#12. Feed the Streets & Shape the Future: How this Young Entrepreneur is Opening Doors with Tech & Purpose

What happens when you graduate university at 18 and decide to transform your community instead of waiting for opportunities to arrive? Meet Emem Udom — product manager, social entrepreneur, mentor, and author of Jar of Oil.

Growing up between Lagos and Akwa Ibom, Emem shares how early education, resilience, and a drive to serve others led her to launch feeding initiatives, train young people (including those with disabilities), and build accessible pathways into tech careers. Her story is one of clarity, courage, and starting with what’s already in your hands.

In this episode, you’ll learn

• How Emem entered university at 14 and graduated by 18.
• Why being posted to teach during her NYSC unlocked a passion for fixing education gaps.
• The creation of Operation Feed the Streets to combat hunger.
• How SkillsT and Get Into Tech are opening doors to technology careers beyond coding.
• The impact of training 100+ people with disabilities and coaching for career clarity.
• The inspiration behind her book Jar of Oil — finding your source of strength and pouring into others.
• Emem’s current leadership role as Director of Media & Branding at Women in Africa and her recognition as Africa Volunteer of the Year.
• Her bold vision for global speaking, consulting, and empowering the next generation.

About Emem Udom

A Lagos-based product manager and social entrepreneur, Emem founded Operation Feed the Streets and SkillsT, whose flagship Get Into Tech demystifies tech careers for non-coders. She has trained 100+ people with disabilities, mentors on career clarity, and authored Jar of Oil. Emem currently serves as Director of Media & Branding at Women in Africa and was recently honoured as Africa Volunteer of the Year.

Links & resources

• 📖 Jar of Oil — Get the book
• 🌐 About Emem Udom
• 💼 Connect on LinkedIn
• 📸 Follow on Instagram

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome to World Changers Podcast
• 0:47 Meet Emem Udom, Child Prodigy
• 4:55 Life in Lagos and Akwa Ibom
• 9:33 Operation 'Feed the Streets'
• 13:39 SkillsT and Get Into Tech
• 18:43 The Jar of Oil Book
• 24:36 Overcoming Spiritual Challenges
• 30:30 Future Goals, Faith and Greatness

Transcript

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 0:02

Hey, world Changers, welcome to your podcast. I'm Amiki Carroll and I travel the world with a sense of adventure and purpose exploring, learning, having fun and meeting remarkable individuals who are transforming their communities and beyond. Join me as we dive into the inspiring journeys of changemakers from every corner of the globe, tuning in weekly for stories that might just change your life, ignite your passion and show you how ordinary people can create extraordinary impact. Subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social media at World Changes PC, and get ready to take off. So welcome to the World Changers podcast. Would you like to introduce yourself? Just tell me your full name and then, I think, kind of dive in straight into you. Know your background very quickly and your life like right up to this moment. We'll explore more things, but this is just a brief introduction to who mm is yeah, sure, my name is mm.

Emem Udom: 1:11

It's out with them. It's how is my dad's name? And the dog is my, haveling him. I have my pipe bomb and a lot of people mispronounce my name like a lot and it's funny because I mean it's quite simple. I mean it's not done right. I am going to be clocking 23 by november this year, so it's safe to say I'm 22 plus.

Emem Udom: 1:32

If you hear that, yeah, I was, um, I was, should I say an early? Uh. I finished school early, like I. I had to like a healthy start to life on the scene of my mom amazing mom, because history has it that I even started school before I could even work, because I stopped very early. I finished my school, I went to Bowen University and I finished in 2020. I just got 18 at the time Fucking 1918 child at the time.

Emem Udom: 2:01

Yeah, and I finished. I initiated four points plus, points plus, you know, and it was amazing. But I didn't know what was in store for MN, because I'd studied mass communications, like I was going to go into the communication space and do all things communication and the first shock I was when I started my national exam score and I was teaching a school. Oh, my goodness, that was a deal breaker for me. I remember that I cried so much. I cried so so much, you know, and I told the, the proprietress of the school I just had, that I don't want to teach, I want to work in a radio station, because I felt like everything that was to me was communication, radio, pr, and that's it. I think I was so myopic to life and to what life entailed for me at the time.

