THISDAY STYLE MAGAZINE 14TH MARCH 2021

SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021

...NOT IN THISDAY STYLE? THEN YOU’RE NOT IN STYLE

TRIBUTES TO MOTHERS

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

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WEUR RS T ! T I M E

O WO D F OA N T S S E N B A R EI TT IH T

CONTENT 50 Women We Admire

PG 6-18

Celebrating Mother’s Day Tributes PG 19-23

In the spirit of International Women’s Month, it is only natural that we will celebrate women who have shattered the glass ceilings and soared to great heights with no apologies. They have worked hard to attain their goals and are setting the bar higher for younger women to emulate. They have done their families, communities and countries proud - on their terms.

AZUKA OGUJIUBA, FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI & KONYE NWABOGOR report...

THISDAY STYLE FASHION DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR RUTH OSIME

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EDITOR PRINT OLUFUNKE BABS-KUFEJI EDITOR DIGITAL KONYE NWABOGOR

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SENIOR ART DESIGNER MATHIAS ARCHIBONG 07054965500 CONTRIBUTORS ISIOMA USIADE GUEST CORRESPONDENTS AZUKA OGUJIUBA ZINA ANUMUDU JOANNA MACGREGOR SEYI ALAWODE PHOTOGRAPHER TY BELLO DIRECTOR, PRINT PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO 08077092196

This week is a double whammy because not only is it still International Women’s Month, it’s also Mother’s Day so this day is as good as any to celebrate women! We cannot emphasize enough the role of women in the world at large. Everywhere, women are being celebrated and sexism is fast becoming politically incorrect and barely tolerated in more advanced countries. But as much as we celebrate womanhood, our successes, our gargantuan steps into positions otherwise reserved for men only, our innate ability to juggle so many balls and still manage to excel in our chosen careers, our being able to balance work hours, school runs, home-keeping, welfare of the children, catering to our partners’ need AND still manage to be productive at work or business is by no means a small feat! The unfortunate things is that the ability to juggle all these balls is expected and therefore, taken for-granted by the recipients of these various role playing. So today, MOTHER’S DAY, daughters have seized the opportunity to express their love and gratitude to their biggest advocates and most loyal supporter...their mother!

We also celebrate 50 WOMEN WE ADMIRE who have left a grazing tail in their wake in their various fields of endeavour. They are hardworking and excelling in what they do. Some of them are the first females to take on their jobs but these jobs are well earned by them. They are an inspiration to other women because of their successes. They walk the walk and talk the talk with no apologies. They have dared to pursue their dreams and attain lofty goals totally erasing the myth of ‘women can only go so far’! These amazons have no ceilings and if they encounter one, the simply shatter it and continue to soar!

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FASHION DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Truly Tallest

Precious Valour

“A mother’s embrace lasts forever.”

Happy Mother’s Day

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50 WOMEN WE ADMIRE

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

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50 WOMEN WE ADMIRE

ABIKE DABIRI

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Abike Dabiri is a renowned broadcaster who worked with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) for over 15 years before her strong beliefs in the importance of service to humanity led her to pursue a political position. She contested for her first political post in 2003 and won a seat at the House of Representatives. This three-time sitting Honorable set herself apart from her peers by working tirelessly to make her mark as one of the most prominent law makers in Nigeria. Dabiri during her time in the House, was responsible for many notable bills passed into law, some of which are The Freedom of information bill, The Nigerian Infant Health Welfare Bill (ensuring every child under five receives free medical care) and a bill for an act to ensure full integration of Nigerians with physical disabilities and eliminate all forms of discrimination against them. It is also worthy to note that she was one of the lawmakers responsible for stopping the third term presidency bid put forward by President Olusegun Obasanjo. Her second and third term in office saw her emerge as the Chairman, House committee in charge of ensuring Nigerians in the diaspora are integrated into development activities of Nigeria. She is currently a Senior Special Assistant to Buhari playing the role of Chairman/CEO of Nigerians Diaspora Commission and her office has helped many Nigerians stranded abroad get back to their mother land safely.

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BY AZUKA OGUJIUBA, FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI & KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR

The month of March is International Women’s Month. Since the beginning of this month, women have been showcased and celebrated because of the pivotal roles they have played in every sphere of the society. These women have shattered ceilings creating legacies in the process. Gone are the days where the height of a woman’s role, was to be a good home-maker, wife and mother. There are all that and more...much more.

