Amina Mohammed, Mo Abudu, Somkele Idhalama & more! YNaija.com and Leading Ladies Africa present the 100 most inspiring women in Nigeria

41. Joke Bakare

Quiet and steadfastly building a chain of reputable pharmacies, Joke Bakarae is the brain behind Medplus Pharmacy Nigeria; a successful brand that has become one of the biggest retail pharmaceutical chains in Nigeria. She is a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and a reminder that we can achieve what we set our mind to achieve.

42. Joycee Awoojodu

From her skin care brand that has its raw materials sourced from Africa to her luxury spa, Joycee and the Oriki brand are a standard of class and excellence. As an organic skin expert, she is empowering farmers and maximizing the use of natural ingredients Africa

is blessed with. It’s refreshing to see Nigerians creating brands that can compete on a global landscape.

43. Juliet Ehimuan Chiazor

In the tech industry, Juliet Ehimuan Chiazor stands out. As Google’s Country Manger Nigeria she has proved her worth and the results speak for her. A consummate professional and highly qualified expert, Juliet is a brilliant example of why more women should be encouraged to pursue careers in STEM. Under her leadership, Google Nigeria has launched innovative products and services aimed at building the online ecosystem in Nigeria.

Kemi Adetiba

44. Kemi Adetiba

Kemi constantly exemplifies what being a “King Woman” is, and has become one Nigeria’s most inspiring and influential women. A woman of many talents; she has easily and effortlessly segued between being a Music Video Director, a Filmmaker and a Television Director. In 2016, she made headlines with her feature film debut, The Wedding Party. Her directorial skills in the movie, which was regarded as 2016’s most talked about movie, earned her great accolades and commendations from movie lovers and critics. Since its December 2016 theatrical release, the Kemi Adetiba-Directorial debut is now the highest grossing Nigerian movie of all time, grossing an estimated N450m in the box office.

45. Kemi Onabanjo (Engagement Manager at McKinsey)

We love Kemi because she lives the life most people dream about. We’re inspired by her because she takes it even a step further by actively pursuing her dreams. Kemi is the Engagement Manager at McKinsey Nigeria, serving a broad range of clients in the public and private sector. A valedictorian of her MBA Class at INSEAD – we can’t forget how utterly inspiring her graduation speech was. Kemi is passionate traveler, and visited 30 countries before she turned 30. Whoop!!

46. Kene Rapu

Kene is the Founder and Creative Director behind eponymous and indigenous shoe brand, Kene Rapu. Her slippers have become a favourite staple of the Nigerian millennial class, and is growing rapidly. A serial entrepreneur, Kene recently launched Zola and Makena, a boutique event management company specialising in the planning and management of small and medium sized events. We love that she is steadily building a global brand.

47. Kofo Akinkugbe (CEO Secure ID)

Kofo Akinkugbe is recognized internationally for her inspiring entrepreneurship journey, and enviable business record. She’s a visionary and the CEO of Secure ID – a market leader in smart card technology and digital security. Fusing technology and cutting edge service delivery, Secure ID serves 16 countries across Africa and is fully certified by VISA, Verve and MasterCard. Kofo is one of the few women in Africa, pushing the card for innovation and I.T.

48. Latasha Ngwube

Latasha Ngwube is not one to conform to standards. She sets her own. In a world where beauty is stereotyped to size zeros and bikinis, Latasha is promoting the big, bold and beautiful message. The fashion and lifestyle journalist launched “About That Curvy Life”, a platform to empower plus sized women. She also played a major role in birthing the first curvaceous women fashion show at The Lagos Fashion and Design Week in October 2016. We love that she’s showing women how to love their curves.

Liz Awoliyi-Osho

49. Liz Osho

Good things start with an idea, great things start with a strategy. Liz Osho is a fabulous writer, detailed strategist and a social media expert. Liz wowed as the Online Manager at Genevieve Magazine before setting up So.Me Solutions, a digital agency that specializes in presenting small businesses to the world using social media and digital marketing. With a broad range of clients including South African Tourism, Liz is definitely shattering ceilings.

50. Lola Maja-Okojevoh

We love Lola, first because she’s got such a BIG heart and lovely personality. Being in the industry for over 25 years, Lola easily stands out among the crowd as a phenomenal make-up artist, massage therapist, beauty tutor, spa and cosmetics brand consultant, and so much more. Despite her very impressive résumé, her clients describe her as one of the coolest and most down to earth persons they’ve ever met. When it comes to celebrities, big brands and events, the Founder of The Beauty Insider always adds a touch of excellence.

51. Lola Masha

Lola is currently the Country Manager, OLX Nigeria, a national online classifieds market place She oversees the overall business success across all functions, including technology, and has significant international experience, having worked with global brands like McKinsey and Google. Under her leadership, OLX Nigeria now dominates as one of Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading online trading platforms, and boasts of an over 70% female workforce. With her Engineering background, Lola is a powerful example of why more women should be in STEM careers.

