Nigerian women all over the world, in politics, business, social enterprise public policy, media, entertainment, pageantry, the corporate space, the creative sector are present and redefining what leadership and excellence mean. It would be incomplete to celebrate Nigeria without celebrating these women, who have gone out of their way to live up to their potentials because we are in a society where women are expected to dim their lights. We decided to celebrate a selected few Nigerian women making positive contributions in different era and walks of life. Here is our list of top 10 inspiring women.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a Nigerian economist and international development expert who has served since March 1, 2021 as Director-General of the World Trade Organization. She is the first woman and the first African to hold the office.She is the first female Finance Minister and the first female Foreign Affairs Minister in Nigeria. Also the first female and black candidate to contest for the presidency of World Bank Group in 2012. Okonjo-Iweala is a power woman who during her time as a Minister of Finance spearheaded negotiations with the Paris Club of creditors that led to wiping out of US$30billion Nigerian’s debt. She also initiated processes that helped improve Nigeria’s macroeconomic management and reduce macroeconomic volatility. All her initiatives tackled corruption to an extent and restored the faith of investors in Nigeria thereby creating more jobs for youth.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, caught the world’s attention with her novels, Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun, which were released to great critical acclaim in 2003 and 2006.
Purple Hibiscus was long-listed for the Man Booker, which is one of the most prominent global literary awards.
Meanwhile, Half of a Yellow Sun was in 2013 adapted into a film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, and John Boyega.
However, it was her 2014 essay, We Should All Be Feminists, that truly cemented her place as a prominent thinker and voice of change.
Her works have helped inspire younger generation to be interested in literary act. As a feminist, she is globally vocal and using her voice to stand for the rights of women. The fleets of awards she has received proves that she knows her onions and the world know this.
Uzoma Emenike is a politician, writer and diplomat and was recently appointed as Nigeria’s first female Ambassador to the United States.
Until her recent appointment, Mrs. Emenike, who hails from Umukabia-Ohuhu in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia, was Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland and Iceland.
Over the course of her career, Mrs. Emenike’s drive for excellence shines through.
During that time, she was rated among the best performing ambassadors.
Being the first female to be in that position has set a new standard, with analysts noting that her appointment has changed the landscape for Nigerian female diplomats.
Agbani Darego, MFR, put Nigeria on the map when she became the She was the first indigenous African to win Miss World. Her win as Miss World changed the narrative of beauty pageant which has inspired young Nigerian girls to chase after their dreams no matter how lofty.
first African model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss World in 2001.
Chioma Ajunwa is the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event. Ajunwa is also an officer with the Nigerian Police Force. She is the first and only woman to compete in the FIFA Women’s World Cup as a footballer as well as the Olympic games doing track and field.
In December 2017, Chioma Ajunwa launched the Chioma Ajunwa-Okpara Foundation to discover new Nigerian stars in sports. The Foundation, in collaboration with the Abia State government, sponsored an Under-16 Athletics Championship for Secondary Schools in March 2018.
Oluchi Onweagba is the became first Nigerian super model when she won the inaugural Face of Africa competition in 1998 and has walked on runways for top designers all over the globe. Her success on the global scene has contributed to the rise of the Nigerian fashion industry. Beyond modeling, Onweagba serves as a role model for other aspiring talents in Nigeria, especially young girls. She started her own modeling agency in South Africa in 2008 and is the host/head judge of Africa’s Next Top Model.
Linda Ikeji is one of Nigeria’s top bloggers leading a trend of young, fashionable women in the country who are bypassing traditional media to take their news and views direct to the internet. Her website is one of the most popular entertainment sites in Nigeria, and her posts reflect the diversity of its readers: From celebrity gossip and relationship advice to fashion and politics. She has been able to carve niche for herself by creating an innovative platform that has made her a source of inspiration for many young bloggers
Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe
Mrs. Onyeali-Ikpe has been an integral part of the transformation team at Fidelity Bank in the last six years. She was formerly Executive Director, Lagos and South West, overseeing the bank’s business in the six states that make up the South West region of the bank. She led the transformation of the Directorate to profitability and sustained its impressive year-on-year growth, across key performance metrics, including contributing over 28% of the Bank’s PBT, Deposits and Loans.
She is a consummate professional of over 30 years’ experience across various banks including Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Citizens International Bank Limited, where she held several management positions in Legal, Treasury, Investment Banking, Retail/Commercial Banking, Corporate Banking. She has been involved in the structuring of transactions in various sectors including oil & gas, manufacturing, aviation, real estate and exports.
As an Executive Director at Enterprise Bank Plc, she received formal commendation from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) as a member of the management team that successfully turned around Enterprise Bank Plc.
Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe assumed office as Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank on January 1, 2021.
Sandra Aguebor decided to devote her professional life to being a mechanic. The first female mechanic in Nigeria, she ignored those who ridiculed her ambition. In fact, she would go on to establish the Lady Mechanic Initiative, training more than seven hundred women to be the best mechanics in Nigeria. Ten years in, the initiative continues to grow along with the women it has empowered. “When you empower somebody, you are building the nation economically, socially, and technologically-you contribute to creating an environment where crime and social vices are reduced.”
Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu
Her Excellency, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu is the wife of the Governor of Ondo State and a woman of outstanding qualities. In 1997, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent treatment and survived. She started the nonprofit organization, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) to raise awareness of the disease. She also started the Betty-Anyanwu Akeredolu Foundation (BAAF) under which initiative she runs her BEMORE empowerment programs and the FOWOSO, Foundation for Wives of Ondo State Officials, her other initiative empowering women in diverse ways. Each of these groups has carried out numerous programs that have touched lives significantly in many verifiable ways.
She has won awards in recognition of her work and commitment in the fight against breast cancer in Nigeria. She is a rare breed of a woman described as a Champion in many respects. At a period, people especially politicians give because of one ulterior motive or another, Akeredolu chose to stand out because she wants to see a better society made possible through women development and empowerment.
