Meet Sarah Praise-Emurotu, a powerhouse in the art of communication. An elocutionist, personality development coach, and business etiquette expert, she has spent nearly a decade transforming lives through the power of speech.
From humble beginnings and early scepticism, Sarah turned her passion for “speaking right” into Speech Acumen, an organisation that has trained over 7,500 individuals to harness confidence, poise, and effective communication.
In this interview with Rita Oyiboka, she opens up about her journey, the challenges she overcame, and the transformative impact of teaching others to find their voice and use it right.
Who is Sarah Praise-Emurotu?
I am an elocutionist, an elocution consultant, a personality development coach, an effective communication expert, a speech expert, and a business etiquette coach. I am passionate about transforming lives and helping people become the best version of themselves.
Before we go into what you’re doing now, can we go back to your educational journey? How does that translate into your career at this point?
Well, I studied Religion and Philosophy for my degree. After that, I pursued professional courses in elocution, first in Nigeria, and later, I took further courses in the UK, but online.
You mentioned the main thing you do is using proper speech to transform lives. Can you explain what that means?
Effective communication is everything because your words are your power. When you open your mouth, you tell people who you are. The level of your communication reflects the level of your life. If you cannot communicate properly, you cannot influence, and if you cannot influence, you cannot lead. That is why learning how to communicate is a pivotal key to personal transformation. You can have ideas locked within you, but you cannot sell those ideas if you do not know how to communicate them effectively. Knowing what to say is not enough; how you say it is what truly matters.
How long has your organisation, Speech Acumen, been in existence?
Speech Acumen has been in existence for nine years. By April, precisely on the eighth of April, we will be celebrating our 10th anniversary as an organisation.
Teaching people how to speak properly is not something that is widely popular in Nigeria. Have you ever faced pushback or confusion from people when you say you teach proper speech?
When I was starting, Speech Acumen wasn’t popular. Elocution was not widely known in Asaba, so many said it wouldn’t work. They told me I was wasting my time. I faced discouragement from friends, colleagues, some family members, and even church members. According to them, I was confused. But I refused to quit.
I remember a school once requested our services, and I was alone at the time. They wanted to hire me full-time and offered to pay N80,000, a significant amount then, and life wasn’t fantastic, but it wasn’t what I truly wanted, so I turned it down. I had many offers like that, but I refused and kept moving. Gradually, I began to strike chords, one after another, with God’s help.
At the time, I was looking for people who were doing what I was doing so I could learn from them, but I found none, except for an etiquette coach who told me that the biggest school in Asaba pays N70,000, and she was a known brand. She said, “Why would anyone pay a beginner like you for the amount you are charging?” She advised me to give up, saying it wouldn’t work. But I refused to give up. Fast forward to today, here I am.
Let’s take you back a bit. From your first degree, it doesn’t seem like you had any passion for speaking then. Why did you pursue that course, and when did this become your passion?
“Speaking right” has been something I loved since secondary school. My classmates and teachers nicknamed me “Asu piri su piri.” Every time I tried to say something in school, my classmates would shout “Supu!” I didn’t know exactly what I was doing then, but I knew I loved to speak properly.
I initially wanted to study law as my degree. But Nigeria happened, I was not admitted to study law and was instead offered Religion and Philosophy, a course I passionately disliked. By the time I graduated, I knew I wanted something more. I wasn’t made for the office. By “office,” I mean sitting in one place all day like a civil servant. I hated that. I knew I was meant for the stage, not an office.
Someone once said to me, “Sarah, you studied Religion and Philosophy; you’d be very good at teaching.” But I thought, God forbid! I hated teaching. During my NYSC posting, I was placed in a school to teach SS2 and SS3. I tried everything to avoid it, even though I had connections that could have removed me from that posting. Nothing worked. I didn’t know then that God had a different plan.
In that school, not knowing what to teach, all I could do was go to the classroom and tell a bible story and bring students to Christ. But two years later, I met one of my former students, who had grown up by then. She said to me, “Auntie, do you remember me?” I said, “No, I don’t.” She replied, “You were my favourite teacher in school.”
This happened repeatedly with other students, and I saw it as a sign that I had something to offer in this area. But it turned out that my impact was happening differently, because what I do now is teaching, but on a broader scale.