These women are setting brazing trails behind their wake as they take on the most challenging roles in their various careers and still come out smelling of roses! Even though they manage to juggle many balls trying to find a balance between work and home, there is an intuitive sense the female gender is born with that reflects on their performance in the way they handle crisis of any sorts. In today’s times, women are ruling the world - on their own terms. The world might not have fully come to terms with this glaring fact yet, but regardless, these women have earned their rightful place in terms of success and acknowledgments of their progress.

So this week, we are celebrating Titans, we are celebrating Changemakers, we are celebrating those that dare to dream and achieve these dreams with courage, guts and hard work. No apologies.

Here are the 50 Titans Of Our Time.

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

AISHA AHMAD

ADEYINKA IGBINOBA Adeyinka Igbinoba is the CEO of AIG Media Pro, a media outfit that is also into media equipment rental. She is also a Principal Partner and co-Director at Site Tech Partnership Ltd, a real estate and construction company. She is the founder of Adeyinka Igbinoba Foundation (AIF) whose vision is to eliminate poverty and joblessness for the less privilege in our society.

Adeyinka has recognized talents within the less-privileged in Lagos state but who have no resources to harness their God-given gift.

So to hasten this growth, Adeyinka set up this foundation to help individuals have access to grants with as little as N10,000 to help set up their businesses. All the foundation needs to know is the vision of the recipient and their ability to sustain a business and they are given grants from N10-50,000. This is Adeyinka’s contribution to bettering the lives of Lagos citizens and for this, we truly applaud her.

AISHA BUHARI Aisha Buhari is the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria.

Before her husband assumed office in 2015, Aisha successfully ran a business as the Founder/Managing Director of Hanzy Spa and Principal of Hanzy Beauty Institute, a beauty salon in Kaduna and Abuja. She closed her beauty salon following the emergence of her husband as president of Nigeria.

Currently as the First Lady of Nigeria, Aisha is working with the Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria, which is as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency that has plagued the country since 2009. She set up a committee to deal with the distribution of relief materials after a visit to an IDP camp in Borno State.

Also, through her Aisha Buhari Foundation, in conjunction with the National Directorate of Employment, Aisha continues to empower women throughout Nigeria. So far, she has empowered over 2000 women till date. Her Green School Agricultural Initiative at Aliyu Mustafa College, Yola, also encourages young people to embrace Agriculture. Aisha is greatly admired for her courage and strength to stand by what she strongly believes in even if it means going against the grain. Such courage has won her admiration and respect by many who see her depicting the inner strength of a woman. Someone who is able to weather the storm no matter how harsh the wind blows - a trait most befitting for the mother of the nation.

Aisha Ahmad is currently the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Of Nigeria. Since her appointment, she has been coordinating the Central Bank’s plans to promote a sound financial system in Nigeria. This all-important job of hers has seen Ahmad practically rewrite history books’ perspectives and expectations of Nigerian women and their place in society. Prior to her appointment as CBN’s Deputy Governor, Ahmad was an Executive Director (Retail Banking) at the now defunct Diamond Bank Plc. where she worked for several years, thereby carving a niche as a corporate executive and finance expert. She has also worked in most of the other top banks in the country. Aisha is a strong advocate for female and youth empowerment and volunteers at SOS Children’s Villages in Nigeria.

AISHA BABANGIDA Aisha Babangida is a humanitarian leader and experienced founder with a demonstrated history of working within philanthropy and helping underserved communities throughout Nigeria.

She is the first daughter of former military president of Nigeria, Ibrahim Babangida. She is the Chairman of the Better Life Program for the African Rural Woman, taking over after her mother, who worked previously as the chairman and founder.

In addition to the Better Life Program, Aisha has also started and worked with numerous nonprofit organizations, only fueling her passion to do more for the people of her country. Aisha loves being able to provide women and girls with educational opportunities and life skills in order to better prepare them for the future.

In addition to her passion and commitment to philanthropy, She is also passionate about finance and business. She has continued to advocate for female empowerment by working to increase women’s rights, and provide them with resources that can help transform their lives and great community. Through her work and outreach, She realized the importance of microfinance and banking for the Nigerian economy.

In 2016, she founded the Egwafin Microfinance Bank, which helps those in Africa get the access they need to funding and financing that they may not have had access to otherwise. She loves seeing how financial inclusion changes lives in her community.

