The Director General of the Nigerian
Tourism Development Corporation, is the first of six children born to a
former Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a one-time chairman, Body of
Benchers, Chief George Uwechue who is also the Owelle of Ogwashi-Uku.
She talks about her childhood: “My
childhood was eventful and I was surrounded by very loving and closely
knit family. I grew up in many towns and cities in Nigeria and abroad.
My mom is European and my father, African but the African influence got a
better part of me. However, my appreciation of European culture gives
me a happy mix of the best of both worlds.
“Most of my family members are lawyers
and public servants. Growing up around different cultural influences
gave me an appreciation of Nigeria’s diversity and the realities of a
globalising world. My childhood has equipped me to thrive in any place I
find myself. It has also given me an independent and caring spirit.”
A graduate of Law from University of
Lagos, Mbanefo naturally chose the legal path since most of her siblings
took to the law profession. “My dad and mum both studied Law at the
London School of Economics and their influence swayed me towards law,”
she states.
The conviction to go into law practice
was not the only parental influence she received. “My parents also
taught me the importance of hard work, love for each other, discipline,
industry, service and respect for a common humanity and above all the
fear of God. My dad being a senior advocate instilled these values in us
quite early in life and this has contributed to my career in the
corporate world,” she says.
A philanthropist and founder of the
Sally Mbanefo Foundation, she has this to say about the plight of the
poor: “The poor are first and foremost Nigerians with privileges and
rights. You cannot fight poverty through charity alone. You need profits
to fight poverty. The sustainable way out of poverty is to give people
decent jobs. This is why we insist on social impact and benefits for
every program or project we embark on at the NTDC. Poverty is an
emergent outcome and needs to be understood holistically. We are
marshalling resources around our three-point strategic imperatives of
rebuilding the tourism corporation; growing the tourism value chain for
jobs and revenues; and reinventing how tourism is operated in Nigeria.
Our programs and projects are designed to deliver 500,000 jobs in 3
years. We are determined to fight the ills that beset women and children
in our society.”
Among other talents, the half
Italian-Swiss, half Nigerian is a very skilled painter who has loads of
artistic works to her credit. “My most remarkable painting is a
landscape piece that I did outdoors for 18 hours. Painting gives me a
big picture view of life and opens me to creative problem solving while
appreciating and empathising with the human angle in every situation of
life,” she says.
Sally’s hobbies include sailing,
learning languages, swimming, jogging, among others. “As a way of
relaxation, I exercise daily and find time for quiet meditation with my
creator. I wake up very early for mass and return to prepare for work
and from work, back home to family. This is very much my daily routine,”
she adds.
Opening up more about her job as the DG
of NTDC, she says, “It’s an exciting job. It gives me opportunity to
add glamour to tourism in Nigeria. I am appealing to corporate Nigerians
to please do the same. Tourism has the capacity to add more jobs and
grow Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product. There is a need to change
mindsets and worldviews about domestic tourism among individuals and
corporate Nigeria. We need Nigerians to key into the idea of patronising
our holiday resorts. It is our patriotic duty to invest in the local
economy. Tourism holds enormous potentials but we need to create local
demand to grow the industry. We have over 500 tourism sites in this
country and Nigerians need to visit these sites.”
On the wrong first impression that
people always have about her, she says, “I am usually underestimated but
then, it is to my advantage. Also, people think I am white but later
find I am very Nigerian and can speak our local dialects.
“Juggling my duties as a wife and DG?
That is easy. I would not advise women to abandon the home front just
because they are in public office. I do domestic chores myself which is
like workout for me. I enjoy cooking especially for loved ones.”
Asked what determines her style, Mbanefo
who has learned to create her signature look says “I look at the
weather and what the occasion demands. Other times it’s the ‘feel good’
factor and probably the meeting agenda.
“My accessories are my smile, my
spiritual confidence, my eye contact and gait. I am very brief on
jewellery. An obsession with jewellery can distract one from other
important things like school fees for the under privileged. So I just
wear earrings to indicate my womanhood.
“My favourite colours include a
combination of cafe au lait, mocca, coffee brown and beige. For
fabrics, my domestic tourism trips are opening my eyes to the varieties
we have in Nigeria.
“My post at NTDC has also affected my
style. Prior to now, my dressing consisted more of turtle necks, dark
suites and high heeled shoes. Now I dress to project Nigeria’s rich
cultural heritage. From my tours within Nigeria, I have acquired a lot
of adire, batik and Ankara. As I travel around Nigeria, I will continue
to expand my wardrobe to reflect our diversity. I have also remained
stylish without seeing any need for high heels.”
But there is one thing she would never be caught wearing. “I would never be caught wearing a transparent dress.
“A look into my handbag would reveal my rosary and my divine mercy prayer pamphlet,” she says.
A widely travelled woman, Mbanefo says
there are still places she would love to visit. “I look forward to
exploring Nigeria more. I have done visits around the South-South and
South-West and some North-Central cities. I am looking forward to
visiting Taraba, Obudu Cattle Ranch, Bauchi and Gombe.”
And her role model? “I wish I lived in
the era of Queen Amina of Zaria. But my admiration for Mandela’s and
Mother Theresa’s exemplary lives continues to give me inspiration,” she
concludes.
No comments:
Post a Comment