Emem Udom: 2:51

But teaching those children exposed me to a lot of things. That, man, a lot is going on. Parents are not doing enough. Some parents not all parents, because I have her parents do great jobs actually, but it's supposed to lead to that. Just kids are so exposed to vices and there is no cover, you know to, to be with them.

Emem Udom: 3:14

And as the only 18 year old I thought so funny though some of those kids don't even know that I've been so I didn't let them know my age don't have to, you know but I remember that I was the only one who could really relate because teachers were quite older. So their struggles, and I tried my best to be there for them and the educational standard was also so poor. You know, the kids that were supposed to be art students were still struggling to know what's similar and meta for us. And it says two it was a short effort. It was like um, I had to sit up already to teach them and I loved it. At some point I had challenges because it was not really what I wanted to do. When I finished I was like, okay, now life is up, I need to know what next.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 3:57

So let me just recap what I'm hearing. You're quite young and you're quite accomplished, from what I've read about you, which is really impressive, and I'd like to dive into all that. So that's wonderful, but if I understand, you've graduated really early. So if you graduated at 18-ish, when did you go to university? At what age?

Emem Udom: 4:19

Oh my, I was about 14.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 4:21

Wow, and what university did you go to?

Emem Udom: 4:24

Bowen University in Washington. Okay, and what university did?

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 4:27

you go to Bowen University in New Orleans.

Emem Udom: 4:28

Okay, all right, great start. Okay, hasn't been at the time.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 4:32

Okay, it's really interesting. That's really wonderful and impressive to hear. So, for those who are listening, it might please you to know that MM take note of the pronunciation, because that's a bug there for her. A lot of people don't pronounce it, but it's pretty straightforward e-m-e-m. It's m-m. Pretty much. Yeah, it's not difficult. Okay, mm lives in lagos, nigeria, and so we're going to explore a little bit. I mean, have you always lived in lagos? Is that where you grew up?

Emem Udom: 5:03

up. I was born in Lagos, but at some point my parents relocated to Akwaebo. Okay yeah, I grew up in Lagos, akwaebo, my shop host.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 5:10

Okay, and Akwaebo is your home state.

Emem Udom: 5:13

Yes, it is.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 5:14

That's lovely. For those who don't know what part of Nigeria is Akwaebo in, it's in the southern part, the south south.

Emem Udom: 5:30

Okay, south south um, and you guys are also quite nutrient rich in that area, aren't?

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 5:33

you? Yes, but it is the reality. It is one of the areas in nigeria that's quite nutrient rich, lots of you know. But putting that to one side, how familiar are you with Akwa Ibom state? Has it got lots to see places to go to, because it is one of the developing and progressive states right now, isn't it? Yeah, what is there to do there?

Emem Udom: 5:58

Okay. Contrary to people's beliefs, it's only Uyo that is happening to the tribes.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 6:03

And Uyo is the capital of Akwa Ibom. Yes, yes, and a lot of people think yeah it's happening today.

Emem Udom: 6:12

But you can go to Ipona Beach right, but, like you said, it's still developing. So there are hopes of us growing and becoming one of the best states. One of the greatest things I was really proud of at the time but no longer, because I think we've grown was the stadium of former governor the current president built at the time and it was a sight for so eyes, so beautiful and so top, top notch at the time and most people wanted to become so quite to just see that. You did, and I mean it's still magnificent if you're passing by. But one thing you should not acquire books for as well is the food, oh yeah are you telling me that I can testify to?