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50 WOMEN WE ADMIRE

AISHA YESUFU Aisha Yesufu is a Nigerian socio-political activist, and co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls Movement, an advocacy group that brings attention to the abduction of over 200 girls, from a secondary school in Chibok, Nigeria, on 14 April 2014, by the terrorist group Boko Haram. No one can forget that iconic image of Aisha with her fist raised up in defiance of the #endsars movement which began as a voice against police brutality and drew global attention to their atrocities against the common man. That image shall remain implanted in the sands of time because Aisha and others like her, dared to come out and voice their oppressions for the world to see. They gave the youths a voice and the courage to stand up and fight for their tomorrows.

Yesufu was on the list of the BBC’s 100 Women announced on 23 November 2020. She was alsocited as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2020.

ARUMA OTEH Aruma Oteh was the Treasurer and a Vice President of the World Bank (20152018). She became the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) in Nigeria in January 2010. In this position she was responsible for regulation of Nigeria’s capital markets, including the Nigerian Stock Exchange. In July 2015, after her tenure in the SEC, she was appointed the Vice President and treasurer of the World Bank.

In 2011 Oteh was made an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in recognition of her contribution to economic development and to transforming the Nigerian capital markets. In 2011 she received the “Distinction In Public Service” award from the Commonwealth Business Council/ African Business. In 2014, Oteh won the CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) Business Woman of the Year category for West Africa. In 2020, Forbes listed her among “Africa’s 50 Most Powerful Women”

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

AMINA MOHAMMED

Amina Augie began her legal career as a Legal Aid Counsel at the Legal Aid Council, Sokoto while serving in the National Youth Service Corps from 1978 - 1979 and rose to become the Head of Department of Legal Aid Council, Sokoto State. From 1980 1982, she had a stint with the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as an Assistant Lecturer. From 1982 - 1984, she served as a Senior State Counsel in the Office of the Chief Counsel to the then President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, after which, she was appointed Lecturer by the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

In 1988, Hon. Justice Amina Adamu Augie was appointed Chief Magistrate in the Sokoto State Judiciary. While serving at the Bench, her love and passion for the academia propelled her to accept a part-time employment as Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto from 1989 - 1992. She also served as an Associate Lecturer in the same University from September 1999 - September 2002. Hon. Justice Augie was elevated to the Court of Appeal Bench in 2002. While at the Appellate Court, she served in various Divisions and rose to become Presiding Justice, Benin Division from July 2009 - September 2010; Presiding Justice, Enugu Division from September 2010 - September 2011; Presiding Justice, Kaduna Division from September 2011 - September 2012; Presiding Justice, Lagos Division from September 2012 - November 2016. Augie was elevated as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 7th of November, 2016. Hon. Justice Amina Adamu Augie has won several awards and recognitions including Faculty Prize for Best Overall Student of University of Ife, 1977, Phoebe Chiadikobi Ajayi Prize for Best Female Student (Ife), 1977, Amicable Assurance Prize for Best Student (Ife), 1977. She has also received Merit Awards, from The Law Students’ Society, University of Ibadan, 2006, International Association of Women Judges (Africa Region), 2005, Federation of Muslim Women (FOMWAN), Edo State Chapter, 2005, National Association of Democratic Lawyers with the Ford Foundation, 2005, Nigerian Law School Graduating Class of 1988, 2003, Sokoto State Students, 2001, Gamji Club, Sokoto, 1992, Faculty of Law Students, Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto, 1991, Lagos State Judiciary, 2016, Kebbi State, 2016 and Court of Appeal, 2014. In September, 2014, Hon. Justice Amina Augie was conferred with the prestigious National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration and a recipient of the honour Fellowship of Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, November 2016.

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50 WOMEN WE ADMIRE

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

BELLA DISU

Amina Jane Mohammed is a Nigerian diplomat and politician who is serving as the fifth Deputy SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations. Previously, she was Nigerian Minister of Environment from 2015 to 2016 and was a key player in the Post-2015 Development Agenda process.

Before she become a Minster in Nigeria, Amina had a first stint with the United Nations in 2012 when she was a Special Adviser to former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

She was responsible for post-2015 development planning and led the process that resulted in global agreement around the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the implementation of its goals.

