UCHE UMEAGUKWU: My lifetime ambition is to end hunger in Africa

Nigeria-born Uche Umeagukwu based in the United States placed the country on the world map when she beat over 54 contenders from other countries to emerge the pioneer crowned beauty queen of Miss Africa World 2018 pageant last November. Queen Uche who returned to a rousing welcome during her homecoming for the first time in years speaks with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf on her pet project, philanthropy and passion for humanity. Excerpts:

HOW did you emerge?

As they said, the pageant is all about business, beauty and brains. Of course, the organisers looked at me and saw that I personified those qualities and the judges made the right decision and that was all based on my experience in business. I run a wig and hair extension company in the US. And I have been running this business for the past 10 years. And l also provide hair pieces for cancer patients. What l do is, people come to my office in Los Angeles, and they donate their hair and I and make it into a wigs, which I send to hospitals to be delivered to cancer patients  – maybe a child or woman who is doing chemotherapy or suffering any kind of hair loss. And sometimes I do bring the donors and the beneficiaries together and it is usually a very emotional moment for them.

How long have you done this? What’s it before or after winning the pageant?

No, the whole thing started sometime in 2008 when I lost my mum to cancer. She died at the St. Nicolas Hospital in Lagos. I recalled then that when she was going through her hair loss, anytime I sent her a wig, she would be very happy whenever I talked to her. She was always excited and used to confide in me that anytime she wore a wig she felt confident. So when she passed on, I said, okay I can continue with this. And after talking to some cancer patients in California, where I live, I became convinced that it’s something I should be doing. So I interviewed a few cancer patients as to what they feel about wearing, they all sounded very excited. They said they feel renewed and confident when they wear a wig and all that and that was a turning point for me. It was at that point I started reaching out to people and asking them to donate their hair and thereafter make wigs out of it and all that.

And you don’t expect anything in return?

No, never. I see this simply as my own way of contributing to the society.  That is giving hope to the hopeless. I get a lot of mails every now and then from people who have benefited one way or the other from the modest contributions we’re making in that regard, especially the survivors stay in touch with me.

And you have done this for 10 years abroad and in Nigeria?

Sure, I have done this mostly in the place where I reside, that’s the US but not in Nigeria, unfortunately.
Are there plans to extend the same gestures to Nigerians at home too?

Sure, why not? I can be reached by anyone through my platform, Queen Uche Foundation (queenuchefoundation.org). All the information about the process is contained in the website, so people can chat me up.

How did you come about hair making? Do you have a background in that area?

I did Political Science in University of Nigeria, Nsuka, UNN, Enugu. As for my background in wigs and hair, my mom used to own a salon.  So anytime we’re on break, my dad took me to her shop and I stuck around. So from there, I sort of developed interest in it.

How long are you going to be wearing the crown?

I’ll be handing over the crown in November 2019.

Can you tell us more about your organisation?

The organisation is 10years, and we do more of giveaway. Unfortunately, I haven’t done this giveaway in a larger scale because from my understanding there’s no amount of money you can give cancer patients that would be enough.  But as for hair and wigs, it’s something they cherish so much and that’s why I have had to focus more on that area over the years.

You talked about setting up businesses. Can you expatiate on this?

Well, I’m also involved in cosmetics. I’m anxiously working on a cosmetic line that will be coming up soon. We’re just about wrapping up the designing for the packaging and stuff.

Sounds interesting. Most celebrities nowadays dream up businesses along this line…

(Laughs). Everything I have done has my brand name, Uche Hair, Wigs, Foundation and all.

How old is your foundation?

It’s 10 years and it’s based in Los Angeles.

As the pioneer Miss Africa World beauty queen, what are your plans for the continent of Africa as a whole?

During my homecoming as Miss Africa World, I had the opportunity of visiting a facility for street children, specifically, the Out of School Children Foundation (OSCEF) by Mr. Tosin Kelani in Ishodi axis of Lagos. When I saw what he is doing with his foundation, I just fell in love with it and we’re already collaborating in some way to help drive my pet programme, Kid ‘N Hunger, a programme established to eradicate hunger around the world, economic employment of local small and medium scale business across Africa and others.

When I came back, OSCEF made me their brand ambassador. My pet project is not just about quenching hunger in Africa but also supporting all such worthy causes in that direction. Currently too, I’m going to merge Kids n Hunger with the new project that I’m doing right now in Nigeria. And my plan is to see if I can push it across the rest of the continent. There are over 10 million out of school children in the country alone. I’m sure the figure could be worse off in other parts of Africa too. Who knows what’s going on in Ghana, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and the rest of them? As I said, I’m not God but I’ll try my best. I’m starting from Nigeria, no doubt, to help these kids get into school; not only getting into school but for them to stay in school. I have seen most of their report cards. I also hope to extend this to Tanzania. I’m already working with some organisations in Tanzania. I showed them what I did and they’re happy. As a matter of fact, they’re anxiously waiting to receive me anytime soon. I plan going to Tanzania to unveil the out of school empowerment programme there. They’ve since made their intentions known about adopting the out of school programme. From Tanzania, we might move to Ghana and other parts of Africa God willing.

