The Vital Voices community mourns the loss of Meeme Ekanem
The Vital Voices community mourns the loss of Meeme Ekanem, a successful entrepreneur and advocate for women’s political and economic empowerment in Nigeria. With grace and strength, Meeme inspired and informed those around her to strive for excellence and to make a difference in the lives of others.
Meeme had a successful career in banking early on in life, yet she sought to apply that knowledge and experience to provide economic opportunities to other women. She did so by starting her own company, Montage Exotiques, a limited liability corporation employing 35 artisans, the majority of whom are women. She also founded an NGO, the SMALL& MEDIUM ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (SMED-i), involved in training, counseling, business development, finance consulting, and networking for small and medium businesses. In 2008 Meeme participated in the Vital Voices African Women Artisans Export Development Program to provide further opportunities to women artisans through export. She most recently attended our Artisan training workshop in Ghana in February 2009, and was preparing to continue working with her fellow artisans in rural Nigeria to develop export-ready products.
Meeme was a strategic thinker, and keenly understood the connection between women’s economic empowerment and their political participation. She pursued doctoral studies in political economy, and also participated in Vital Voices’ April 2008 African Women’s Leadership in Public Life Program, where she learned to manage political campaigns. With a seed grant from Vital Voices, she and other Vital Voices alumni organized a local Leadership in Public Life training for 35 aspiring women candidates in Lagos, Nigeria. Nearly half the participants won their elections to local government offices with the help and encouragement she provided. Seeing the importance of supporting and mentoring young women, Meeme also collaborated her Vital Voices sisters to organize the 2008 Mentoring Walk and the Women Mentoring Women Program, which continues to serve 35 young women mentees in Lagos, and these young women have already begun to impact the lives of others through their own gifts of service.
Most importantly, Meeme was a big sister and friend, and she was always there to provide advice, guidance, wisdom, grace, energy, a good laugh, and a helping hand. Meeme demonstrated in her life the values that we cherish, and we celebrate her many achievements as a sister, an entrepreneur, an artisan, a mentor, a Nigerian woman, and as a Vital Voice. While we will sorely miss her, we are privileged to have known her and walked alongside her as she dedicated her life to uplift those around her. We offer her family, friends, and colleagues our deep condolences, knowing that her legacy will live on through the many lives she has touched.
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By Celena on April 26th 2009 in Entrepreneurship, Mentoring, Vital Voices News
Yemisi Ikuomola responded on 30 Apr 2009 at 4:36 am #
This is sudden and rather shocking. We give God the glory for her short, but very fulfilled and impactful life. She came and contributed her own quota to our development. We owe it to her memory to continue the legacy she has left behind. Meeme will always be missed, her place noone can ever replace. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
Therese Smith responded on 30 Apr 2009 at 7:28 am #
I had the priviledge of attending two Vital Voices Women Artisan Training Programmes with Meeme and left richer for the interaction of shared energy, time and inspiration. She will be sadly missed. The thoughts of all the Bridge for Africa team are with her family near and far.
Rhoda Nanre Mayegun responded on 01 May 2009 at 8:39 am #
I was shocked to hear of the untimely death of MeeMee. MeeMee always wore a smile but she was much more than a pretty face. She was a committed, dedicated and determined woman. She had so much to give and had so much potential to positively impact the lives of women even more than she had done to this point. I continue to mourn the wastage of lives in our country, and the cutting off of promising flowers in thier prime of life. I continue to pray that our efforts for change will lead us to a better world where such people can reach achieve their fullest and be appreciated by the society.
Ofunneka Molokwu responded on 04 May 2009 at 4:47 am #
Meeme.. gone..unbelievable..
it sure was a shocker when I read Lucy’s mail, saying that she had passed on. It just made me realize that we never really know when our time will be up and just like Meeme, we need to give as much as ourselves as we can.. In the short time that I knew Meeme (from attending the Women Mentoring Women Program), she struck me as a very energetic, go-getter, with a passion to helping rewrite the future (rather I should say the present) which she believed should include an equal amount of women as there are men..in all fields of life.
She was a true inspiration, a leader who lead by example and a motivation to me and my peers..
Adieu Meeme, you will be missed…, especially your welcoming smile…
May your gentle soul, rest in perfect peace…Amen
Adeola Ikuomola responded on 14 May 2009 at 2:12 am #
Hers was an excellent mortal race.
Patricia Endeley responded on 21 May 2009 at 7:28 am #
MfonObong, What can I say, Indeed words have failed me since that Friday I heard the news of yourr call to glory. This is my only consolation that you could not just ‘die’, YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO GLORY.
May your gentle sweet soul find peace at last with your maker Jehovah.
ADIEU.
Maeyen. London
Chinyere Ogwuegbu responded on 24 May 2009 at 6:30 am #
May her soul rest in peace and may her diligent works live on.
Tina Utoro responded on 24 May 2009 at 11:28 am #
She was a BEAUTY from within to the outside. She was an Inspiration. During the Womem Mentoring Women she taught us how to believe in ourselves and our dreams.
I can’t forget those striking smiles it melts our hearts and took our worries away and gave us hope.
God knows best.
ADIEU
Celestina(Mentee WMW)
EDWINA ASSAN responded on 12 Aug 2009 at 5:08 am #
This is shocking. I met her when she was in Ghana for the workshop.
With beaming smiles all the time it was very easy to get along with her.
The short time we spent together was very useful. She had advice for whatever you intended doing.
May her soul rest in perfect peace. Condolences to the family.
Victoria Senkubuge Byoma responded on 27 Aug 2009 at 2:21 am #
Dear Friends,
I just learnt,today, of Meeme passing on!
I met Meeme in Swaziland in March 2008 during the Artisan training and we became good friends. From then, I used to receive very encouraging mails from her almost every week. I was not getting them anymore and I was wondering what happened. So for the past few months, my mails have gone unanswered and I was wondering why! Now I know. Ohh what a loss such, a beautiful soul she was!
I am saddened beyond words. May her Soul rest in peace.