What's My Name?

What's My Name?

Usually when I introduce myself, the response is “Say your name again” or “what is your name?” or “your name is unique.” or “where are you from?” or simply “Huh?”  So let me tell you my name, and tell you a little more about it.  My name is Nneka.  Nneka, is NOT an American name; and it is NOT pronounced using standard American English rules.  The name, Nneka, is from the Igbo Tribe, a tribe located in the southeastern region of Nigeria; a country on the Continent of Africa. When saying my name, both N’s are articulated.  To correctly say my name, the first N is said as in the letter “N”; the second N is said in combination with the letters “E” and “K”, so “NEK”; and the letter “A” is said as in the short a sound “A.”  “Nneka.”

The name, Nneka, is associated with several meaning.  I’ve been told that it means “Mother is prominent or great;” or “A mother’s love;” but the meaning that my mother associated and gave to my name is “A tender gift from God.”  I like that … Nneka, a tender gift from God.

You are probably asking yourself “so is she from Nigeria?”  The answer is No.  As the story goes, my father was not at home when my mother went into labor, so her neighbor and good friend from Nigeria; took her to the hospital.  He was very happy to do so, but he wanted something for his service.  He didn’t want money, but he did want the honor of naming the baby.  My mother agreed that he could name the baby IF the baby was not a boy; because her first born son would be surely named after her husband. The baby was a boy.  My mother told her friend that if God blessed her with another child, it would be her pleasure to have him name her baby regardless of whether it was a boy or girl.  Well guess who was born?  You got it... me!  That’s how I was given my name, Nneka.

I was born in Washington, DC at the now closed, Columbia Hospital for Women, on September 26.  I am the knee baby (2nd youngest child) of my parents.  I have two sisters and one brother.

I was raised in Maryland, and educated in the Prince George’s County public school system.  I graduated from high school in 1990 with a diploma and a certificate of merit from the State of Maryland.  I matriculated at St. Augustine’s College in North Carolina and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.  I then attended Morgan State University and earned my MBA.

My professional background is pretty interesting; I began working at the age of 13.  I’ve worked and/or work in retail, food services, beauty and fashion, education, graphic design, computer technology, politics, government and real estate.  I’ve worked with victims of domestic violence, at the Library of Congress, with ex-offender and substance abuse users.  I’ve designed, developed and implemented re-entry programs for homeless men and women.  I’ve spent a great majority of my career fighting for those less served.  I’ve used my “tender gifts from God” to make a difference, and I pray that I made a positive difference. 

So now you know a little bit about me.  I could go on and tell you much more, but I’ll save those tender gifts for later.