7 successful and influential Female Nigerians you should know

A Nigerian woman has been known to be the toast of her peers in West Africa, Africa and the world at large.

Many of the females in Nigeria have risen to the zenith of their careers by dint of hardwork, resilience and determination, which in most climes are peculiar to the male folks.

From the billionaire to the media entrepreneur and even the social and political activist, Nigerian women have continue to wow the world and put the country’s name on the lips of global citizens.

In celebrating the 2018 International Women’s Day, will be featuring seven successful and influential females in Nigeria who are not only self-made but have become a force to reckon with and possess a large followership.

Folorunsho Alakija

Folorunsho Alakija leads the pack, standing tall as the richest woman in Nigeria.

In 2014, Alakija caught the glimpse of the world when she unseated Oprah Winfrey in the Forbes Billionaires list to become the richest woman of black descent alive.

Folorunsho recently narrated how she delved into the Nigerian oil sector and how she got an oil bloc that was rejected by big names in the sector because she was practically new in the industry.

She also narrated how the rejected oil bloc has become one of the most viable in West Africa and has turned her fortune around, making her a billionaire.

Her net worth is estimated to be $1.9 billion. She owns 60% of Famfa Oil Limited.

Wealth Source: Oil and Gas

Company: Famfa Oil Limited

Age: 66

Mo Abudu

Mosunmola Abudu is the graduate of the University of Westminster that has been described as "Africa's Most Successful Woman” by Forbes.

This 53-year-old media mogul emerged Africa’s most influential female media mogul with the establishment of her Media and Entertainment City Africa in early 2000s. The media company had gone ahead to unveil EbonyLife TV in 2006, a network airing in more than 49 countries across Africa, as well as in the UK and the Caribbean.

So powerful has Mo became that in 2013, she was listed as one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Global TV by The Hollywood Reporter and in 2015, her media company ventured into movie making.

Her first shot at movies, “Fifty,” was a hit that was soon followed by The Wedding Party 1 and 2, grossing over a N100m in cinemas in 2017.

Wealth Source: Media

Company: EbonyLife TV, Media and Entertainment City Africa

Age: 53

Stella Chinyere Okoli

Dr Stella Chinyere Okoli is a pharmacists and entrepreneur that has gone ahead to build a multi million Dollar pharmaceutical company widely known as Emzor pharmaceutical in 41 years.

Stella had started out a pharmacy in 1977 with the name "Emzor Chemists Limited" as a small pharmacy retail shop in Somolu, Lagos State but went on to build it into a pharmaceutical empire now known as Emzor Pharmaceutical.

The University of Bradford trained Pharmacist has since controlled one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria with over 50 products since its incorporation in 1984.

Wealth Source: Pharmaceuticals

Company: Emzor Pharmaceuticals

Age: 73

Oby Ezekwesili

Obiageli Ezekwesili is widely refered to as Oby Ezekwesili and without doubt, she is one of the most influential females in Nigeria at the moment.

Her influence is one that has amassed youths and middle aged Nigerian as followers on social media and in the country.

Oby’s passion for the female child and Nigerian children has registered in the consciousness of the world as the most passionate in the search for the kidnapped girls in a girls school in Chibok, Borno, Nigeria. She is one of the leading voices of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign.

A chartered accountant, Oby co-founded of Transparency International, serving as one of the pioneer directors of the global anti-corruption body based in Berlin, Germany.

The social activist served as Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Solid Minerals and then as Federal Minister of Education during ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s second term in office.

She has since served as the Vice-President of the World Bank's Africa division from May 2007 to May 2012.

Wealth Source: Accountancy, Economic Policy

Company: Board member, Bharti Airtel

Age: 54

Biola Alabi

Abiola Alabi found her way into the top league of successful and influential Nigerian women when she held the position of Managing Director for M-Net Africa, part of the Naspers Group.

Before her role, Biola had worked as part of the executive team at the influential children’s television brand Sesame Street, and a member of the marketing team that launched the Korean motor vehicle corporation Daewoo in the United States of America.

She is known to have achieved several feats while with M-Net Africa where she also kicked off the AMVCAs, a movie award show that is gradually becoming the biggest in Africa.

Biola, who kicked off her Biola Alabi Media company in 2016 after quitting M-Net Africa, is the founder of “Grooming for Greatness” a leadership development and mentorship program for a new generation for African leaders.

In 2012, she was named one of the 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa by Forbes Magazine and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.

Biola’s media outfit has tapped into the Nigerian, African and global market with a food travel docu-series, ‘Bukas and Joints’ and a movie, ‘Banana Island Ghost’, which grossed millions of Naira while in cinemas.

Wealth Source: Media

Company: Biola Alabi Media

Age: 48

Betty Irabor

Betty Irabor remains one of the powerful female publishers in Nigeria since the debut of her Genevieve Magazine.

Married to seasoned broadcaster, Soni Irabor, Betty holds sway as the Editor-In-Chief and Chief Executive Officer of Genevieve magazine.

A philanthropist and public speaker, Betty’s influence and strong point remains her campaign against breast cancer with an awareness programme that culminates into a society ball yearly.

Known to have championed breast cancer awareness with her nonprofit known as Genevieve PinkBall Foundation, Betty’s magazine has continuously provided motivation and empowerment for female and young folks alike.

Wealth Source: Media

Company: Genevieve Magazine

Age: 61

Linda Ikeji

Unarguably the youngest on this list, Linda Ifeoma Ikeji is the Nigerian model turned media entrepreneur.

Linda’s influence is so powerful that at the mention of her name, every Nigerian and citizens of West African countries tells you who she is and what she does.

Widely referred to as the richest Nigerian blogger, who redefined the blogging-sphere in Nigeria, Linda’s followership has been touted to earn her a political seat should she intend to go into governance.

In August 2012, Linda was featured by Forbes Africa as one of Africa's 20 Most Prominent Women. In the same year, she appeared on BBC’s Focus on Africa telling the world her story as a media entrepreneur with a force to reckon with.

In 2014, Linda was the biggest Google Search trend in Nigeria and in 2016, Linda announced the creation her median outfit which include Linda Ikeji TV, Linda Radio and LindaIkejisocial.

Wealth Source: Media

Company: Linda Ikeji Media

Age: 37

7 successful and influential Female Nigerians you should know

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