The Awesome Single Ladies (ASL) series showcases the inspiring stories and experiences of single Christian women. To kick off the series, we interviewed the lovely Onyinye Ibelegbu, a.k.a Nwaadaigbo. An entrepreneur and boss babe, who is passionate about living out her god-sized dreams.
Do check out her interview below:
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Onyinye Ibelegbu. I am 35, doing the Lord’s work and living my best life.
I come from a Christian home. So Christian that you couldn’t say words like ‘idiot’ in my house. It was normal for my parents to give of the little they had to the constant stream of people coming to the house with one request or another. We were raised to speak up and ask questions so, at the age of 8, I asked my very pious mum to explain how women wearing trousers and makeup was sinful in Nigeria but permissible in America lol. We were also raised to be open with each other and so we knew where anyone, including my father, was going when they stepped out. I openly discussed my ‘toasters’ around the dining table and got info on who was ‘a human being’ or not from my elder brother lol.
Of course, there was morning devotion most mornings.
Not the type one could doze off and on: we all had to share the parts of scripture we were studying on. TV was censored, phones were not common then, the Internet was only accessible in cyber cafes lol so we read. I read long and wide, as early as when I was 7. From my Dad’s shelf, I read Christian literature on Marriage, Sex (yes oo), Faith (Kenneth Hagin and Oral Roberts), Finance books, Igbo History, and from friends, plenty Mills and Boon lol, James Hadley Chase, and even one confession of a ‘correct’ oyibo satanist that gave me nightmares for days… Lol.
I would say I was given what it takes to be a young woman who wasn’t afraid to take on life and go after what she wanted.
I would say I was given what it takes to be a young woman who wasn’t
afraid to take on life and go after what she wanted.
Why did you decide to start your business?
I would say my business started by chance, but then there is nothing that is not in the plan in the life of a Believer in Christ. In summary, I had been out of a job and basically decided to turn what was then a casual source of extra income into a full business.
I had no idea the direction it would go. As a matter of fact, I was still submitting my CV 6 months into my business take-off. Then I considered the positive response to my services, the impact I was making, the huge potential of the business, and the fact that I could have the power to live life on my terms. That sealed it.
God has been faithful and my business has gained notable milestones in such a short while. So yes, ‘Na God ooo’, plus integrity, great customer service, a functional process, networking, and basic kindness.
How did you manage the responsibilities that come with entrepreneurship, as well as the other aspects/responsibilities of adulthood?
First, knowing who I am and what I want for my life, business and relationships keep me in line. I check in with my purpose regularly and make changes where needed. It is an ongoing process and I am a work in progress. I manage my finances by budgeting, separating needs from wants and allocating funds accordingly, saving, investing, tithing, and kingdom giving.
Scheduling, prioritizing, and eliminating distractions have helped me to manage my time. Clear communication, documentation, and kindness helps me in people management.
In all, I daily work on being a better version of myself.
Were there pressures and expectations from others about your choices? How did you manage these?
There will always be pressure. Some forms of pressure seem to yell at you. Some are so subtle you need to do a soul search to find them. Some come from people who are close to us. Others from people who ‘don’t pay our bills’ yet surprisingly we feel it.
I faced pressure and strongly questioned my values years back as a beautiful but broke young lady in Lekki lol.
I feel pressure from ‘Instagram people’ and wonder if I am doing enough in my business and relationships.
I felt pressure enough to stay in a relationship that was bad for me.
I am blessed not to face the typical pressures piled on single ladies from family. My parents desire that I be settled in a good marriage, but they also understand that it will happen at the right time. So we are praying together Lol. I used to give ‘gbas gbos’ to the nosy people who ventured to bring snide comments my way those times, but now I am Spirit-filled and it’s all love and light lol.
I think that pressure can be used positively as a way of working towards a better and bigger you. I handle negative pressure by reminding myself that life is a journey and not a destination and so whatever wants to drive me crazy now will most likely be insignificant tomorrow.
