Lady Mercy Nnama attended Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls’ School (ACMGS) Elelenwa, in Rivers State. From there she obtained her West African School Certificate (WASC, 1963) and the Higher School Certificate (equivalent to the British A-Level certificate, 1965). She graduated B.Sc. Chemistry (Hons) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1972).

She taught briefly in Ovom Girls’ Secondary School, Ovom, in Aba (1972). She then joined the Federal Civil Service, in the Chemistry Division of the Federal Ministry of Health. Within one year, she moved to the Nigerian Standards Organization (now Standards Organization of Nigeria, SON); and started her career as a Scientific Officer. With promotions, she became a Standards Officer and finally a Chief Standards Officer, before she withdrew her service in 1984.

As a Scientific Officer, she attended factory inspections, and conducted product testing for quality control, and for product certification. As a standards Officer, she worked in Technical Committees to produce standards (Nigerian Industrial Standards).

Lady Nnama is widely travelled. She benefitted from a number of UNIDO and ISO grants that enabled her attend international training courses, conferences and seminars. Countries visited in the course of her work include the UK, Sweden, Tanzania, and Canada. Trainings centred on Laboratory Services and Product Quality Control.

Since her withdrawal from the Nigerian Civil Service, Lady Nnama has functioned as the Managing Director of Decibels Nig. Ltd, a privately owned company that engages in the supply of petroleum products, IT training and execution of contracts in various industries.

Lady Nnama had a foray into the fashion industry. This interest in all matters relating to fashion indeed a family talent; and she still delights in it.

She is blessed with a rich family life surrounded by daughters, a daughter-in-law, a son, sons-in-law and many grandchildren. Lady Mercy is an auxiliary Knight of St Christopher in the Anglican Communion.