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Meet Monalisa Effah, Ghana’s Rising Executive and Founder of New Relocation Company, Scarlette Eagle

Published

7 years ago

May 20, 2019

Editor

There is nothing as Sweet as turning your passion into a business, it ensures you enjoy every day at work and that is one reason Monalisa Effah’s adventure is growing by the day.

Monalisa Effah, Founder, Scarlette Eagle

Effah is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Scarlette Eagle, a relocation company based in Ghana.

Beginning her career in 2016, Monalisa held a series of positions across several industries, from HR to Expat Relocation. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in PR. She also has extensive training and experience as an Image Consultant from SA Image Academy.

Monalisa has direct responsibility for all facets of the Scarlette Eagle company and supervises all aspects of business. Importantly, Monalisa is instrumental to the growth of Scarlette, spearheading long-term development strategies.

In her several years in the r e l o c a t i o n industry, Monalisa has attracted some reputable clientele and continually demonstrated her commitment to client satisfaction, successfully servicing transferees from both small to large companies.

Her solid foundation provides the necessary industry experience to help facilitate a smooth transition for all Scarlette clients. With over eight years’ considerable experience in human resource management, Monalisa constantly delivers quality service to Scarlette clients through close and concise communication. She spoke to us about her career and future plans

What event motivated you to start this business?

It can be really frustrating when you arrive in a completely new environment-

moving around, finding a new home etc. Running my own relocation company

meant that I can give customers what I believe to be the best services. When I was

working with a relocation company, I saw the excitement in people’s eyes anytime I

served them. But I knew I could do more. The positive and appreciative reactions

from customers and seeing the impact of my work got me inspired to start a brand

new company.

What is Your Ambition?

I want to make Forbe’s young billionaire list. I know the requirements and I am

working diligently towards that.

What are the requirements?

Serve people, communities and businesses and they will pay you back in

extraordinary proportions.

What does your business do?

My business helps people to settle conveniently in Ghana, whether for business or pleasure. We provide a complete bouquet of relocation services from immigration to home search to school search.

What’s the biggest problem small business owners don’t know they have?

Too many young business owners don’t realise that their customers’ expectations

are changing faster than ever before, especially in these days of digitisation. If

you want to find out what your business should be doing tomorrow or next year,

that information is inside the heads of your prospects and customers. Ask them.

research them. They are closer than you ever imagined.

Monalisa Effah, CEO, Scarlette Eagle

What advice can you give to those who are seeking funding?

Strategy and honesty. Create a strategy that includes multiple capital sources

from family and friends to other people who believe and trust you. Start small

with whatever you have. Don’t use investors or a bank loan when you can start

with anything small until you have the strength to absorb risk. This will make you

smarter and your funders happier. Prove that your idea works before you seek

support to scale.

What is one way that business operation has changed?

The fundamentals never change: you still have to buy low, sell high and keep

good records; money is still crucial; people still want to be treated well. The new

thing is the internet and digitisation. As a small business, you have to be handy, cool

and affordable, and even there are free tools available online, but it’s not good news if

you’re not using them. You must use the internet well. It has great resources for

running your business.

What are some of the ingredients that have made you succeed?

Focus. You need a strong and %rm mind to pursue any business in this competitive world. You have to have a high tolerance for risk. If you don’t, come

back tomorrow. You have to believe in yourself and focus on what you do. Many

days, all other elements of your business will let you down. If you can’t believe in

yourself and keep your focus, there will be days when you won’t come back. You

have to love working. You’ll never work harder than when you own a business.

And I know this.

What have you sacriced (both personally and professionally) at each

stage of your career?

A lot. I was a night owl until I started my business. Today, I come back home with

a lot of unfininished business and I need to plan before the next day or week. In the

process, I have lost great friends. But come on, they appreciate that I need to

make them proud and I believe they wish me well.

What Do You Want on Your Resume in Two Years?

I want a list of accomplishments that illustrates my service to communities, people and businesses. I want to see the hundreds of people and businesses I servedsuccessfully. I want to see the billions translated into my successes.

Featured

2027: We’re on Track, ADC Hails S’Court Ruling

Published

4 hours ago

May 1, 2026

Eric

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that it would never be intimidated, distracted, or silenced in its push to realize a better Nigeria.