Emem Udom: 6:55

I found it like it's just so good. I found it just a lot of dishes for you to enjoy. Do you know? We cook us two differently? But because it's just a lot of dishes for you to enjoy, do you know we cook ours too differently? But, contrary to how normal people cook their stew, they just have this method and the fact that crayfish is their major spice and just brings life to the food. If you put crayfish in beads, oh my goodness. We don't want to go back to the former method of eating beads without crayfish inside.

Emem Udom: 7:24

It's something I'm really proud of their food and how they have evolved, even with those foods and, you know, turning into something that can be more presentable. We have great chefs, like eda basi doing doing a great job. It's presenting our aquarium dishes, talabat dishes, to be something that is worth talking about, something that is worth seeing, you know. So I'm proud of the food. I'm proud of the people as well. They're amazing, they are welcoming. They are amazing, they're welcoming. So you go to aqua ebon, trust me, they will not throw you away. They would, because if you I mean land boys get to be a barrier, for if you're not from aqua ebon, right, but they speak english too, so don't be scared, of course. Yeah, all the circuit rounds and just Mbappé reveals they do the masculine thing, you know. Yeah, so you got someone that likes to see masculine. And when people do Halloween, right, yeah, that's our own African Halloween no, actually it's more like a festival, more like carnival.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 8:21

Yeah, not like Halloween at all. It would be more like carnival. Yeah, not like halloween at all, it would be more like carnival. And I'm glad you brought that up, because I think people don't quite realize that nigeria is so rich and so diverse and there's so much more to nigeria than lagos and abuja. So I'm really pleased that we started talking about a quai bomb and that you're very familiar with it. Wonderful, that's absolutely brilliant. How often do you go back? Do you go back often?

Emem Udom: 8:47

I like march, you know I'm going to be going in december, okay, to see my family and see my siblings and I need to. Just, you know, oh, damn time for me. One, you know. And how's the food? Yeah, also not give you that, that flavor from your mouth. That is just this. There's something about your mouth cooking for you, right?

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 9:08

yeah, I can't get it nice, that's so good. I'm really pleased that you talked about the food because, yes, nigeria is known for its jello fries, but we're more than jello fries. Nigeria is known for fufu, I think you know a lot of people are trying that, but they don't realize that there's just so much. You know diversity in the food and it's all really good. I love Nigerian food as well, so thank you for highlighting that. Let's dive into you some more now, because that was a really good introduction to your part of Nigeria. You are currently a product manager, yeah, and from what I understand, you know you've worked with top tier clients in the financial industry, developing products that address the advertising and customer relations needs, but then you've also launched some social enterprises. So Operation Feed the Streets you know Grassroot Initiative. Can you tell me a little bit about Operation Feed the Streets? You know grassroots initiative. Can you tell me a little bit about Operation Feed?

Emem Udom: 10:08

the Streets. Okay, that was an initiative I launched during my NIC, so that's the National Youth Service Corps Program.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 10:17

So that's the National Youth Service Corps Program that all Nigerian graduates, university graduates undergo to take one year after they graduate to serve. Okay, so you launched it then and this was in 2022, after you graduated 2022.

Emem Udom: 10:34

Okay, so I gathered my friends together. I was like you know, let's do something, let's do park. People are hungry. People are hungry and let's just do park. And that was how we launched Operation Food Districts. Unfortunately, we didn't continue, but now I'm ready to take it up again because I'd launched other social enterprises at the time. But it's something I'm willing to combine now with other things I do. For example, I have trained over 100 people of area of disability and it's something I want to incorporate into what I do right now to just do more for the society.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 11:09

That's wonderful. I'll explore all of that. So I just want to stick with Operation Fit the Streets for a little bit, because at the time what you did was you rallied volunteers, you got, you secured donations, you organized food drives, that. So just tell me a little bit about how the program worked. It was aimed at combating hunger by feeding the homeless in the states, a different state to Lagos and to your home state of Akwa Ibom. This was in Ondo State, right? So yeah, Okay.