As the Minster of Environment in Nigeria, Mohammed focused on renovation and buildings of structures to help with the welfare of Nigerians, and top in that priority list were schools and hospitals. She has always been an advocate for the improvement of social services, better education and its availability. All these ideals were important to her even when she was in the private sector and when she moved to the public sector, her goals were noted which made her Adviser to several Presidents in Nigeria on these matters, predominantly with focus on the welfare of people and how to empower them and make them attain their highest goals in a conducive environment.

Eradicating poverty, public sector reform, and sustainable development remain her watchwords till date. Mohammed has been conferred with several honorary doctorates and is the recipient of various global awards.

AMINA AUGIE

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BOLANLE AUSTENPETERS Bolanle Austen-Peters is a Nigerian Businesswoman, Lawyer, Awardwinning Film and Theatre Director.

Popularly known as “Queen of Nigerian Theatre”, she is the founder and Managing Director of Terra Kulture, a Nigerian arts and culture centre located in Lagos, Nigeria.

In 2013, she raised the bar in the theatre industry with the production of SARO THE MUSICAL, which received a number of accolades and reviews from international media houses including the BBC and Sky news and has since produced several additional commissioned plays.

In 2004, Bella Disu joined Globacom Ltd, a multinational telecommunications company operating in Ghana and Nigeria, and is now the Group Executive Director. In 2011, she took on an additional role of Group Executive Director of Cobblestone Properties and Estates Limited to become CEO in 2015.

She is a non-Executive Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, and a Director at Abumet Plc, a glass and aluminium manufacturing company in Nigeria. In January 2019, she assumed the role of Executive Vice Chairman of Globacom after joining the firm in 2004. In October 2019, under Cobblestone properties, she unveiled a 10-storey luxury apartments at Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos State which is called ‘Sisi Paris’. In 2021, she was appointed Chairman, Board of Directors of Abumet Nigeria Limited. Bella is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Directors and the Nigerian Institute of Management.

Bella was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettresby the French government in December 2019, for her contributions on preservation of arts and culture especially her coordination of the construction of the Alliance Francaise Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos.

At a relatively young age, Bella had displayed strength, dedication and hard work through her phenomenal tenacity and wealth of knowledge in business.

CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian born writer. She is known to be a feminist and has given voice to the people of African origin living in America and other countries. Her short stories are explicit about the Nigerian Civil war and the plight of the people caught in the conflict. She has made a lasting impact on the minds of her readers. Her work has been translated into over 30 languages and has appeared in various publications, including The New Yorker, Granta, The O. Henry Prize Stories, the Financial Times, Her 2009 TED Talk, The Danger of A Single Story, is now one of the most-viewed TED Talks of all time. Her 2012 talk We Should All Be Feminists started a worldwide conversation about feminism, and was published as a book in 2014.

FOLAKE SANU

TOYIN SARAKI Toyin Ojora-Saraki is a global health advocate, healthcare philanthropist and the Founder-President of Wellbeing Foundation Africa.

As Founder-President of Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), Saraki is a Nigerian philanthropist with two decades of advocacy covering maternal, newborn and child health, gender-based discrimination and violence, improving education, socioeconomic empowerment and community livelihoods in Africa. She is a global health advocate of Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria, reducing the rate of maternal and infant mortality. She also launched a social media campaigns through Wellbeing Foundation Africa called #MaternalMonday in 2012, and #WASHWednesday, #ThriveThursday and #FrontlineFriday in 2018, to raise awareness on key issues in women children and adolescents health and nutrition, gender equality, water sanitation and hygiene, and frontline healthworkers. in Africa.

She contributed to the establishment of the Lifestream Charity in 1993 and is an advocate of the United Nations Every Woman Every Child campaign. She is on the board of the Global Foundation for the Elimination of Domestic Violence and the board of the Africa Justice Foundation.

Saraki was appointed to the International Steering Council of ICPD25 in 2019, is a Board Observer to the WHO Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health PMNCH, and is also a Special Advisor to the WHO Africa Regional Office, Newborn Champion for Save the Children Nigeria, Universal Health Coverage Champion by Devex, United Nations Population Fund UNFPA Family Planning Champion, White Ribbon Alliance Global Champion, and was appointed the Inaugural Global Goodwill Ambassador to the International Confederation of Midwives in 2014.

FUNKE AKINDELE Funke Akindele is a Nigerian actress and producer who gained national fame when she starred in her 2008’s hit comedydrama, Jenifa.The role not only made Funke a household name, but it also won her the “Best Actress in a Leading Role” award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.

Folake Sanu is a reputable banking and finance professional with over 38 years’ work experience.