Spokesman of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said this in reaction to the Supreme Court ruling, which affirmed David Mark’s leadership of the party.

Abdullahi said the judgment has affirmed that the Mark and Rauf Aregbesola leadership of the party is legitimate.

Abdullahi said: “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) congratulates all our members and leaders across the country on today’s Supreme Court ruling which affirmed the leadership of our party under Senator David Mark as National Chairman, and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.

“Today’s decision is a clear affirmation that our party, its structures, and its leadership under our National Chairman, Senator Mark, and our National Secretary, Ogbeni Aregbesola, are legitimate.

“We commend the five-man panel of the Supreme Court, whose unanimous judgment has today done great credit to the judiciary in our country and our political system.

“However, while we welcome this judgment, we do not mistake it for the end of the struggle. The events leading up to this moment have exposed a troubling pattern of interference, bad faith, and attempts to weaken opposition voices in Nigeria.

“Let it be clearly stated: the ADC will not be intimidated, distracted, or silenced. We remain resolute in our mission to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative.

“We therefore urge all our members, supporters, and democratic stakeholders across the country to remain vigilant.”

Featured

Tinubu Appoints Bianca Ojukwu As Foreign Affairs Minister

Published

2 days ago

April 29, 2026

Eric

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The announcement was contained in a statement released on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy).

The appointment followed the resignation of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to participate in preparations for the 2027 elections.

According to the statement, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s elevation marks a return to a more senior role within Nigeria’s foreign service architecture, having previously served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Her new appointment places her at the helm of Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements, where she is expected to oversee the country’s foreign policy direction, strengthen international partnerships, and advance economic diplomacy objectives.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to participate in the 2027 elections.

“Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu previously served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

The Presidency noted that the decision forms part of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy framework for greater efficiency and stronger global engagement. It added that the new minister is expected to deepen diplomatic relations, promote Nigeria’s national interest, and ensure the welfare of Nigerians abroad remains a priority.

In the same announcement, President Tinubu also nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, subject to Senate confirmation.

Enikanolaiye, from Kogi State, previously served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. He is a seasoned diplomat with over three decades of service in Nigeria’s foreign affairs system and has held key postings in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi.

The Presidency said the appointments are part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture and improve the country’s global diplomatic engagement.

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu is a lawyer, diplomat, and former beauty queen who has had a long career in public service and international diplomacy.

She was born on 5 August 1967 in Anambra State and studied law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992 after attending the Nigerian Law School in Lagos.

Her academic background includes a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio in Spain, as well as postgraduate diplomas in Human Rights and International Relations from the Berg Institute, Madrid, and in Dynamics of Conflict and Cooperation from the University for Peace in Costa Rica.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu previously served as Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Diaspora Matters and later became Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain from 2012 to 2015, where she also represented the country at the UN World Tourism Organization. She earlier served as Ambassador to Ghana.

She was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in October 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, where she supported Nigeria’s external affairs portfolio, including diplomacy, consular engagement, and international relations strategy. She has now been appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Nairametrics

Featured

2027: Lagos APC Guber Aspirant Rejects Hamzat As Consensus Candidate

Published

2 days ago

April 29, 2026

Eric

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Samuel Ajose, has declared that the endorsement of Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the next governor by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) will not stand.

GAC, regarded as the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, endorsed Hamzat, as its consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

The decision was reached during a closed-door meeting held at Lagos House, Marina, indicating an early alignment within the ruling party ahead of the next electoral cycle.

Speaking after the session, GAC leader, Tajudeen Olusi, said members unanimously agreed on Hamzat, expressing confidence in his ability to sustain and build on the state’s developmental progress.

Olusi explained that the meeting was convened to deliberate on the party’s forthcoming primaries and assess the governorship position ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking about the GAC adoption of Hamzat as Lagos APC consensus 2027 governorship candidate on Arise News on Tuesday, Ajose said that Sanwo-Olu and others are trying to force President Tinubu into making a decision.

“I don’t think our president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is giving in to what they are doing.

“What they are just trying to do is to coerce him into taking a decision, and I don’t think that decision will stand.”