Emem Udom: 11:41

So, like I said, my volunteers and my friends because I mean they're willing to support me okay, and I came in. No one got to go let's, let's do this. And the pro funds funding came in from them, not necessarily from other entities like ng, other ngs or the government. It was like my friends, which were the volunteers, funded this movement, those who could bring drinks for drinks, those who could do this. It was really amazing and we fed people. I, before we even started, there was no money anywhere. I mean, how much were they paying us? The three thousand lira? How would I feed people with the three thousand lira?

Emem Udom: 12:16

But at the time I started a business you know, my first business in our life, a cooking business, because I loved cooking. I loved cooking, so I I used that to sustain myself because I knew that after 3 000 it's not going anywhere. So I had saved a lot and my friends and the volunteers really are my friends because I still call them my friends. They came in and they supported and were able to feed people. I used to have pictures that I changed my phone. Yeah, that's why I need to export the pictures on on drives so that I don't lose memories of these amazing initiators, but I think I should have a picture of my little dina about it.

Emem Udom: 12:49

That was like two years ago, but it was really nice and it was really amazing seeing that people are actually very hungry and I. It's something that I'm still very passionate about, because whenever I climbed K2 bridge or other bridges in Lagos and even at home, I would see those people sitting down there hungry and see children kids running everywhere at the bus stop. I did like this, actually and see it's painful. Kids people should not have to go through that.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 13:20

If we had a working system, maybe we would have, but for those who are listening, who would not see this. Basically it's children who are pointing to their mouths and just begging for food, right, yeah, it's this really sad sight to see, and all over the streets. Let's move on to your passion for change, because you didn't stop there. You know, you were encouraged by the success of Operation Feed the Streets and only last year you founded SkillsT and Get Into Tech as well. Why don't you tell us a little bit about what SkillsT is and what Get Into Tech is?

Emem Udom: 14:03

Okay, skillst is like the umbrella body original code gets into tech but it's not here to see. Okay, excuses, just empowering people. More like giving people clarity. I've trained over 100 people of indian optimization variety of clarity. I've coached people and my last take is it that was last year, july. I'm like let's do something. People want to go to tech. People want to understand what tech is, but they think it's only about programming you don't know. They asked us to tell product management, customer success, diverse copyrighting content writing how about this one wants to write codes and it. How about this wants to write quotes and it's, it's a I mean it's, it's funny. So I came up with that initiative with my friend, ayomidia Atitade and my colleague at the time, obayemi, and one of my mentors. That really brought me into tech. Um, it's like if I'm working, we started, uh, we did it for two Saturdays where we told uh, empower people. People I know expanded their knowledge on what tech really is.

Emem Udom: 15:02

Tech is not just about writing quotes. The fact that you can operate your phone, that's technology. You can pick up a remote, you can change, so you don't have to write quotes before you can change your world. In tech, life has come beyond just doing things manually and analog-wise so you don't have to feel like, oh, you're left out. You're not left out. If you are someone who loves to solve problems, you know how to manage people, my sister, you can go into product management. If you are someone who wants to ensure that your customer is satisfied with whatever product or service you're offering, you can go into customer success. You don't have to write codes to enjoy tech, to be in tech, to to customer success. You don't have to write codes to to enjoy tech, to be in tech, to love tech, to leave tech and you know, do tech.

Emem Udom: 15:45

So we came up with that last year and it was a success. Besides that, I'd done different coaching. In fact, I'm currently doing one for some people that my friend invited me to teach or coach for the time. So I mean I was impressed by some of the answers and I decided to mentor them for like a week on the career of disability and career clarity, and I also um joined other initiatives to mentor people on career clarity because I realized through people that reach out to me on linkedin that a lot of people are still confused on what to do career-wise and the advice I have, or the things I learned. Now, I wish someone had told me, when I was doing NYC too, that this is how to go about it, how to go further than this.

