Sunday I. Ezeji, better known as “Sunny” passed away on November 2, 2023 at the age of 68. He was a mentor to many minority business owners over the years and was a beautiful soul that would help anybody that needed it. He was the son of Zephniah and Damaris Ezeji from Nigeria. He is survived by his wife Debra Ezeji; brothers Henry and Chidi Ezeji; sister Priscilla Ezeji; daughter Ngozi Ezeji; several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Sunny was the President and CEO of the Minority Enterprise Advocate Magazine (MEA) and Women Leadership Magazine USA in the metropolitan Washington, DC area.
Sunny was originally from Imo State and grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. His educational background was a BS degree in communications from the University of Lagos; and professional qualifications from CAM Foundation, London, England; and he attended University of the District of Columbia.
Sunny’s career in Lagos included: media director for MAN Advertising; media director of Dave Solomon Limited; client service executive at Lintas Advertising; client service director for Ogilvy Benson and Mather Advertising. He was also cast in several commercials and movies in Nigeria. When Sunny arrived in America in 1982, he worked for James Robert Associates in Springfield, Virginia. James Roberts is a direct mail advertising agency. This gave him his start in the advertising industry in the United States.
In 1997 Sunny decided to become an advocate for minority businesses and started an organization called Minority Business and Professionals Network, Inc. (MBPN). MBPN held conferences, seminars, and workshops to help minorities suppliers understand government contracting processes so they could work with government agencies. MBPN created and award of recognition programs that focused on companies that were federal contractors. These events developed relationships for small business with, the federal government and major corporations. Sunny built relationships with all the federal agencies in Washington, D.C. It was very difficult because he was an African tapping into the American economic structure. But he persevered against all odds and accomplished his goals creating more opportunities for minority owned businesses in government contracting.
Under Sunny’s awesome leadership, President Bill Clinton; President George W. Bush; and President Barack Obama were presented leadership awards from his organization during their time in office.
In 1999 MBPN signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Washington District Office and received their Economic Empowerment Award that same year. In 2001, he received recognition from the U.S. Department of the Interior for bringing small businesses in the federal programs. In 2004, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded him for disseminating their programs to the small business community.
A viewing will be announced at Lay To Rest Cremation and Funeral Home 8434 Alban Road, Springfield, Virginia 22150, call 703-372-1177.
For more information or donations to Sunny’s memorial contact Debra Ezeji at 571-575-0166 or email williamsdebra205@gmail.com