Having started in Audit, Folake has worked in Executive and Senior Management roles for several commercial banks in Nigeria, as well as a board member on various non-financial institutions such as FITC, and others.

Her work experience spreads across Corporate Strategy, Financial Control, Operations and Technology, Risk Management, Audit, Mergers and Acquisitions, Credit and Marketing. Before joining the banking industry, she formerly worked as an auditor with Peat Marwick Ani Ogunde & Co (later KPMG) for over ten years.

Folake is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN); an honorary senior member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN); an alumnus of the London Business School, INSEAD Fontainbleau and Harvard Business School (where she had attended and obtained various Executive and Advanced Management Programme Certificates).

She joined the leadership of WEMA Bank in 2015 as the Executive Director Lagos Business Directorate before becoming the Director in charge of the Bank’s Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility, Human Capital Management, Operations, Customer Experience Management, Business Processes Re-engineering and Brand & Marketing Communications departments. Over the years, she has successfully overseen efficiency in service delivery for the bank’s Branches, strategic focus, digitization of core processes and all-round improvement of brand perception, brand loyalty and brand acceptance. Folake is a resultoriented, resourceful and a motivating leader dedicated to pursuing excellence.

She is happily married to Jimi Sanu, and their marriage is blessed with a child. She enjoys travelling, listening to music, watching movies, and taking part in aerobics and sports.

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50 WOMEN WE ADMIRE

GBEMI SARAKI

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

HADIZA BALA USMAN

Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki is currently the Minister of State for Transportation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on 21 August 2019[2] and former senator who was elected to represent the Kwara Central Senatorial District in the year 2003 under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1999 representing Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency, Kwara State.

Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki is currently the Minister of State for Transportation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari and former senator from Kwara state. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1999.

And quite naturally, after a successful stint at the National Assembly, Gbemi emerged as Nigerian Best Female Legislator, with the highest number of bills presented and got passed into law by any female in the political history of Nigeria.

She built her unique political career on core value of positive impact in the lives of her people and of course her state, Kwara. She headed different committees and she further enlarged her understanding of the dynamics of governance and the interrelationship with leadership as a fulcrum of building a better nation.

Legislative experience in the House and the Senate, chairing and membership of the divergent committees and a broad life experience, has enabled Gbemi develop a deep understanding of the critical issues confronting Nigeria.

She is a visionary leader who works tirelessly to improve the rating of our nation in key areas such as poverty, corruption, economic development, education, energy, health, agriculture, water resources and the empowerment of women and youths. She is blessed with extraordinary drive, stamina and a daunting work-ethic as evidenced by her legislative track-record.

Hadiza Bala Usman, since 2016, has been serving as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority. Her career began with Centre for Democratic Development and Research Training [CEDDERT] Zaria, a NonGovernmental Organization in June 1999-June 2000 as a Research Assistant. Following which, she worked at the Bureau of Public Enterprise [BPE], the agency charged with the implementation of the privatisation programme of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She also worked for the United Nations Development Programme [UNDP] for the Federal Capital Territory Administration [FCTA], Abuja as a Special Assistant to the Minister on Project Implementation then later worked as Director of Strategy of the Good Governance Group, a Non-Governmental Organization.

In 2014, she co-founded the global movement #BringBackOurGirls which has been demanding for the rescue of the 219 young girls abducted by the terrorist group Boko Haram from Chibok Secondary School in Borno State North East of Nigeria.

In 2015, she was appointed as the Chief of Staff to the Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, a position she held until her appointment on 2016 as the Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority. Hadiza was named amongst the most influential women of 2014, by Financial Times. She was also named amongst CNN’s Most Inspiring Women inspiring of 2014 not to mention being voted as one of the, 100 Most Influential Black Women In The World by Ebony Magazine in 2014.

IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU

Ijeoma Nwogwugwu is the Managing Director of Arise News. Prior to this position, she held the track record of editing all three titles under the THISDAY stable for the longest unbroken period of 11 years and is the second woman in the history of Nigerian journalism to be appointed Editor of a national newspaper. In 2020, she was named the Most Powerful Woman in Journalism

by WIJ Africa. Asides this, she has sat on the boards of the Nigerian Security Printing & Minting Company Limited, Daily Times of Nigeria Plc. and the National Hospital Abuja. She brings to journalism, a wealth of experience across private and public sectors.