Emem Udom: 16:24

So it's something I'm passionate about, and I realized something recently too that whenever I see a young girl that has potential I could do more. I'm always asking them like, why are you here, why you can do more? And I'm like, eh, I just want to finish. I'm like, no, you don't have to wait. Skip your noba so it's leading you to. You know, launch an umbrella.

Emem Udom: 16:47

But career in a circle for people that really confused about your career, it's and it's teaching a launched already, but I want to relaunch because I think, do some things right and I'm I'm not ashamed to say that you're making mistakes right. Of course, I'm willing to answer this. It's also an umbrella initiative under skips. Thisps is like the founding body, but getting to tech program is like part of it. Career in a circle is going to be a part of it, and we're going to empower women, not only women people, because I've had my DMs right now is more full on my WhatsApp I've already spotted some messages and I'm just really passionate. I don't like to see people struggle when they actually have it in them to do it. I don't like to see people struggle when they actually have it in them to do it, but they've must sat down with themselves to, you know, to actually want to bring out that juice, that just sauce, you know, and something I'm really passionate about.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 17:31

Wonderful and SkillsT. Just to go back to that, it's a platform. Is it a digital platform or is it?

Emem Udom: 17:39

just Not yet digital. It's going to the cold virus virus. It's just that um the umbrella. But yeah, we are okay. From this october I'll be bringing you know other people that are young like me, who are doing great things, can different spaces to actually mentor people again on how to career clarity, how to do skills gap test, how to just know what you have and see what you have, get what you want and how to you know, improve on it. But you're giving me ideas. I've never had the idea of making it go digital, you know, but I think you're giving me fresh ideas. I should thank you. Thank you for it, you're welcome. I consider going digital with that. I really consider it just thing.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 18:19

I mean, what you're doing is quite important and we cannot get enough of that. Certainly, and I'm really pleased that you're doing that, because the more people will can get into tech, the better it will be, so that we can stay in step with the rapidly changing global landscape. You know in that area, so really pleased about that and really pleased that you're doing something about it. So really pleased about that and really pleased that you're doing something about it. I, just before we finish you're also a passionate writer. You know you've written a book called Jar of Oil, which reflects your belief in the power of storytelling. Do you want to tell us a little bit? Because I understand that there are insights and anecdotes and practical advice for navigating life's challenges and reaching one's full potential. Do you want to tell us a few of those? You know that you want to leave the listeners with, just before we finish.

Emem Udom: 19:10

I'm a Christian right, job was a book about passion and devotion to the things of God last year and I told me oh, you're going to write a book. I'm like, write a book? I don't, I write. I mean I create content on linkedin and people are able to relate to my content a lot and I've got the messages. I've met different people from all walks of life because of the content I put out there. I'm like I don't know how it's me to write a book.

Emem Udom: 19:33

Well, and always be reminded me of a time where I was seven years old and my mom had put me in my first journal. I can't even forget, I forgot, but I remember and I won't forget again. And I still in our library at home where I had written different stories because my mom trained me or trained us then, I don't know, she really tried, not in storytelling manner. My mom and my dad my mom literally bought books. I can remember some books says like um, I bought cocoa diet, village boy. No, we grew up reading a lot of books, right, so I just had it to be when I was around about seven years. On, eight years of age, I see my mama has the book now, so I scribbled different stories I wanted to publish and I was really passionate at the time, thinking I'm going to publish a book. But I felt just as about that life grows and trying to navigate like I challenge you, I retire for for God. That always reminded me. Then I'm like, okay, I will do so much more.

