By Patience Makwele 

Financial pundit Secilia Nekwaya Okafor has carved a unique niche, balancing national policy influence with a culinary. As the founder of Mrs Okafor’s Kitchen, a Windhoek-based Nigerian cuisine restaurant, Okafor is quietly transforming lives beyond the boardroom. “You know, I have never really seen purpose as just one thing. I believe God gives us different gifts for a reason, and I have always felt this deep conviction that I can serve in the boardroom and also serve my community through business,” said Okafor. She noted that Mrs Okafor’s Kitchen was born during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and began as a response to the fear and uncertainty of the moment. “The restaurant actually started during COVID, when everything felt so uncertain and scary. But even in that chaos, I felt this pull to build something—not just for profit, but something that could nourish people and create opportunities,” she explained. 

Okafor added that the heart of the business lies in its people, particularly the women she trains. “I took women who had never worked professionally before, women who society had written off, and I invested in them,” she said. “I watched them discover strength they didn’t even know they had. Today, these same women are running my kitchen with such confidence and skill.” To her, inclusion means more than access, it means transformation. “Whether I am working on policy or running the restaurant, it all comes from the same place: believing that everyone deserves a chance to thrive.” Asked what being a Confident Woman means to her, Okafor described it as grounded faith, not fearlessness. 

“A Confident Woman is not someone who never feels afraid, she is someone who feels the fear and moves anyway, she knows deep down that she was created for something bigger than her circumstances,” she said. “I truly believe I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, and that foundation has carried me through so many moments when I felt out of my depth.” Having served on several national platforms and leadership roles, Okafor shared that showing up fully is part of her mission. “You have to know who you are and what you stand for. You have to let your character guide you and find the courage to speak up.” “There is this quiet confidence that comes when you are really secure in who you are. That is how I have been able to navigate spaces that were not necessarily designed for someone like me,” she added. 

‘NO’ MEANS ‘NOT YET’ 

On the challenges women-led MSMEs face in Namibia and across Africa, Okafor highlighted both structural and internal barriers. “Too many women are still locked out of credit systems, excluded from supply chains, and just do not have access to the same opportunities,” she said. She believes the most damaging obstacle is the loss of belief. “Women are losing faith in themselves and their dreams, but here is what I have learned, ‘no’ often just means ‘not yet,’ and every closed door is actually preparing you for the right one to open.” Okafor, who has been actively involved in developing inclusive finance models and digital identity systems, said the problem requires both policy reform and mind-set renewal. 

“Policy alone cannot fix what has been broken in people’s hearts and minds. We need to speak to both systems and souls.” “I tell women all the time: your vision is not too big, your dreams are not too bold, and your voice is not too loud. The question is not wheth- er you are qual- ified, it is whether you are willing to step into who you were meant to be.” Traditionally, behind every meal prepared lies a cultural meaning, she describes food as another form of storytelling for her which has brought many hearts closer. “Every dish that comes out of my kitchen tells a story of survival and strength. The restaurant is not just a business. It is a celebration of connection, hospitality, and knowing where you come from.” She explained that Nigerian cuisine in Namibia has been welcomed with enthusiasm. “When I opened during the pandemic, I was not just serving Nigerian food to Namibians. I was serving hope. The jollof rice speaks of celebration even in hard times. The pepper soup is about healing and comfort. The plantains remind us that sweetness can grow in the most unexpected places.” And behind every meal, there’s a woman rediscovering her worth. 

“Some came in with shaking hands and quiet voices. Now they run that kitchen like the queens they always were.” Explaining how she balances the intensity of her policy work with the demands of running a restaurant, Okafor offered a transparent perspective. “Honestly, balance is not something I achieve. It is something I practice every day. Trying to do everything in my own strength is not just exhausting. It is actually prideful. Real leadership comes from humility and leaning on faith. Like many Proverbs women she begins each day in prayer and reflection. “Before I walk into any meeting or step into the kitchen, I center myself on who I am.” Okafor added that she has learned to be fully present in whichever space she occupies. “When I am working on policy, I am not thinking about restaurant operations. When I am in the kitchen, I am not rehearsing tomorrow’s presentation.” She also credits her team. “When you invest in people’s growth and character, they do not just work for you, t h e y w o r k with you towards something bigger than any of us could do alone.” 

NOT ABOUT SPOTLIGHT 

Mentorship has played a central role in her life and leadership. “I have been shaped by incredible women, strong and wise, fearless women who saw potential in me before I could see it myself.” But mentorship, for Okafor, goes beyond guidance. “They shared their struggles too. They showed me that strength is not about never falling down. It is about getting back up and helping others do the same.” Now, she gives back by mentoring through her business and coaching. “I help women dig up the dreams they have buried under doubt and disappointment. I help them see that their voice matters, their vision is valid, and their presence in any room is not an accident, it is an assignment.” 

She highlighted both her strategic impact and quiet victories as memorable moment in her life. “My proudest moments are not really about applause or recognition, they’re about knowing I have been faithful to what God called me to do. In policy, helping shape Namibia’s Financial Sector Transformation Strategy was huge, not because my name is on it, but because it is a framework that will impact people I will never meet for years to come,” she stated. To young African women afraid to lead or launch, her advice is simple but powerful: “Do it afraid. Fear is not your enemy. It is actually an invitation to grow,” she said. “Spend time in quiet reflection and prayer. Listen for the voice that speaks louder than your doubts. Embrace resilience as your superpower… Every ‘no’ is redirecting you toward your ‘yes.’” She urges young women to invest in integrity and surround themselves with growth-minded communities. “Build your character in the small moments. Leadership is not about the spotlight, it is about the choices you make when nobody’s watching.”