7 Leading Women In Nigeria’s Business Scene

Nigeria’s women have made strides in the world of business. Over the past couple of decades, they have caused their presence to be felt in several industries, with feats and successes that reveal them to be competent leaders in their niches.

This article takes a look at seven of such women and celebrates their accomplishments. They are discussed below, in no particular order.

Stella Okoli

Stella Okoli is the founder and CEO of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, one of Nigeria’s largest pharmaceutical companies. A pharmacist by training, she worked at multiple healthcare product providers before founding Emzor in 1977.

In the years since its establishment, Emzor has expanded its reach well beyond Nigeria’s borders and is now present in several African countries. The company currently produces more than 50 healthcare products.

In 2006, Chinyere set up the Chike Okoli Foundation (named after her late son). The foundation’s mission is to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases and the dangers associated with them.

Folorunsho Alakija

Folorunsho Alakija is an oil magnate, philanthropist, and one of Africa’s richest women. She is the Executive Chairman of Famfa Oil, and the Group Managing Director of the Rose of Sharon Group, which includes a couple of printing companies. She also holds a majority stake in Dayspring Property Development Company.

Through her philanthropy organization, the Rose of Sharon Foundation, she has provided scholarships and grants to widows and orphans from across Nigeria.

Mosunmola Abudu

Mosunmola Abudu (popularly known as Mo Abudu) is a leading figure in Nigeria’s broadcasting industry. She’s the CEO of Ebony Life TV, a television station that’s viewed in several dozen countries in Africa and the Caribbean.

Besides her involvement with electronic broadcasting, she’s also engaged in filmmaking and content production. Through Ebony Life Films, Mo has produced a number of movies, including The Wedding Party (one of Nollywood’s top-grossing movies), the Royal Hibiscus Hotel, and Chief Daddy.

In 2013, Abudu was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Global TV by Hollywood Reporter.

Catherine Uju Ifejika

Catherine Uju Ifejika is the CEO of Brittania-U Nigeria Limited, a petroleum company involved in upstream exploration and production. Brittania-U has a subsidiary in Ghana which Catherine also leads.

Another enterprise headed by Catherine is Data Appraisal Company, which is engaged in sub-surface engineering for oil exploration and exploitation. She also owns Nextee Oil and Gas Trading Company, which transports crude to designated destinations.

Catherine is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading women in the petroleum business, as well as one of Africa’s richest women.

Ndidi Nwuneli is co-founder of Sahel Capital Partners, a fund manager and advisory firm that’s active in the agriculture and manufacturing industries. She also co-founded AACE Foods, a food processing company.

Founded in 2010, Sahel Capital has provided consulting services to clients in a number of African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Liberia. It has also worked with ECOWAS, Oxfam International, USAID, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

In 2002, Nwuneli launched LEAP Africa, a Non-Governmental Organization that trains young people in civics, ethics, and leadership.

Tara Fela-Durotoye

Tara Fela-Durotoye is the founder and CEO of House of Tara, a beauty and skincare consulting firm. House of Tara is one of the oldest continually functional businesses in its niche, with products that have played a pioneering role in the local makeup market.

Founded in 1997 it grew from being run in a single room to having more than 20 stores, 14 beauty schools and over 200 products.

Tara Fela-Durotoye is an alumnus of the Lagos Business School, INSEAD Abu Dhabi, Yale University, and the Stanford SEED Transformation Program. Forbes named her one of Africa’s 50 Most Powerful Women in 2020.

Funke Opeke

Funke Opeke is the founder and CEO of MainOne, one of Nigeria’s top communications service and network solutions providers.

Funke has a background in electrical engineering. Prior to setting up MainOne, she had been Executive Director of the Wholesale Division at Verizon Communications, the USA, and Chief Technical Officer at MTN.

As MainOne’s Chief Executive, she oversaw the company’s deployment of West Africa’s first privately-owned undersea cable, a $240 million project. The company has also built West Africa’s largest Tier III Data Center, an investment that cost $40 million.

Final Words

If there’s anything to learn from the exploits of Nigerian women in business, it’s the fact that commerce and industry are better off with more women playing productive roles in them. The women we’ve profiled here prove this point.