To be honest, at the beginning, I wasn’t really sure of what to do. Jobs that could have been better weren’t forthcoming, and my dream job seemed nowhere to be found, because what I do now, speaking properly and coaching, is not common. One day, while in my place of prayer, God dropped this idea. It came as a seed. I took it up, went for my first training, and that is how the journey of Speech Acumen began.
That’s wonderful. From research, it seems you are particularly passionate about teaching women to speak. Is there a reason for that?
Well, I coach both genders, including children and am passionate about them as well. But my passion for women stems from the fact that many suffer low self-esteem. They struggle with societal and family limitations. When you meet them, you often discover that they lack confidence, which affects their voice, personality, mindset, and perception of life. Many tend to look down on themselves.
So I took it upon myself to ensure that women regain their voices, confidence, personality, and identity. I help them become better versions of themselves and gain respect from their spouses, society, and family. Etiquette, poise, and effective communication are tools that help achieve this.
Some people worry that teaching their children to speak “properly”, especially in a foreign accent, will rob them of their Nigerian accent or traditional language. What would you say to that?
I hear that question a lot. The thing is, English is not a Nigerian language. If we want children to speak a Nigerian language, then yes, they should speak Igbo, Itsekiri, Yoruba, or other local languages. But English is a universal language that allows us to communicate more effectively with the world.
For example, if I am an Igbo woman, and I want to speak Igbo, I can do so. But if I try to speak it in a British accent, it would sound awkward. Why should we misrepresent another person’s language (English)? Teaching proper English is about clarity, effectiveness, and confidence; it does not erase your identity or cultural heritage.
I believe in “say it right.” Don’t try to use phonology or accents, what we call inflection, while speaking your local dialects. This does not affect the way a child relates to their local dialects.
What would you say are some of the most significant achievements of Speech Acumen, especially as the organisation approaches its 10th anniversary this year?
Our most significant achievement so far has been people development and the impact we have made. We have trained and impacted over 7,500 individuals, including professionals, captains of various industries, children, and educators.
When a training session concludes, and I witness real change, that is bigger than money.
What is one of the most potent transformations you have witnessed in a trainee, from the start of their training to the end?
Speech Acumen is a transformational sector. I have seen people walk in, seemingly unremarkable, and the first change is in the mind. Nothing can change in a person’s life until the mind is transformed.
Some time ago, a young man walked into my office. The first time I met him, I had no idea he was a person of significance. The way he was dressed, his demeanour, he looked down, avoided eye contact, and I was uncomfortable. I even called the person who referred him to make sure he was who I thought he was. Eventually, when he came into my office properly, I discovered he owned a real estate company.
From the moment he sat before me, I began working with him. I had him maintain eye contact, which was very challenging for him. I addressed small details, even asking why his shoes were not polished. I focused on his posture, how he walked, how he presented himself, everything. I guided him in walking with confidence, standing correctly, and carrying himself like a professional. It was an intensive process, but by the end, he was completely transformed.
By the time he completed that particular training, he asked me, “Why are you so cheap?” You know what I said? He explained that he had been invited to the UK for the same training, which cost £7,000, besides flight tickets and accommodation. In the US, he had been quoted $5,000. Access to those programmes was difficult, and when he came here, he could hardly believe the transformation he experienced for so little. Of course, he was very grateful.
Gratitude from our clients is one of the most important things for us, hearing, “Oh my God, I can’t believe this is me,” or “My husband said this, my colleague said that.” Feedback like that is invaluable.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for the next ten years with Speech Acumen?
I want to establish an educational centre focused not on formal education, but on life education.
On a more casual note, when you’re not working or teaching, how do you unwind and relax? What do you do for fun?
For fun, I like to spend time with my family now and then, and that’s always enjoyable. I also enjoy shopping. Beyond that, much of my leisure is spent studying and improving myself in this capacity.
Finally, for someone who wants to build their confidence but doesn’t know where to start, what would be the first step?
The first step is the identification of the problem, discovering what is holding you back. Then comes desire: a genuine wish to build confidence. After that, the next step is a decision. I call this the “Three Ds”: Decision, Determination, and Discipline.