Emem Udom: 20:27

Then I remember I had led me to read the book of Kings about Elisha after widow's oil, right, elisha had performed the same miracle that Elisha did so and there was a new perspective. Nobody ever explained to me, popped in my spirit about mentorship, about you getting the oil and also giving us the oil. So the book is just telling you that you have that oil, you. So you can monetize that oil by giving it out to others. That's how you make your own money back and, syntax, change your world. So, john, was actually that book that I'll talk about my challenges. I made some big improvements at the time because I mean, I wanted to make a big but I was confused on how to do so and this professor and I was. I really wanted to know what I wanted with life and this professor called me an umbanji. I should call for a spiritual path. If it could see I should call for a spiritual path and I would gain clarity, but instead, instead, I gain more conscription. I'm growing up in an MFM muscle of fire.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 21:24

Okay, there are a number of things that you're kind of mentioning which I'd like to dive into, which I think probably needs a little bit of explanation. But just before we do that, do you want to tell us about the jar of oil? Maybe one or two? So I love the fact that. Yeah, you know it's really important to use your gifts and your talents. You know, monetize them, help other people. So not just get it poured in you, but also pour in others. Do you want to give us one or two other anecdotes or practical advice that one could use for navigating in life's challenges and reaching full potential?

Emem Udom: 22:02

I like what you said giving out what you have and making money from it and also impacting the world Something I really pointed out in chapter 2 and 3, then I talk about constant stuttering of the word. If you're a Christian, I get direct examples from the Bible, like Deborah, who was in a patriarchal society at the time, but she was able to grind ice as that woman that did so much and they won the battle. So I pointed out those that if you want to actually do great things in life, number one go back to your source. Go back to your source. You need to know your source. Where are you drawing strength from? Where are you drawing inspiration from? Where are you drawing wisdom? From? Where you're an inspiration for, where you're a wizard? For you have to stay with your source. You do not go great or you do not do things and not forget the source, the thing that was bringing those things to you. So the most important thing is, if you want to shine, go back to your source. That was one thing I really pointed and emphasized on. Nobody wants to study the word, study proverbs, study the disasters they are going to like, get those books in the bible are going to expand your rights or your mindset or how to do like. Imagine. I'll study proverbs all the time and I saw the facts that do not stand as a shorty for somebody. If you are not sure of the person's character you know I was I was shocked. I saw he's the one inside the bible and people are not reading this thing, you know. So proverbs gave me wisdom and how to land good life. It still does. Ecstasy did the same. So I I really pointed out those facts. For people that go back.

Emem Udom: 23:28

Go back, you are confused because you are not connected. You know, when a mother is not connected to a child in the womb, something can happen to that child, or physically. If you're not connected to your parents or to someone who dropped and draw strength from, then there's going to be this confusion. And you know if you have a good mom or good dad, it's good to be connected to them because from them you learn experiences. From them you can even get what nobody ever, whoever, told me from there. I can get inside that information how to do life well, how did it life, and how you can do yours better. So going back to your source is very key and it's a key takeaway from that book. As of anything, I'll tell anybody about anything. Go back to your source, not your source, just take your source I love that honestly.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 24:09

um, and if I can summarize the two things which you've said, it's really good to the things where you can draw strength from the source of your strength, because you need that for the journey. And, of course, getting wisdom, getting information. As an economist, I really do believe that information is a power resource. You cannot afford not to be knowledgeable, especially about the things that matter and pertain to your own life. So that's wonderful, really good advice. You started alluding to some challenges that you faced and I imagine that, for you to have done all this, you recognized opportunities for sure, but the thing that's giving you grit, that's giving you a backbone, that's inspired. You has been born out of challenges, so do you want to share? You know one or two of those, just very quickly.

Emem Udom: 25:00

Okay. So back to the story. Yeah, Growing up with my family I mean, my dad is an amazing man, by the way but I saw that a lot of my cousins or you know, people that I just heard of or knew of, were waiting for a government job. I voted for my name to come out for that issue. I'm waiting for this, I'm waiting for a connection, and I said to myself I said I'll do great things and I will not do great things by not being one. I will not do great things by waiting on the gospel and that's true. I will not do great things by just sitting and watching and folding my hands waiting for somebody to come and say to me I'm going to do it out of passion.

