Here are 10 out of many Nigerian women who have redefined success in their Various fields.
- Folorunsho Alakija
Folorunsho is the richest woman in Nigeria. She started her journey to wealth as a secretary and proceeded to start her own tailoring company (supreme stitches). She later branched into oil and gas and that decision has made her remain a billionaire. In 2014, she took over the position of the richest woman of Africa’s descent from Oprah Winfrey.
2. Ibukun Awosika
Ibukun Awosika is a business magnate, author and motivational speaker. On September 7, 2015 Ibukun became the first woman to become appointed as the chairman First Bank, Nigeria. She has a collection of award to her name. She currently serves as the chairman of First Bank, Nigeria.
3. Olajumoke Adenowo
Olajumoke is an award winning architect, entrepreneur, speaker, radio host, author and philanthropist. She is the founder of boutique architecture and interior design firm AD consulting whose headquarters is in Lagos, Nigeria. She started her company when she was only 26. She has been recognized internationally by CNN as “Africa’s Starchitect” and “the face of architecture” by The Guardian.
4. Mo Abudu
Also known as Mosunmola Abudu is the CEO of Ebonylife TV. Mo Abudu is the only African on the Business Insider’s Top 100 business visionaries creating world value. She is 56th on the list. Mo started Ebonylife TV in 2006. Mo has been described as Africa’s most successful woman by Forbes. She has also received the entrepreneur of the year award from Woman Werk, New York (2014). In 2014, Babcock university honored Mo Abudu with a honorary doctorate.
5. Joke Silva
Joke Silva is a Nigerian actress, director and business woman. Her film career began in the early 1990’s and she has received numerous awards to her credit. In October 2012, the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime appointed Joke Silva as a good will ambassador. On September 29 2014, Silva received recognition as a member of the order of the Federal Republic.
6. Agbani Darego
Agbani Darego at 18 years old became the first Native African to win the Miss World pageant. Agbani hails from Abonnema, Rivers state. She runs her own style and reality fashion show and she is the CEO of her denim range. She has the National honour of the Member of the order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
7. Tara Fela Durotoye
A Nigerian makeup artist and a lawyer. Tara is the founder and CEO of the House of Tara International and creator of the Tara Orekelewa Beauty range, Inspired perfume and the H. I. P Beauty range. Tara founded the House of Tara at the age of 20 from her living room whilst she was a university undergraduate. In 2013, Forbes listed her as one of the 20 young power women in Africa.
8. Olamide Orekunrin
Olamide orekunrin is a 28 year old medical doctor, helicopter pilot and founder of flying doctors Nigeria (West Africa’s first air ambulance service). Olamide currently resides in Lagos, Nigeria where she is considered a National expert on disaster medicine and pre-hospital care.
9. Blessing Okagbare
It is an indisputable fact that Okagbare is one of Nigeria’s greatest living athletes. Okagbare has become a National hero as a result of her winnings in the long jump and sprint events of major sporting competitions. She set a new Commonwealth 100m women’s record for the fastest time(10.85 seconds) on the way to winning the 100m and 200m double at the games in 2004.
10. Powede Lawrence
Powede is a 25 year old nurse, beauty queen and a certified pilot. Powede is the former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria(MBGN) Tourism. She was also the winner of the university Africa pageant. She runs a charity organization which renovates schools of the physically challenged in Yenagoa, Bayelsa and also offers scholarship to physically challenged students at her university annually.
As a Nigerian woman, don’t give up. If those women could get to where they are who says you can’t.