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JADESIMI AMY

Amy Jadesimi is a Nigerian businesswoman and the CEO of the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL), the only privately owned logistics and engineering facility in Nigeria. In 2012, Jadesimi was named an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellow.

In 2013, she was named as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Also that year she was given the title of Rising Talent by the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society.

Forbes included her in the 2014 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa article. The Financial Times named her one of the top 25 Africans To Watch.

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

JUMOKE ODUWOLE Jumoke Oduwole is an academic, government advisor, and advocate. She is the Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Ease of Doing Business.

Until her appointment to this role in August 2019, Jumoke was Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industry, Trade & Investment in the Office of the Vice President. Her team is responsible for Nigeria moving up an unprecedented 39 places in the World Bank’s flagship Doing Business Report over the last three years, among other notable achievements.

She is currently on leave of absence from the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Nigeria, where she is a Senior Lecturer.

Jumoke is a respected global thought leader in her field. She was the only African nominated onto the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Trade and Investment in 2016 and is a highly sought-after speaker. Prior to her career in academia, Jumoke led a corporate banking unit of the telecommunications sector team in Guaranty Trust Bank Plc’s Corporate Banking Group. She was an investment banker with FCMB Capital Markets Ltd from 2000 to 2003.

Jumoke was on the boards of Ecobank Nigeria Plc and Positive Action for Treatment Access (PATA), a leading HIV/AIDS advocacy NGO; as well as the Advisory Board of the “Know Your Constitution” Initiative, a civil liberties movement pioneered by a United Nations Young Ambassador for Peace. She is currently a Trustee of the Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS), an Africa-wide think tank which provides an inclusive platform for African youth, and is a Tutu Fellow of the African Leadership Institute.

LINDA IKEJI Linda Ikeji is a writer, an entrepreneur and a successful blogger. Since 2006, Linda started her blogging journey and she has sustained it till date which is a testament to the kind of commitment it takes to be an entrepreneur especially in the creative industry. Her blog has become one of the top go-to websites in Nigeria and, arguably, the most successful and influential social platform in her country.

IBUKUN AWOSIKA Ibidun Awosika is an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author, mother, and a pastor. She has set a standard for young women in Africa to follow by showing them that “What a man can do, a woman can do even better”. A testimony of that is her huge success in the furniture industry; an industry dominated by the men. But Ibukun Awosika has a few firsts up her list, one of which is as the first female Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of The Chair Centre Group, a group of companies involved in manufacturing, retail and providing bank-way security systems services.

As a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative, Aspen Global Leadership Network, Institute of Directors and Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria, Ibukun, through her projects, aspires to use her opportunities in life to further the greatness of her country by raising entrepreneurs to create jobs for the largely unemployed youthful population. She is a member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), and has served on National Job Creation Committee (NJCC). She also sits on the International Advisory Board of IESE Business School, Barcelona-Spain.

This renowned entrepreneur is also a TV personality and hosts a programme on television called “Business His Way.” She is also the author of “Business His Way” and “The Girl Entrepreneurs”.

Beyond her intimidating career success, Ibukun is a pastor at the Fountain of Life Church and has established the Christian Missionary Fund which is dedicated to raising support for Christian missionaries across the country.

Ibukun is a multiple award-winning entrepreneur and the first Nigerian recipient of the prestigious International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) Award from the US Department of State in 2008.

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KEMI IBRU

JULIET EHIMUAN Juliet Ehimuan is a Nigerian technology expert and entrepreneur who currently serves as Google’s Country Manager in Nigeria. She was named by Forbes as one of the Top 20 Power Women in Africa, and by the London Business School as one of 30 People Changing The World.

Under Juliet’s leadership, Google Nigeria launched a nationwide program called Get Nigerian Businesses Online. The program provides free and easy tools that any business owner could use to create a website in a couple of hours, and also get listed on Google Maps.

A thought leader, Juliet is a leading voice on Innovation, Transformation, and Leadership.

KADARIA AHMED Kadaria Ahmed is a Nigerian journalist, media entrepreneur, and television host. She started her career at the BBC in London and has worked in print, radio, television, online and social media platforms. With an MA from Goldsmiths, she was a senior producer at the BBC and the Editor of NEXT. In 2019, she gained national prominence after she moderated Nigeria’s presidential election debate on live TV. Since then, Kadaria has continued to problematize several national issues in the public space.

