By George Ozalla
Deputy Director of the National Gallery of Art, Dame Nneka Ijeoma, has called on professionals across different fields to uphold integrity, safeguard their credibility and continuously acquire new skills to remain relevant and successful in an increasingly competitive environment.
She gave the advice while speaking at a meeting of the League of Anambra Journalists Abuja (LAJA) held on July 2, where she shared insights from her professional journey and encouraged participants to embrace lifelong learning without compromising ethical standards.
Dame Nneka described herself as a professional who has successfully combined public service with entrepreneurship, further stating that developing multiple competencies should not distract professionals from maintaining excellence in their primary careers.
She disclosed that she is a professional cake baker and a member of the International Cake Exploration Society (ICES), where she currently serves as one of the association’s zonal leaders.
She explained that she initially intended to decline the leadership position because of the demands of her official responsibilities but eventually accepted after members of the association persuaded her to serve.
She further stated that beyond her public service career, she is involved in yogurt production, event planning and catering while remaining committed to her profession as a chartered accountant and member of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN).
“Anywhere you call me, you will see me. But I still know that I have a profession. I am a chartered accountant by profession,” she said.
She encouraged professionals to continue acquiring new skills and exploring legitimate business opportunities while remaining grounded in their chosen professions.
Dame Nneka stressed that integrity and professional ethics remain the foundation of every successful career, noting that credibility and reputation are priceless assets that should never be compromised.
“Your personality and your credibility matter. The ethics of the profession must always come first,” she said.
Reflecting on her career journey, she said she began her professional life in the banking sector with First Bank Investment, adding that discipline, resilience and continuous learning have been the driving forces behind her achievements.
She further stressed that young professionals should remain focused on their goals, uphold ethical values and take advantage of opportunities to broaden their knowledge and skills, saying lasting success comes through professionalism, hard work and integrity.