Emem Udom: 25:38

So that led me during my service to going out Okay now, to going out that okay now I stopped going to church because I just didn't even know what happened to me, but I just kept going to church. So I felt like I could not hear God by myself anymore. I needed someone to hear God for me concerning this matter, so that I can know what to do, and I was trusting God for some certain things at the time that I would like to really mention or go into. But I was trusting God. I also go for certain miracles, so I felt like I can do it on my own and I needed somebody to speak with God because, I mean, I was not close to Him. And I remember I confronted one of my friends during service and he said, oh, he has a store. That is really powerful. And my old thinking is let me talk to him now. I demand that we are non-Banji. We need to say this very clearly.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 26:24

Let's just break that down for those who probably don't understand what that is. So they called you a witch, you know, like an evil witch, like what you see in the movies. Okay, so, all right, this is not like somebody who is a weaker and kind of no, this is like a witch who casts spells. Okay, all right, carry right, carry on.

Emem Udom: 26:45

So I'm like oh, my goodness Me, you know, I was confused and I was even more scared. And do you know what that led to? I started hallucinating. I started hearing my name.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 26:55

Oh, wow.

Emem Udom: 26:56

I was just ending the fear I could not stay in my room anymore and the moment I was looking for a spiritual bath, I wasn't going to be alright.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 27:04

And what does a spiritual bath entail?

Emem Udom: 27:08

I was going to take a bath at the river side. It was going to vac me or something like that, so that the evil spirit could leave me, and the clothes I would bring, they would burn it with kerosene so that the evil spirit would leave me. Then I would go fresh, and you know fresh and you know impression according to them, and I said I can't take his spiritual path. I was scared because and he told me not to invite anybody or tell anybody I was coming to a kitty. I should come alone, come quiet, so that the evil spirits will not be aware.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 27:36

I'll just come and when you say a kitty, that's another state. It's not the only way you live and I'm like I can't come.

Emem Udom: 27:48

I'm from the one of MFM that told me this thing was it was a scam. Why am I scared? Why am I entertaining these people?

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 27:56

and MFM is another movement, another church movement, who are notorious for radical kind of prayers and I was like like I was, I was scared and I just let it go.

Emem Udom: 28:09

I remember this friend went on my behalf, so I'm not that pastor now. Now say that she bring you big fat ram ram. Oh, you know ram yes, big fat ram.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 28:19

Okay, a ram's like you know, like lamb. Okay, for those who don't know.

Emem Udom: 28:24

Okay, carry on a big packer and three thousand naira. So they, you know, kill the ram and pray for me. Then I was going to see my records but and I shouldn't use the ram to cook. You know what you're about. People call sarah because it says my witch um witch mates. Well, my coven mates are hungry, the spirits.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 28:44

So I didn't have to feed people to feed them in the spirit, but you were killing the ram in the physical. But they'll be fed in the spiritual.

Emem Udom: 28:50

Interesting, okay and I remember that I was a little longer scared at the time. I told the man okay, I've heard well my mind, I know I'm also going to do it and I also going to be sincere. They're my friend anymore. So after sometimes I just got distant because I mean I don't want the spiritual work you do, I, I'm not interested anymore. This is this is scam. This is just scam. I'm not doing this. And that was I stopped. But I didn't realize that my friend mary, at the time I invited me to the church my mentor, now pastor eliaza, and that was how I actually reconnected to god, because he said something. He said you do not need any means to go to God, you don't need any means to communicate with God. You are a child already. And he laughed when I told him about the expression I had of your point. And he said do you have the spirit of God in you? And Obanje is up bunk. Which one is up, bunk? Which one is down bunk? That just made me laugh. Which one is up or which one is down? That just made me laugh. Which one is up, which one is down? And I laughed.

