Women In Nigeria Highly Disadvantaged– Lady Chinyere Zimako

Lady Chinyere Chukwudi Zimako, a renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, is the Founder, Chybee Entrepreneurship Foundation for Women and Girls. Born in Aguluezechukwu, Anambra State, and raised in Warri, Delta State, Lady Chinyere has made a significant impact in her community and beyond through her Foundation, and as the CEO, Zimako Oil & Gas Ltd, has demonstrated exceptional business and leadership acumen. In this interview with EJIKEME OMENAZU, she speaks on her passion for women and the girl-child, the condition of women and the youths in Nigeria, even as she expressed her views on some crucial issues in the nation. Excerpt:

Can we meet you madam? Could you briefly tell us about yourself, your early life and education?

I am the Founder of Chybee Entrepreneurship Foundation for women and also the CEO of Zimako Oil & Gas Ltd. I am from Aguluezechukwu in Aguata Lo­cal Government Area of Anam­bra State. But, I was born and brought up in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. I attended D.S.C School One in Warri and John F. Kenne­dy International School, during my secondary school days, also in Warri, during which I repre­sented my school at the Nation­al Young Leaders Conference in Washington D.C in 1997. I grad­uated from Ambrose Alli Uni­versity (AAU), where I obtained B.Sc. in Computer Science and further obtained an M.Sc. in Business Administration at Delta State University, Anwai Campus.

We understand that you have a wide experience in life. Could you tell us some of these experiences in life which could have shaped your life?

My experiences in life are full of challenges, but the ability to stay focused and determined goes a long way.

We understand that you have lost your husband. What has widowhood taught you?

Yes, I lost my husband in 2016 in an auto crash, about nine years now). But, widowhood has taught me that being a widow is not a limitation in any way. You can achieve whatever you want to achieve in life, even after the demise of one’s spouse. Just stay focused and never give up

As a successful business woman, could you recount some of your business exploits?

Nigeria is an oil-rich econo­my. This accounts for about 88 percent of economic activities. It is best advised to take the greatest opportunity offered by the oil resources with a view to generating capital for var­ied businesses. Oil being an exhaustive resource, it will go one day. A wise business man or woman should look beyond his or her nose to use oil resources in a very business and economic sense. Today, with what I have made from oil, I have a founda­tion for the empowerment of women and girls. Likewise, I am into training.

What would you say inspired you to set up Chybee Foundation

Being an African woman, I take exception to the way and manner women are denied the needed capital with which to develop their talents and abili­ties which abound in the Afri­can women. The idea that the woman should be restricted to the kitchen is old fashioned. I know a good number of wom­en who can express themselves much better than men, but for the prevalent culture which says women should be kept down.

How has your foundation impacted positively to the lives of women and girls in Nigeria and Africa?

When my team and I came up about six years ago, with the idea of empowering one million African women and girls, many thought we were up for a joke. Today, we have empowered over 250 women and girls with the needed capital with which they have started their businesses across the land. We have also in­spired countless outreaches on women and girls famers, traders, fashion design, and more.

Many thought that the operations of your Foundation are centred mainly on women and girls in Asaba, Delta State. How true is this assertion?

It will interest you to know that in addition to our activities in Nigeria, we have operational outreaches in Sierra Leone, and other Africa countries. The First Ladies in some African coun­tries are especially keen on our programme, and would like us to come to their countries. Sierra Leone, for instance, is waiting for the Chybee Foundation. So, to answer your question, our Foundation is not an Asaba thing. However, Asaba is our operational base.

Many women activists have contin­ued to lament the condition of the Nigerian women. As a woman who has passion for women and the girls, how do you see the condition of women in Nigeria?

Women in Nigeria are highly disadvantaged by the prevail­ing socio-economic policies in the country, likewise other Af­rican countries. A case where women and girls are denied access to land, property and capital speaks volumes of the poor condition of women in our country. Many men say it is a man’s world. So, they care less about women despite the fact that women form the majority of the population. Despite being signatories to much world con­vention in gender equality, in Africa, this only exists on paper.

Would you say that women in Nige­ria deserve to play more roles in the country’s leadership?

If women are in the majority in most African countries, Ni­geria in particular, their being denied the commensurate role means shutting out more than 80 percent of human resources and creative abilities in a country. So, women in Nigeria deserve to play more roles in the country’s leadership.

Many people and non-government organisations have continued to lament the condition of the girl-child. What do you think should be done to improve the condition of the girl-child in Nigeria and Africa?

A lot should be done to im­prove the condition of the girl-child in Nigeria by putting together national policies for development, especially in ed­ucation. The African girl-child should be guaranteed free edu­cation at all levels. Not only that, the African girl-child with cre­ative abilities and talents should be identified early in life and harnessed.

Would you say that the federal and state governments are giving ade­quate attention to issues concerning the youths in the country?

Let me say this: African coun­tries enjoy greater advantages than European, American and Latin American countries when it comes to youth’s strength. This ought to be a plus to Afri­ca. But, we are busy killing our youths and using police to ha­rass our youths. We are not pro­viding an enabling environment for the proper development of African youths. This should be reversed. I am really ashamed to see our budding youths escort­ed into ignoble professions and businesses known as yahoo, etc.

What is your take on the proposed National Youth Conference which is expected to hold this year?

The proposed National Youth Conference (NYC) should be designed to practically tailor minds of the youths on self-de­velopment, taking good and fur­ther advantage of the Informa­tion Technology opportunities that abound in the world. More importantly, I would wish the Na­tional Youth Conference comes out with practical solutions to the myriads of problems facing Nigeria. the proposed National Youth Conference should not be another national jamboree.

Many people have linked the coun­try’s problems to its leadership. As a business leader who has interest in the social lives of the people, do you agree with this notion that Nigeria’s problems are basically caused by poor leadership?

Well, if it has been a case of having poor leadership all along, it means there is hope for improvement. In our case, leadership is non-existent in our country. Nobody is in charge, and nobody gives account of anything. My thinking is that Nigeria can be fixed by fixing the leadership. But, how can good leadership emerge under the present socio-political envi­ronment? To ensure that good leadership emerges, society should see how to help women and girl-children to rise.

In the course of your philanthropy, have you won some awards that might have encouraged you on what you have been doing for society?

Oh yes. I have won several awards. But, these are just a few of the recent ones. I won the Niger Delta Award 2024 – an award of excellence for my immense contributions to so­cial development and women empowerment. I also bagged the Humanitarian Award 2024. this was due to my outstanding humanitarian contributions to women’s entrepreneurship. Thirdly, I also won the African Women Achievers’ Award 2024 – An icon of African Economic Development and Advancement. Last, but not the least, I also won the Peace Legend Award 2024 – Advocate of Peace. All these awards made me understand that the society appreciates the little I am doing through my Foundation to impact positive­ly on the lives of women and the girl-child in Nigeria and Africa. In fact, they have encouraged me to do more for society. I also call on other well-to-do individuals, women and men to contribute their quota to the upliftment of the lives of the women, the gild-child and the down-trodden in general, not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa.