Jessica Okafor is a highly skilled public speaking coach, communication expert, quintessential elocutionist, English instructor, writer and Lead Coach of Ispeak Diction and Social Polish Academy. With her expertise, she assists entrepreneurs, coaches and professionals in mastering the art of speaking.
  Jessica’s passion for effective communication and her natural ability to captivate an audience led her to pursue a career dedicated to equipping others with exceptional speaking skills. As a public speaking coach, she provides individuals with the tools and techniques necessary to confidently articulate their ideas, engage their audience and deliver impactful presentations. As a quintessential elocutionist, Jessica specialises in the art of pronunciation, intonation and voice modulation. Through her guidance, clients gain the ability to articulate words clearly, speak with confidence and command attention with their vocal presence.
  In her role as a public speaking coach and communication expert, Jessica has helped numerous entrepreneurs, coaches and professionals transform their communication skills, enabling them to connect with their audience on a deeper level and achieve their professional goals. Through her coaching and mentorship, individuals are empowered to convey their messages with clarity, influence others with conviction and establish a strong personal brand. In this interview with ESTHER IJEWERE, she shares her inspiring story

Childhood influence
While growing up I had envisaged becoming a lawyer but today I am an elocutionist and a communication strategist. However, it didn’t remove the fact that my childhood prepared me as I started teaching as a child. My parents weren’t so rich. In fact, my mother raised me, as my daddy wasn’t always around.
  
My mother made sure she provided what I needed but I didn’t have the luxury to receive everything I wanted. I developed a love to teach others when I was seven years old. I often followed my sister to catechism classes where I joined the brothers to teach.
  
There is a sense of fulfillment that always engulfed me when I see the impact I have made in people’s lives. Today, I help people to learn how to speak effectively, achieve communication mastery and maintain their stance as professionals.

The inspiration behind Ispeak Diction and Social Polish Academy
  As an English student at Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, I had this passion to stand out whenever I speak and communicate. I wanted to speak with the correct accent as an English student.
  
One day, we were invited to attend a conference organised in the school. That day was a turning point for me. As I sat amongst the students, I was marveled at the eloquence of the female speaker.  Her confidence, charisma and poise drew me to speak to her after the event. She directed me on how to register for the speaking classes.
  
During my practicing days, I had this desire to help my then course mates to speak better. At first, I was ridiculed and called so many names. Some said, I am “forming to know it all”. However, I refused to be intimidated by their criticism.
  
I went further to initiate a programme to teach students freely without any fee. That’s where the desire sprouted and today we have trained 1,678 professionals globally.

The journey so far
  The journey hasn’t been an easy one at all, especially because of the non-commitment of some people to become better speakers. I often receive this statement, “English isn’t my native language hence I don’t need it”.  So, it hasn’t been too easy to convince people on the importance and the benefits of communicating better. I’m glad that today, so many people both in the corporate world and other sectors have seen the need to improve their speaking skills. The journey is one that needs patience, tolerance, empathy and discipline.

Challenges
 The first challenge I encountered when I started out was not having someone that believes in my vision. It was like everybody I know had something negative to say about my chosen profession. I had to become my cheerleader, motivation and confidant. It was indeed tough being the only one who understood the journey but I’m glad I didn’t give up.

  
Second, having a physical outlet where I can teach offline was another challenge. I had so many offers from interested participants who desired physical training.
  
However, today, setting our physical outlet has gone beyond a plan. We have started putting the plans into action and soon we will open our physical office.

How her work has inspired women around her
  I have always aimed to be a great inspiration to others coming behind me.  Hence, I’m never ashamed to share my stories with other women. Then as an undergraduate, I founded a group known as Nwafor Orizu Student Women Association (NOSWA), an association that helps married women in college to achieve balance being wives, mothers and students. We were able to support one another morally, emotionally and psychologically throughout our stay in the school.
  
So, I understand the huge responsibilities women face in society today and I always look forward to empowering the women around me through my actions and inactions.

Other projects and activities
 The project I’m currently working on is to start a live communication broadcast. We will have industry experts come onboard every week to speak to our audience on how to position themselves strategically through effective communication to build relationships and build sustainable business. This project is something I look forward to commencing before the end of this year. I believe that so many lives will be impacted and transformed through this project.

What she enjoys most about her job
 I enjoy everything about my job, from listening to students share their personal experiences on how they have suffered from speech anxiety and the effects it has had on them and their business and their willingness to improve and become better, to helping them improve in the areas they have challenges and listening to their testimonials after the training with them. It gives me immense joy to witness the transformation in my student’s capacity to hold a conversation and communicate effectively.

Three women who inspire her and why
  So many women have inspired me. In fact, I love learning from women who are doing exceptionally great in their industries. Hence, the lives of so many women have helped to bring me to where I am today. Oprah Winfrey inspires me; her determination, bravery and courage are so admirable.
  
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is another icon I so much love and admire. How she expresses her ideas through stories is something I love watching. She is always eager to share her stories with the world.

  
Finally, Pastor Mildred Okonkwo. She is a woman of God who has taught me the importance of understanding God and making Him the foundation of my life. From her, I learned how to study the Bible, which is something I have always wanted to learn. I love the way she loves God and how she effortlessly teaches the principles to become good Christians.

Feat achieved in her line of work
  This profession has exposed me to so many platforms and people who ordinarily I wouldn’t have met on my own. In 2020, I received my first award: Amazing Woman Award. Also in 2020, I was featured in Jidekaiji Global Magazine. I was awarded the Young Influential Personality by Crystal Edge Professionals. I was recognised as one of the under 30 Influencers. In 2021 and 2022, I was recognised as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in the world. My article was published in the African Western Magazine. I received my first radio invite and was featured also as one of the Panelists in a concluded Spelling Bee. Indeed, I have been blessed by being a blessing to others.

Diction and speech nuggets
 Always put your audience into consideration before you speak; avoid rushing when you speak as it leads to committing mistakes; pronounce every word you speak correctly because correct pronunciation is key to having effective communication; it’s good to learn from others but always be yourself when you speak on the stage. Your audience will love to see you for who you are. Always speak good about yourself before stepping on the stage. It helps to boost your confidence and keep you focused on your audience instead of how people will perceive you. Some of the fears you have about speaking are unrealistic because it has never happened. Hence, allow yourself to enjoy and learn from the process.

Being a Woman of Rubies
  I am a Woman of Rubies because I have inspired so many women to embrace their uniqueness and show their light to the world to see.