By Morenike Taire
Ebun Ejirinde Emelogu was 33 and, interestingly, heavily pregnant when she plunged into the uncertain world of business, but her journey did not begin ther. Long before entrepreneurship, she had been unconsciously preparing for it.
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“I literally grew up going to work with my mum, which exposed me to the professional world from as early as age four. I admired her deeply and dreamt of working just like her someday,” she revealed to Vanguard.
At 17, everything changed. She lost her dear mother, and her world fell apart.
“I lost interest in studying and desperately needed something,anything,to distract me from the grief.That was how my career journey began.”
The multilingual young Ebun became a freelance translator, working and translating documents from Italian to English for two years for the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO in Italy. The experience showed her the power of skills, how what you know can empower and sustain you. It also inspired her to pursue a degree in History and International Studies, with a dream of becoming a diplomat.
“I graduated as the best in my department and went on to compete with over 300 candidates for what became my first post-graduation job at First registrars. I loved everything about it; the rush, the pressure, the diversity, the exposure. I worked hard, learned fast, and soaked up every bit of knowledge I could. My language skills again, opened new doors for me, introducing me to people and opportunities across different industries.”
Over time,she worked in different roles,as a personal assistant,conference hostess,and relationship officer across finance,progress and hospitality before eventually berthing with education. According to Ebun, she gained skills in negotiation, relationship management, data analysis, marketing, and customer experience.Representing a foreign institution was to become the turning point for her, introducing her to the world of international education, a field that would later define much of her professional identity.Emelogu pointed to motherhood as a major drawback for women in careers and business. She explains: “I loved my work, but my body needed rest. It’s a vulnerable stage for many women, the point where you can easily lose yourself, focus solely on childbearing and forget who you are professionally. I needed versatility, but back than, remote work wasn’t common. I found myself caught between being a new mum and surviving a demanding workplace.”
After her first child, she had slipped into postpartum depression.
“My life had completely changed,and I was trying to find balance between my home,my baby,and my career. I eventually got fired, a painful experience, but one that became mentally liberating. That moment forced me to ask: Who am I? Why is my value not making impact?
“It also taught me a hard truth; leadership can either build people up or break them down. A good leader can inspire, while a poor one can completely erode confidence and potential. I knew I had to rediscover myself and this took time”.
By 2015, she was back on her feet, working with a highly reputable and high-performing organisation. Though fulfilled, she began to sense a deeper calling.
“I realised that despite the success around me, one size doesn’t fit all. Clients had different challenges that generic solutions simply couldn’t solve. That thought stayed with me. I wanted to create something bespoke,something that truly understood people’s needs,helped organisations grow,and build human capacity in a more impactful and meaningful way.”
That
Dixon & Ricks: Empowering Nigerian youth Through Innovation and Career Development
Dixon & Ricks, a Nigerian social enterprise, is dedicated to improving the employability of young Nigerians and Africans through innovative programs and a commitment to continuous adaptation. Founded by ebun Emelogu, the company has evolved from a small consulting firm into a multifaceted association with four subsidiaries: a consulting arm, education support services, the Y.A.P Career Center, and The Edgar International College.
Emelogu emphasizes that innovation is “endless and non-negotiable” for Dixon & Ricks.This is exemplified by the creation of the Y.A.P Career Centre, designed to address the challenges faced by young job seekers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company proactively digitized its operations, a trend it continues to pursue. A key strength of dixon & Ricks lies in its ability to customize platforms, materials, and delivery models to suit specific target audiences.
Recognizing the importance of multilingualism in today’s globalized world, the Y.A.P Career centre now incorporates language learning into its offerings. Emelogu, fluent in English, Italian, French, and Yoruba, highlights how her own linguistic skills have considerably contributed to her professional success.
Addressing Unemployment: A Call for National Internship Policy
Emelogu believes that the current National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program is insufficient to tackle Nigeria’s escalating unemployment rates. She proposes the implementation of a national internship policy that would require organizations to offer a minimum number of internships annually, specifically targeting NYSC graduates. This policy, she argues, would foster practical skill development and strengthen the national workforce.
In addition to the internship policy, Emelogu advocates for education-focused grants and lower interest rates on business loans to support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) like Dixon & Ricks.”As a social enterprise focused on impact and capacity-building, we are ready to do the work; to train, place, and prepare young people for the job market. But we need supportive policies and structures that enable and encourage these efforts,” she stated.
dixon & Ricks has expanded significantly since its inception, now encompassing The Edgar International College, a pathway institution for students preparing for university or master’s programs. Emelogu attributes her success to the foundational experience gained during her years in paid employment, which provided her with the structure and knowledge necessary for effective business building.
Reflecting on her journey, Emelogu expresses a sense of gratitude and purpose. “It’s been intensely challenging, painful, expensive, and, as I mentioned earlier, sometimes lonely. But it has also been an incredibly beautiful journey of self-discovery, grit, and courage. Seeing the impact we have made on our clients and students, is truly priceless.” Despite the challenges, she states she has “no regrets; just gratitude, growth, and purpose.” she acknowledges that much work remains, but remains deeply committed to the mission of empowering young Africans.