What about your social life and relationships? How do you make time for this, especially as a single woman in your 30’s?
As I grow older, I realize the importance of relationships.
It is so important yet it seems that we do not place as much value and resources in forming and maintaining them.
I make it a habit to go through my contacts regularly and check on people, especially family and friends. I attend different social events best as I can. I am also deliberate about meeting good people (read men lol) with whom I can establish lasting relationships.
If something is important to us, we make time for it. Relationships are as much an area of my life as Business, Spiritual life, and others so I make time for it just like other aspects.
It is often said that the Christian life works in theory but not in practice, especially in a country like Nigeria. As a Christian single woman, please could you tell us more about how your spiritual life has affected your choices, and particular lessons learned from these experiences.
We are called to be ambassadors of Christ at all times. Sometimes it may be inconvenient, not fun, or even look silly. In the face of pressure, we may falter, look for easy ways out, or question our calling.
I draw daily on God’s grace. Many times I have been a ‘sterling ambassador’ and seen immediate rewards. I have been misunderstood, faced hostility, and suffered loss because I refused to compromise. Other times I just didn’t feel like ‘carrying this whole Christianity thing on my head’ and so let things slide. It is a continual process of reminding myself of my heritage in Christ.
Recently I have had a lot of questions about Chastity and Abstinence. Like God for real, we should just wait for one person to show up and marry us and be with them only forever?
Hian!
What are we supposed to do with the healthy desires you have richly bestowed on us? All these fine men evrywia nkọ? Na wa ooo. You know when these questions hit you, the answers better be good lol. I am now researching on the whole subject of Intimacy, Love, and Sex as God ordained it. One thing I know is that God loves us, and his commandments are not burdensome.
Like God for real, we should just wait for one person to show up and marry us and be with them only forever?
There are many single women who are, consciously or unconsciously, waiting on marriage before taking some steps. This attitude is often endorsed by our families/churches. Please could you speak on this, and have you had a similar experience?
Wow… Sisters. I really pray and believe that you get married tomorrow. However, what if it doesn’t happen tomorrow? What if the action you are postponing is a vital step in your life journey? What if that step will lead you to your spouse? Why not make the most of life and the blessings you have been given now?
What advice would you give to a single woman thinking about making changes to her career or starting a business?
Do it Sis. Do it. A wise man said that in the end, what we regret most will be the things we didn’t do, and not what we did.
If there was one thing you could change about your entrepreneurship journey what would it be? Could you also share some breakthroughs you’ve experienced in your business?
Nothing really. Expect maybe I wish I had a sponsor lol. But really, I have been blessed with incredible human and material resources and gained international recognition that I didn’t think was possible in such a short time and without a human ‘backbone’.
Do you have any general advice for single women in terms of their finances, social life, and spirituality?
Remember that God loves you, and has given you richly all things to enjoy. Go ahead and live life in abundance.
Where can we find you (your business profile, social media handles, etc)?
My handle is @nwaadaigbo. I am always on Instagram, share my views on Clubhouse sometimes and sneak into Twitter occasionally.
More about Onyinye
Onyinye is the Founder and CEO of NwaadaIgbo Language Services, a company that provides various services in Igbo language mainly helping Igbo learners all over the world to learn Igbo faster, smarter, and more conveniently through blended e-learning. Before setting up NwaadaIgbo Language Services, her work involved teaching and coaching in various capacities: as a Nutrition lecturer in a School of Nursing, a Nutrition Program officer responsible for on the job training of health workers, a Training Manager responsible for staff capacity development, and a freelance English, French and Igbo tutor.
On the Blog
For more posts on singleness and living an amazing life while single, check out the following posts:
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Three ways to thrive as a single gal
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The best relationship advice I’ve ever heard
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Three reasons why singleness is hard
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When he wants sex before marriage
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10 meaningful ways to travel as a single woman
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