Kemi Ibru is a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist with a Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. She is currently obtaining her PhD in gender-based violence from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the UK. Her unmitigated passion for women’s rights and protection led her to create Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) in Nigeria.

The foundation addresses the prevalence of rape and gender-based violence through intervention and treatment for girls and women. They provide effective educational and community-based initiatives.

Ibru has been recognized with several awards including “Leading Ladies Africa”, “100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria” in 2018, recognitions by the British Council in Nigeria not to mention Her Network’s 2019’s “Woman of the Year in Advocacy.” In 2020, she was recognized as one of the CNN COVID Heroes and

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

MARIAM UWAIS MAIDEN IBRU Since taking over as CEO of the Guardian Group in 1999, Maiden Ibru has maintained its core values: presenting balanced news and promoting the best interests of Nigeria. Under her leadership, the paper has continued to demonstrate its commitment to the best tradition and ideals of democracy and respect for human rights and justice. Over the years, she has continued to mobilize resources to provide support for Nigeria’s democratic progress and for this she has received several honours, including the Golden Cross of Welfare from the Greek Parliament and another award from the University of Manchester.

MO ABUDU Mo Abudu is the founder and CEO of Ebony Life, Africa’s first global black entertainment network. She is a media personality, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, movie and tv producer, human resources consultant, talk show hostess and a philanthropist.

She has been compared to Oprah Winfrey with The Independent and Slate Afrique calling her “Africa’s Oprah” and “Nigerian Winfrey” respectively. Mo commands global respect for what she represents and continues to push the boundaries, while directly providing employment for literally thousands of people across several fields spanning journalism, movie production, events, and hospitality as her latest venture, an academy for creative arts shows.

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MOJI RHODES Moji Rhodes’s13 year career spans public and private organizations in the UK & Nigeria.

She commenced her career in the public sector as a business-planning manager at the UK government’s Department of Health. She went on to serve as the Senior Special Assistant for Administration & Strategy and became the first female Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Governor of Lagos from 2007 2015. In her position as Deputy Chief of Staff, Moji had administrative oversight for the Governor’s Office and managed relations with over 75 government ministries and agencies. In partnership with the Harvard Kennedy School’s IFED Program, Rhodes has established and managed the INNOVATE LAGOS initiative, which was the first government-led program to support innovation in Nigeria. She also served as Chairman of the Lagos State Competitiveness Project, set up by the Lagos Business School and Lagos State Government. As a Senior Special Assistant for Administration and Strategy, Rhodes restructured operations in the Governor’s Office to improve efficiency and delivery, established a Project Monitoring Unit and the Lagos-Clinton Foundation Partnership programme. She also served as a member of the Lagos State Government’s high level policy team that developed and implemented transformational policies covering Infrastructure, Security, Transportation and The Environment. In the private sector she served as Brand & Communications Manager at United Bank for Africa PLC (UBA) Nigeria and Creditor Relations Analyst at Lehman Brothers (London).

With a keen interest in politics she also served as a member of the APC Presidential Campaign’s Communications and Fundraising Committees for the 2015 General Elections in Nigeria.

Maryam Uwais (MFR) is the current Special Advisor to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Investments. She is a legal practitioner and human rights activist with almost 40 years experience as a Lawyer.

Before becoming Minister, Uwais served as a Principal Partner of Wali Uwais & Co, an Abuja-based law firm. Before then, she served on the Council of the National Human Rights Commission, where she also worked as Special Representative of Child Rights; the Board of the Justice Research Institute, the Kukah Centre as well as the Coalition Against Tobacco, amongst others. She also served on state, federal and continental committees such as The Kano State Almajiri Committee, President Goodluck Johnathan’s Presidential Advisory Council, The Northern Nigeria Governor’s Committee on Reconciliation, Security Healing, as well as the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child for five years.

She founded the Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative in December 2009, which targets the conditions of women and children in education, healthcare and empowerment.

Maryam Uwais has also worked as a consultant to the Open Society Initiative for West Africa, UNICEF, the World Bank, and DfID. She has written and published several articles on economic and social rights, interfaith dialogue, child justice administration and good governance.

She was before her appointment, a Non-Executive Director and Member of Board of Directors of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC. She was also a member of the Editorial Board of THISDAY newspapers.

MOSUN BELO-OLUSOGA Mosun Belo-Olusoga is a financial services industry practitioner and a credit & risk management specialist. She served as the chairman of Access Bank PLC and sits as a non-executive director on the board of Premium Pensions Limited, Action Aid and MTN Foundation.