Luvvie Ajayi

52. Luvvie Ajayi

Luvvie is a Nigerian-American Award winning writer, blogger, political commentator and socio-cultural activist/critic, based in Chicago. In 2016, she authored the New York Times Bestseller ‘I’m Judging You.’ Luvvie is authentic, renowned for her razor-sharp wit and epic clapbacks on social media, and is one of the pillars of the African-American community in the United States. She is also the Co-Founder and Executive Director of ‘The Red Pump Project’, a national non-profit organization that connects women from around the world and raises their awareness on the impacts of HIV/AIDS in societies. Earlier this year, Shonda Rhimes’ production company, Shondaland acquired the rights to adapt Luvvie’s book into a cable comedy series.

53. Mercy Aigbe

Mercy Aigbe Gentry is one of Nigeria’s leading ladies in the movie industry. Her movies roles coupled with her phenomenal interpretation have endeared her to millions of fans. Mercy is also one lady to look out for whenever she steps on the red carpet, as she displays a keen sense of fashion. Apart from her acting career, Mercy is also an entrepreneur and owns Mag Divas Boutique which earned her “Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year” at the Links and Glitz awards.

Mercy Makinde

54. Mercy Makinde

Mercy Makinde has one of the most impressive résumés and reputations as an experienced entrepreneur, writer, speaker and enterprise advocate. She is the Founder/ CEO of many businesses and outfits including Crested Crane Tours & Travels, IASPIRE BLOG, IASPIRE RADIO (Nigeria’s First Motivational Radio Station). She’s also the Founder of the Amazon Initiative, a platform that encourages African women to break barriers and soar.

Mfon Ekpo

55. Mfon Ekpo

Mfon Ekpo is the CEO of The Discovery Centre, a training organization that specializes in developing effective strategies, systems and structures for organizational and individual development with the sole aim of expanding their influence, impact and income. An avid scholar and a development strategist, Mfon holds multiple degrees in Public and International Law, Business law and Social sciences, Journalism, Neuro-linguistic Programming. She launched her ‘The Blueprint of How’ seminar in 2016 which helps women to navigate the maze of success. Today, the seminar has been held in many countries across the world and has impacted hundreds of women who testify to receiving clarity after attending the seminar.

56. Mo Abudu

Mo Abudu needs no introduction and is globally recognized as a leading media icon and entrepreneur in Africa. As the CEO/Founder of Ebony Life TV, she has created a platform for Africa to tell its own stories in a way that resonates with audiences all over the world. Through Ebony Life Films, she’s constantly redefining African cinema, and pushing bold and audacious narratives. Mo is the producer of 2016 box-office record breaking movie ‘The Wedding Party’ – a movie that endeared itself to critics and fans alike. Regarded as one of the most influential and inspiring names in the Nigerian media and entertainment industry, Mo is constantly fueled by her passion to help change the narrative about Africa. In 2015, she was listed by Forbes as one of Africa’s most successful women.

Modupe Fagbohungbe

57. Modupe Fagbohungbe

Since she launched Salt Lagos, Modupe has been melting hearts with delicious treats across the globe. After quitting her full time job, Modupe enrolled for a culinary course at the Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, qualified as an international chef and hasn’t looked back since. Using her culinary skills, Modupe aims to bring the Nigerian and African Cuisine to the limelight by creating a fusion between African and Western Cuisine. A sought-after speaker Modupe also shares lessons learned from her entrepreneurial journey at key seminars, symposiums and events.

Mofolusade Sonaike

58. Mofolusade Sonaike

After dealing with not being able to spend time with her kids while she had a high-flying career, Mofolusade founded Mumpreneur, a website dedicated to inspiring and building ‘a league kick-ass mums!’ She also serves as the CEO of Trezorlandia limited. A strong advocate of change and self-development in women, Mofolusade’s goal is to help women successfully to manage entrepreneurship and motherhood.

59. Mosun Bello-Olusoga

Mosun Bello-Olusoga is the Chairperson of Access Bank PLC, the first woman in the history of that institution to achieve that position. She serves as the Principal Consultant and Programme Director of KRC Limited and she is a dignified fellow at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. She remains a great inspiration to women and girls all over the world, as she continues to break boundaries in a male dominated industry.

60. Ndidi Olatunji-Bello

Ndidi is the owner and Managing Director of B’Natural spa; Nigeria’s foremost Med Spa. Her passion for beautifying women led her to create a business that provides women with quality body care and skin treatment. In 2016, B’Natural Spa won the award of Africa’s Best Quality Cosmetics and Skin Care Treatment Center by The African Quality Institute. Ndidi is also the first person to provide full spectrum Spa services in West Africa.

Nelly Agbogu

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