Identify your purpose in life…… #PAW Edobong Akpabio – #Nigeria

My name is Edobong Akpabio. I am a business
consultant by profession and an agropreneur by vocation. I am also a minister
of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe that my entire purpose in life is to
give people around me, a better chance at life, whether as individuals, in
their homes, career and business. My profile will tell a lot more.

WHAT FUELS ME?

1.
Intelligence

2.
Kindness

3.
Passion

MY GREATEST INFLUENCE:

My faith. I am a Christian.

MY TOP THREE ROLE
MODELS:

· My late father, Obong Imeh R. Etuk. He was an
exceptional man, highly cerebral and full of integrity. He always taught me to
believe in myself and that I could do anything and everything I put my heart to.

· My husband, Mr. Eno A. Akpabio. He took off
from where my Dad stopped. He has always supported my ambitions, no matter how
bizarre and has become the ‘sounding board’ of all my initiatives.

My auntie, Mrs. Idongesit Ebe. She taught me
to be a strong woman, right from when I was a teenager. Her hand-holding and
mentoring helped to shape the way I’ve lapped up my father’s lessons and my
husband’s love and support.

IN THE NEXT FIVE
YEARS…..

In the next 5 years, I would be bequeathing one of the most
modern research centres in Organic Agriculture to the world. I have friends and
partners that I discuss nearly every aspect of my life with because I believe
that ‘two good heads are always better than one’.

THE AFRICAN WOMAN’S CHALLENGE:

I believe African women face 2 major challenges;

1.
A culture that diminishes their role and worth in the society
and

2.
A consequent lack of positive self esteem

Whether in my family, business or social constituencies, I
ensure that the women I encounter each day get a positive sense of themselves.
I happen to smile a lot; hug a lot; and people have told me I’m a very warm
person. I give these gifts to these women with all pleasure. It has helped me a
lot and I believe it has helped them too. A few years ago, I developed a Job
Description for the position of Housewife/Mother. When I presented it to a
group of women in the church, it was hilarious at first but many of the women
appreciated their role more.

WHAT
I DO TO RELAX:

I love to read, so I relax with a good book. I also love to
garden.

MY –
I.C.E. [INSPIRE|CELEBRATE|EMPOWER] VISION

If
we don’t, we’ll deprive the world of sustainable progress. Let’s engage them
more. We are very relational, so let’s widen the friendship circle. In so
doing, we’ll connect with more women, un-clutter decades of dangerous
socialization and point us to a new and interesting direction. I love that
African proverb that says, “If you want to walk fast walk alone,
if you want to walk far, walk together!”

MY
AFRICAN UNION PLANS:

Global Women Ambassador. I would reach out to as many women’s
groups as I can all over the world to drive issues of growth (all-round growth)
and empowerment; and to release the innate potential of women to contribute to
increase in world development and decrease in global trauma.