialist, Nkemjika Uwaezuoke is a powerful testament to the strength found in diversity. To list her roles is to attempt to capture a whirlwind: Pharmacist. Academia. Baker. Farmer. Event Organiser. Music Minister. Mother. Wife. It’s a combination that would make a trapeze artist dizzy, yet she navigates it with a dexterity and discipline that is nothing short of masterful.
For Uwaezuoke, this intricate dance isn’t about mere busyness; it’s a symphony of purpose, where each note contributes to a richer, more impactful life.
The Bedrock: Family as the Ultimate Achievement
Ask her what she is most proud of, and the decorated scientist and entrepreneur doesn’t hesitate. “I am proud of several things I have done in my life, but what I am most proud of is my family,” she confesses. Defying the notion that marriage isn’t an achievement, she celebrates the “small village” she has built with her husband, Dr. Ndubuisi Uwaezuoke, a paediatrician.
She affirms. “For many years, we invested time, energy, and our whole being in nurturing, teaching, and growing these precious lives. It was worth all the effort and sacrifice. Our children are growing up so quickly, and they are just at that stage when you want to hug them a little tighter. Today, one is heading off to university, and the other is counting the months before she, too, leaves. By God’s grace, they are all turning out well.”
A Tapestry of Professions: From the Lab to the Farm
Professionally, Uwaezuoke’s life is a tapestry woven from threads of science, entrepreneurship, and grassroots empowerment.
As an academic and pharmacist at the University of Nigeria, her research is both rigorous and relatable, exploring the anti-diabetic properties of everyday foods such as okra and tigernut milk. Yet, this esteemed scientist is also the vibrant “neighbourhood pharmerbaker,” a nickname that perfectly captures her unique blend of expertise. Through her events company, Splendid Place, and her baking endeavours, she engages with her community in a direct and personal way.
Her passion for sustainability and empowerment extends to Janyele Integrated Farms, her agribusiness venture. As a Federal Government YouWiN awardee and World Bank Step B innovator, she is deeply committed to youth development, a mission that guides all her endeavours.
Confronting Challenges and Misconceptions
The journey of a multitasking pioneer is not without its hurdles. Currently pursuing her PhD without funding, she describes the soaring cost of laboratory materials as a ‘God abeg’ situation, which forces her to invest earnings from her other ventures into her research. “I am pushing and should conclude within the next six months. Can’t wait to be done,” she says with determined resolve.
A more profound challenge she faces is the societal disdain for honest labour. She recalls with frustration the condescending comments: “Ah! Are you not the pharmacist? So why are you serving small chops na?” or the stunned client who couldn’t reconcile her international travels with her return to “selling chicken.”
This mindset, she laments, is widespread. “Even unemployed people mock those who work blue-collar jobs,” she says, sharing an incident where a client tried to shame her university-educated studio manager. Uwaezuoke now dedicates considerable time to building self-esteem and confidence in her staff, teaching them to see themselves as valuable members of society. “We need a thorough overhaul of our mindsets in this country, please!”
A Vision for the Future: Security, Skills, and Sound Management
Looking ahead, Uwaezuoke has clear aspirations for the industries in which she participates. In agriculture, her aim is both lofty and straightforward: “I wish I had a magic wand to eliminate insecurity.” She has witnessed firsthand how banditry devastates the supply chain and endangers food sustainability.
A passionate advocate for skill acquisition, she is excited about the Federal Government’s TVET programme and recently secured sponsors for 18 students from her community to undergo vocational training. “Skills are the foundation of the future,” she states. TVET stands for Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
In higher education, she advocates for better pay for lecturers and a shift in university leadership. “In 10 years, we will have shifted towards allowing trained managers to oversee universities rather than just scholars,” she predicts, arguing that administrative skill is as essential as academic brilliance.
A Message to Her Younger Self: “Relax! You’re a Babe!”
When asked what she would tell her 20-year-old self, her answer is immediate and laced with laughter: “Relax! You’re not that fat! ???”
She recounts growing up as a “big girl” in a small community, constantly self-conscious under the critical gaze of others. “I didn’t wear what I liked; I just wore things that would hide me. Church gave me palpitations back then.” Now, she looks back and sees a “real spec.” This hard-won self-acceptance fuels her fierce protectiveness of the young people around her. “My 20-year-old self should definitely have lived a more carefree life, biko!”
Through it all, her constant companion is music—a daily habit she couldn’t live without. “I would feel faint and weak,” without it, she admits, a trait she has passed on to her children, just as her DJ father passed it to her.
For Nkemjika Uwaezuoke, success isn’t a single destination or a title. It is a multi-faceted gem: being at peace with her Creator, loving her family, living debt-free, and looking back to see a community of young people whose lives are better because she guided them towards Christ, a skill, or a brighter future. It is in this purposeful, joyful, and relentless multitasking that she has truly found her rhythm.
