Celebrating Esther Afua Ocloo!

I've been very impressed with Google since recently. Their Google Doodles, in my opinion, are now more diverse in their efforts to highlight historical figures in both American and World history. They are also sharing knowledge of world events, such as Women's History month and Black History Month, by highlighting important events and influencers that some of us may not have even heard of! Today is no exception, as they have given me yet another gem to celebrate, Ms. Esther Afua Ocloo.

HERE'S WHY WE ROAR FOR ESTHER:

1. Firstly, today marks what would have been her 98th birthday! If that's not reason enough to celebrate then I don't know what is!

She was born Esther Afua Nkulenu on April 18, 1919 to George and Georgina Nkulenu. Her father was a blacksmith and her mother was a potter and farmer. They weren't a wealthy family but saw to it that she was able to get an education.

2. She was the first black person to earn a cooking diploma from the Good Housekeeping Institute in London.

She attended the Achimota School, one of Ghana’s most prestigious boarding schools from 1936-41 with the help of her aunt and a scholarship. The school also sponsored her education at the Good Housekeeping Institute in London and in 1951, she received a cooking diploma becoming the first black individual to achieve the honor. She also took classes in food science, technology, preservation, nutrition, and agriculture at Bristol University.

3. She was a big supporter of the Economic success of her fellow women.

She taught women about food processing and business and in 1964 and became the executive chairman of the National Food and Nutrition Board of Ghana - the first woman to do so. She was also one of the founders of the Women’s World Banking in 1979, which helped to provide women obtain small loans to launch businesses. The not-for-profit organisation helped boost prosperity and provided millions of women with the opportunity to become entrepreneurs.

4. Despite the hardship that came with getting a loan, she was able to start her own company

Ocloo set up a food canning business on Africa’s Gold Coast selling orange juice and marmalade. She sold her goods outside of government buildings in Ghana’s capital of Accra as well as to the West Africa Frontier Force.The business expanded into the 1950s while Ocloo spent time in England studying the food canning industry there. Her company was named Nkulenu Industries and it still exists today, making jams and other food items, which are exported around the world.

5. Esther was the first woman to receive the Africa Prize for Leadership in 1990.

The Africa Prize for Leadership was an award given by The Hunger Project to “outstanding leaders from every level and every sector of society. Individually, their accomplishments have improved the lives of tens of millions of people. Together, they represent a new possibility.” Ocloo reinvested much of her prize money in the women she fought so hard to empower. Following her passing in 2002, The New York Times reported that when Ocloo’s children once complained to her about how all that training was only helping her competitors, to which she responded:

“I don't listen. My main goal is to help my fellow women. If they make better marmalade than me, I deserve the competition.”

Esther passed away on February 8, 2002 from pneumonia. She was 82 years old. At her state burial in Accra, former president John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor said: "She was a creator and we need many people of her caliber to build our nation". Based on what I've learned about her, I'd definitely have to agree!