Emem Udom: 29:47

But that was the turning point for me. I became more fervent in my prayers, in my work, because I actually took it seriously. I knew that there was no other way. I need to go to him myself. That was why I wrote that book, that first chapter go to yourself. It's not. You really died into your life. People would say things you that said to that that's who you are, that's what I am. Nothing can happen, nothing could change. You know. People just stay stuck so no know who you are and it only comes from knowing god. So that was why I wrote that book. One of the reasons yes, that is really true.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 30:18

if you don't know who you are, there's no end to all sorts of ideas and people who will tell you who you should be. So that's really good, such wisdom from somebody who's so young, wonderful MM. Currently, I understand that you serve as Director of Media and Branding for an organization called Women in Africa, and you were recently honored with the Africa Volunteer of the Year Award at Shicho Women Conference, which is an initiative organized by women in Africa. Well done, you're doing amazing things. I'm just so pleased that we were able to dive into a little bit about your life and you've told us look for anyone who's thinking about going to Nigeria.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 30:58

You're not going to be called a witch, obviously, but it's just saying when you have 200 million people, all sorts of things can happen and, honestly, there's a reason why nollywood is doing as well as it is, which is, you know, a movie industry. A lot of the stories, some of them will have a hint of stuff that's happening in real life. So, yeah, so is there. Just before we go, if there's one thing, so two things I'd like you to think about just very quickly one thing you're most proud of that you've achieved in your life, and then two, when you look ahead, one thing you'd really like to achieve. What might those things be?

Emem Udom: 31:42

okay, one of my greatest achievements, I also say, is going back to god, because everything I have done now and the benefit from that experience of going back to my spouse- so you're actually quite.

Emem Udom: 31:55

Your faith is quite important to you yes, it's quite like it's the most important thing to me. The one of the greatest achievements of my life was all is going back to God and doing everything. You see, all these ideas came from a place of prayer. All these things you see today women in Africa came from a connection I lived in, telling me that the Holy Spirit had told him to send me a message and it felt like I had a solution to these problems in my hands. And we went to Okinawa last year and we just talked together.

Emem Udom: 32:27

Then one woman in Africa she came up, mr Patrick just told me about it and he said I know you did a good job. Do you know why? I actually came in as a volunteer? I came in as a volunteer, right, and I was made director of Mediapart because no one just couldn't let me go. And during our ceremony last Saturday she said some really heartwarming things to me and I've heard a lot of people tell me these things and not to bribe, but it means a lot to me and I am not good to take that for granted. I said I would do more, I would be more present, I would do more, I would help more, I would dedicate my life to serving people, for that's it's really important for me and as I look ahead, all I see is greatness.

Emem Udom: 33:09

To be honest, I see myself standing on world stages giving people clarity about life. I see myself standing on world stages representing god, representing nectaria, representing family, doing things that normally people my age cannot fathom, most people, not all. Well, people are different things as well. I want to do things that will shake the world positively, not negatively, you know. So I see myself spanning the world stages. I see myself traveling a lot and, yeah, doing basic things for humanity, for women, for children, for men, for society, for confused people, people that lack clarity, for people in general. So I see myself doing that. I see myself becoming a better manager and going into branding Brantic is an expression for me, and I know I would go to consultancy and strategy management as well. So a lot of things I see myself going into.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 34:13

Wonderful and I can tell you I'll be keeping an eye out for you and I'll be cheering for you as you hit that world stage. Mm, you're definitely a good ambassador for Nigeria. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences as a world changer with us and, of course, sharing about the beauty of Nigeria, nigerian food and, of course, the beaches. Hopefully, we'll be able to explore that a little bit more at some later stage. Thank you, yeah.

Emem Udom: 34:42

I'm Phoebe. Thank you so much.

AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: 34:45

Thank you so much for joining me on today's episode of World Changes Podcast. I hope you're feeling as inspired as I am by today's conversation. Remember the power to create changes within each of us. If you were inspired by today's episode, don't forget to subscribe, share it with a friend and leave us a review. It really helps to spread the word and inspire even more world changers. And be sure to follow us on social media at World Changers PC for updates, behind the scenes content and more inspiring stories. Until next time, keep exploring, keep making a difference and remember you can be a world changer.