Nneka Eleh
Height: 5’9
Hometown: Oakville, ON
Languages: English
Occupation: Account Manager
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Nneka was raised to be proud of both her Nigerian and Canadian heritage. Currently, she lives in Oakville and balances working in tech alongside her burgeoning acting and writing career. She’s been interested in the influence that the media can have on society and would love to use her writing talents to be a part of this movement in a positive way. Additionally, as a Masters of Business and Entrepreneurship graduate, she enjoys helping businesses thrive and has worked as a consultant in various capacities professionally. She plans to continue to use her passion for business to help women around the world take control of their financial destiny.
During her last year at the University of Waterloo, Nneka dove into pursuing her dream of one day writing a full-length play and helped co-write a play for the university’s African Student Association. To say this was an amazing experience would be an understatement. Watching and hearing her words being reverberated back to her by the actors on stage lit a fire in her and cemented her belief that this was what she’s meant to do for the rest of her life. It also made her realize that acting was also a childhood dream that never fully went away, and soon after she enrolled in acting lessons from reputable studios.
Fast forwarding to the present, Nneka continues to write and is currently working on her first novel draft. She’s represented in both the UK and Canada as an actress and appeared in 4 Indies films last year; one of which was nominated for a best performance at a Canadian film festival. These experiences have given her the motivation to one day write and produce her own films as well.
What are your interests and what do you enjoy doing the most?
Writing has always been my first love and I love diving deep into the human psyche in order to understand why humans think and act the way they do. As the oldest child of 7 children, I’ve always been exposed to different personalities and am always intrigued with what makes a person who they are, despite being raised in similar environments. My parents really nursed my writing talent and encouraged me to participate in as many competitions as I could. Their belief has been a strong foundation for my confidence and helped fuel my passion for the media.
I also enjoy learning as much as I can about business strategy and have helped many female entrepreneurs create strong business plans for their businesses.
List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc.)
I was professionally trained in the piano for about 6 years and the saxophone for 4 as a child. I’ve also trained at some amazing acting studios in Canada, the US, and the UK, ranging from the esteemed Margie Harber in Los Angeles, to the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Simon Trinder. Learning how to inhabit a character’s persona and then authentically perform this to a diverse audience has undoubtedly cemented my public speaking skills, and I’m now so confident in getting across any point I’m making in a coherent way.
Additionally I’ve gotten screenwriting training from working TV writers through the Script Anatomy program in Los Angeles, and this along with my acting, helps me so much with understanding on how to tell a strong story and captivate people’s attention.
In what sports, if any, have you participated?
I’ve loved to swim since I was a child and maintain a regular practice whenever I can.
Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life. Why?
I admire media Goliaths like Shonda Rhimes, Greta Gerwig, and Issa Rae because they’ve not only made a mark in the media industry, but have paved their way through it as well. I think that while it’s good to be flexible and go with the flow of life, it’s also important to take destiny by the horns and steer it to whichever way you see fit. After all, the best way to predict the future is to create it.
What is your proudest personal accomplishment (other than participating in this pageant)?
This would definitely be when I made it to the top 10 finalists of the Toronto Screenwriting Conference competition! I wrote and submitted a TV pilot that was heavily inspired by my time in boarding school, and what I learnt about trying to find yourself as a teenager whilst growing up in a very competitive environment. I’m so proud of myself for this particular achievement because I pushed through self doubt and had to work to validate myself in order to actually submit my script. Getting the congratulatory email is still one of the highlights of my life.
I’m also really proud of myself for completing my Masters in Business and Entrepreneurship degree. It was extremely challenging at times, but I pulled through and was even able to start a startup to help diabetic people manage their illness better with some classmates of mine.
What is the most interesting or unique thing that has ever happened to you and/or what is the most interesting thing about you?
I love to read! When I was younger I could read a book in a book in a day and was immediately on to the next one. Alas, while adulting responsibilities make this harder to accomplish, I do my best to pick up interesting titles as often as I can. I’m a huge fan of murder mystery novels, and Anthony Horowitz is my favorite author. There’s nothing as enticing as a good “whodunnit”!
What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
My career ambition ultimately lies with me using my creative talents to showcase amazing women characters, as well as healing to uncover lost, forgotten stories. I want to tell stories about women in their 40s and above because I truly believe that these are the best eras of a woman’s life and should not be dismissed easily. A woman’s worth or beauty does not diminish as the years go by – it transforms, and I want the world to be more appreciative of that. Topics like menopause should also be more mainstream and not seen as a taboo subject; after all, half of the human population will go through it.
Lastly, as someone who is very proud of my African heritage, I also hope to showcase the rich history of the world’s oldest continent in all its glory. I’ve started a podcast “Efuna Africa”, that does just this, in a small, bite-sized way.
What would be your “dream job” in life?
It doesn’t necessarily have one title, but it encompasses everything that involves making a difference in the world through media. I want to tell stories of amazing, flawed, and complex women, as well as do my best to highlight Canada to the world in the best way that I can. The goal is to have a hand in writing and producing content (anything from TV to film, to podcasts).
Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
I was born into a very loving home in Lagos, Nigeria and raised there until I was 9 years old. My family then moved to Canada, but my parents never wanted me to forget my roots, so I was sent back to boarding school in Nigeria for 4 years. This gave me the best of both worlds because I’d travel back to Canada for the holidays and was able to fully experience both cultures. It was a very positive influence on my life and has definitely helped shape me into who I am today.
List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
I worked at Cineplex as a general staff member. What made this particular job cool is that we were given 2 free movie tickets every week to use on any movie that we liked. So I got to see as many movies as my heart wanted, and even better, brought friends with me as well! The cherry on top is that the staff was also referred to as “cast members” by management, and of course I saw this as prophetic 🙂
List any volunteering you have done.
I volunteered for at Toronto Screenwriting Conference competition and assisted with the organization and running of the weeklong event in various capacities.
I’ve also worked with Technovation Girls where I volunteered as a judge and reviewed submissions from young girls around the world who were tasked with solving a relevant, business problem
What is your most unusual talent?
It’s not necessarily a talent per say, but coffee makes me sleep. I’m seriously immune to any drink that’s supposed to keep someone awake (which is a huge minus when studying for exams).
Where is the most interesting place you have been to?
Ubud, Bali in Indonesia! I solo travelled there for my birthday in 2022 and had a blast! The food was amazing, and the people were so hospitable and kind. I highly recommend it.
What do you hope to be doing in ten years?
I hope that I’ve maintained a strong sense of inner peace and integrity while living a creatively fulfilled life, using my talents to make the world a better place, and making my parents proud.