And I believe with the help of public-spirited individuals and corporate bodies out there, we can achieve a lot.  As I told the lady who interviewed me on public television, if I get endorsement, most of the proceeds will go to OSCEF because what I saw in their facility really touched my heart. When I visited them and saw where the kids were sleeping, I was just crying on camera because I couldn’t imagine how a child would be sleeping in that condition.

Beyond your tenure, are you looking at continuing with this project, especially your support for OSCEF?

Everything I do, I’m going to do in my lifetime. That’s my goal.  When the OSCEF approached me to be their brand ambassador, I looked at the future and I said, I think this would be a lifetime project for me. Whether it’s OSCEF, Kids ‘N Hunger or Africa as a whole, I’ll keep empowering women and youths, bringing investors to invest in Nigeria, like we did last month. So it has to be a lifetime for me. As far as I’m concerned, no child should go to bed without food. For every child who stays out of school or don’t have food on the table we all have a role to play in that. As they say, little drops of water makes the mighty ocean. We all can do our bit to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged out there. Even when I hand over my crown, I’ll still be part of OSCEF; I’ll still be part of Kids N Hunger and all.  It’s all part of me now.

Having sojourned abroad for over 12 years now, can you tell us what you miss about Nigeria?

I love Nigerian food and I cook a lot of it there.  But in terms of bonding with your friends and family, it’s not something you readily enjoy because you’re in a different culture where such things are not fully appreciated. So when I came back home for the first time in many years, I had to touch base with people I haven’t seen for over a decade. Naturally, we spent the whole day reminiscing about the past and thinking about the future and stuff.  It was so much fun for me. These are things you can hardly enjoy over there

What value is attached to the pageant?

Well, I don’t know. (Laughs). Of course, winning the Miss Africa World Beauty Pageant has been a good and welcome addition to my life. First of all, the pageant offers a scholarship for you to proceed on your education; they’re not giving cars and all what not. As I said, this is a very unique pageant. They give you something that can be of impact and change your life for the better. When you’re given a scholarship, it’s a life-changing thing compared to when you’re giving a car and all that. And at the same time, I have the opportunity to meet VIPs including government officials, decision-makers, members of the diplomatic corps and very eminent people who I won’t have met otherwise. So it opens doors which otherwise would have been shut to you.

During my homecoming, I have had the honour and privilege to meet with royal fathers, including the Oba of Lagos, Obama Rilwan Akiolu, who invested me with a traditional title. A week before I came home to Nigeria, the Anambra women in the United States honoured me with a philanthropy award, because I support a lot of organisations even as non-member. I give them products and encourage them. The Mayor of the city of California also honoured me with an award. However, when I came to Nigeria, I went to see Oba Shakirudeen Kuti, the Elewu of Ewuland in Oshodi, he said I’m not leaving the palace without a title. He gave me ‘Yeye Oge’. I went to my Igwe in Uga, Anambra State; he gave me the title of ‘Adadioranma of Uga.’ I’m very impressed with what I’m seeing in my country. To cap it all, my governor, Willy Obiano, made me Anambra State Ambassador on Diaspora. The governor wants his people to come back home. So, that will be my job. For me, I believe hard work pays off. When I was doing what I was doing in my little corner in Los Angeles I never knew people were noticing and today, I’m being recognised here and there.  I’m the first international queen from Aguata, Anambra State. The favours I have enjoyed since wearing the Miss Africa World beauty crown are so enormous that I can’t enumerate all in one interview. It’s the Lord’s doing and it’s marvellous in my sight.

Who influenced your growing up?

My mom. She has a huge influence on me. I looked up to her. She was a fashion designer and a very strong woman. I look up to her, but unfortunately she’s no more. She passed away with cancer in 2008. I still keep my mum’s legacy. I have a foundation called ‘Uche Foundation’ that makes free hair (wigs) for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. I donate free wigs to them.

What were your memorable experiences growing up?

I grew up in Enugu, which was the place I was born. I hope to bring down the projects I have in Lagos to Enugu. I have a project called ‘Out of School Children Empowerment Foundation’. We bring out-of-school children back to school. I want to expand that to Enugu and also empower women and youths.

What do you miss most about your mum?

She’s a strong woman. She always wanted me to be focused and that I shouldn’t let anything distract me. She told me to always be on point by dressing well, wear my high heels, apply my lipstick, and go wherever I want. She always wanted to make sure I’m focused, which was the most important thing to her.

What’s your style?

I like to dress up, even if I’m not going anywhere. I don’t like to appear casual. I like to be fully dressed at all times. I dress up, wear my high heels, even if I’m going down the street. My mum always wanted me to dress up, saying I wouldn’t know whom I’d meet at any point in time.

What are your most cherished fashion accessories?

I like handbags. My shoes have to be high, like 6 inches and above, even though I’m 5.11 and half feet tall. When I’m on heels, I’m 6.11 feet tall.

What’s your advice for young women who want to be like you?

My advice to young women is to be focused, don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t.