Delivered on 28 November 2024
It is an absolute honour to stand in front of you today to talk about the sweet moments with Nuru Mugambi. Nuru whose name means light, was a light to our organisation New Faces New Voices Kenya.
Nuru was the perfect strategic executor navigating complex problems using the art of communication. We had a problem of women in leadership and through Nuru we devised a program that would involve Chairpersons of listed companies to pledge to make their board more gender and age diverse. So impressive was this fete that it attracted the attention of our Founder Graca Machel who came to Kenya to witness the signing of this pledge.
Nuru was always pushing boundaries and once this was achieved then devised an award system to acknowledge companies that were most gender diverse. Anything that would promote and include more underrepresented women Nuru would embrace with such zeal.
Petite and beautiful Nuru was not one to underestimate. Her network is vast and powerful that covers all her passion projects that covered social issues such as gender finance; women in leadership, climate finance and sustainable banking.
I stand here representing women from different genres who felt the presence and impact of Nuru and I will weave in some of their tributes here:
Nomsa Daniels from South Africa and Former Graça Machel Trust CEO:Nuru was a fighter…for the unbanked, for the financial inclusion of women and more women in leadership positions. She was also a passionate fighter for her country and continent who was willing to stretch the boundaries of what was possible and could be achieved. Her spirit, dedication and generosity will be sorely missed.
Nuru always planned her exit gracefully. One day she came to me and said – I have been at New Faces New Voices Kenya for more than 10 years – it is time to step aside and give others a chance. Her courageous conviction challenged me and I too began to explore other interests. She taught me that it is OK to be a Founder and leave, it is alright to re-invent yourself and it is OK to start over.
That is why we are so excited by Nuru’s entrepreneurship legacy that is called Angaza to acknowledge and award women in finance. It always bothered Nuru that people sought out the ones that had made it. She also wanted to democratize how talent was recognized. She then set up this Pan African platform called Angaza Awards where you can nominate your peers / aspiring and leaders across the field of finance. She also encouraged us to self-nominate…
Sometimes I wondered why is Nuru doing so much – from building networks to changing banking policies to influencing financial institutions to support sustainable finance. I now realise that she knew that time was precious and she understood that she could make a difference. Nuru chose to be the “humming bird” as Wangari Maathai coined it.
Wangeci Gitata Market Systems Development Expert and New Faces New Voices Vice Chair:Nuru always had another person’s experience and ambitions in mind. Sometimes it would even be for something that she was applying for too. I recall her telling me to apply this board position. She sent me a picture of the newspaper and told me to apply and that she had also applied. When she was Chair of the Eisenhower Fellows, she did a brief about it to encourage especially African women to apply. She was a guest speaker on more than one occasion for Girls4Girls, a voluntary organization that focuses on mentorship and leadership of young women and girls.
I remember during COVID-19 she said to me Makena (Nuru’s daughter) must go to America the schools are closed! I said they will open one day they cannot close indefinitely. She said Makena is ready to do exams and she has studied hard, so she will go to America to complete her studies. She was overjoyed when Makena thrived and excelled and even graduated early! She had made the right call sacrificing whatever local ambitions she might have.
Jacqueline Onalo Lawyer and Executive Coach from United Kingdom:Nuru was always positive even in adversity even when faced with Lupus, she did not let it dictate her life. I remember really clearly during the C-19 pandemic reading a post from Nuru where she proposed that we look at the pandemic through the Greek word “kairos” which means opportunity. What is the opportunity even in this crisis? This was particularly uplifting to me and many others during those dark early times with so many deaths, isolation, uncertainty… but there was petite Nuru doing what she does, being light, encouraging and challenging us. I went on to use the word kairos on various platforms online platforms that I was invited to speak on and it changed mindsets and outlooks. Some of those kairos conversations catalysed remote then hybrid working, accelerated online learning and career development, got many more active as all there was to do was walk, work, eat and sleep, etc.
So, as we bid farewell to Nuru remember this: You see a problem you fix it. You belong where you think you do not belong. After the impact you create you roll up your sleeves and can find another challenge. Build a legacy so when you exit the stage you leave a light that shines whilst you are gone – hence we have Nuru.
Leila Akahloun from United States Special Advisor to Mrs. Machel:Our deepest condolences as we have lost a shining light on the continent but now she is a star above to guide us with her legacy.
Go well my sister; you have fought the fight you have kept the faith. We will remain to continue the work you started and will continue your legacy. Your spirit lives on.