She had an illustrious banking career spanning nearly three decades and joined the Board of Access Bank in November 2007 to retire in 2020 after completing the 12-year term limit permitted by the CBN’s Code of Corporate Governance for banks and discount houses.

Belo-Olusoga also worked in Gurantee Trust bank Plc and retired in 2006 as the Executive Director, Investment Banking where she, at various times, was responsible for Risk Management, Corporate and Commercial Banking, Transaction Service and Settlements (local and foreign operations). She also served as Acting Managing Director of Trust Bank of Africa Limited in 2003.

She is a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

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50 WOMEN WE ADMIRE

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA

NDIDI OKONKWO NWUNELI

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala is the Director-General of the World Trade Organization. She is the first woman and the first African to hold the office. Previously, Dr OkonjoIweala served twice as Nigeria’s Finance Minister, from 2003-2006, 2011-2015, and briefly Foreign Minister, the first woman to hold both positions. She spent a 25- year career at the World Bank as a development economist, rising to the No.2 position of Managing Director, overseeing an $81 billion operational portfolio in Africa, South Asia, Europe and Central Asia.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala has been ranked by Fortune as one of the 50 Greatest World Leaders in 2015, by Forbes as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the World consecutively for four years, by Time as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2014, and by the UK Guardian as one of the Top 100 Women in the World in 2011.

Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli is a CoFounder of Sahel Consulting and serves as its managing partner. She has 23 years of experience in international development, and through her work with Sahel, has shaped agriculture strategy and policy in West Africa for a range of clients in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

In 2010, Nwuneli and her husband Mezuo Nwuneli, Co-Founded Sahel Capital and AACE Foods. Sahel Capital is a consulting and advisory firm specializing in the agriculture and manufacturing industries. Sahel has also provided advisory and consulting services to clients in Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, and Liberia. It has also supported international agencies such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID/ Africa LEAD, ECOWAS, DFID, Oxfam International, TechnoServe/ Humanity United, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, IFDC, and the Ford Foundation. AACE Foods is focused on processing spices, complementary food and spreads sourced from smallholder farmers across Nigeria. AACE’s work in promoting nutrition, supporting smallholder farmers and displacing imports have been recognized by the Africa Diaspora Marketplace, IAP and AECF. Both firms have served as catalysts in the Nigerian and West African agribusiness landscape.

NNEKA ABULOKWE Nneka Abulokwe, OBE is a British Nigerian tech and digital governance entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of MicroMax Consulting, and one of the first Afro-Caribbean professionals in the UK to sit on the board of a top European digital transformation organization. In 2019, she was honored by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Business. In 2018, she was ranked fourth in the Financial Times Top 100 Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) Tech Leaders. She was also among the final list of Governance Professional of the Year 2018 Award by the Governance Institute. In 2019, Abulokwe was featured on the Power-list 100 as one of the most influential black business leaders, placing her among the UK’s 100 most influential black people.

OLAJUMOKE ADENOWO Olajumoke Adenowo is an architect by profession.

She is also an entrepreneur and philanthropist, a public speaker, radio host and author. CNN described her as “Africa’s Starchitect” and The Guardian (Nigeria) has described her as “the face of Architecture in Nigeria”. In 2018 she was recognised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) as one of the inspirational women in architecture today.

Adenowo has been honoured with numerous global awards for her architecture and philanthropy, way too many to mention but let’s focus on her philanthropy which has changed the lives of many, especially women, for the better. Adenowo has several philanthropic ventures. In 1999 she founded the Awesome Treasures Foundation (ATF), a UN-recognized, faith-based NGO in Lagos, Nigeria. The foundation has a mission to raise 1000 leaders by 2030 working especially women and young people. The majority of her foundation’s programming focuses on disadvantaged women and children. ATF runs Camp Dawn, an educational camp, to address the education gap for inner-city kids. It also manages Awesome Princesses, caring for young girls from the slums of Lagos who are at risk of sexual abuse and HIV/AIDS, supplying medical screenings and educational intervention.

Awesome Treasures closely mentors women for transnational leadership and entrepreneurship through vocational training, business classes and leadership training that takes place across Nigeria. In its first 15 years, 70,000 people have attended ATF leadership summits.

NNEKA ONYEALI IKPE Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe assumed office as Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank on January 1, 2021 and has been an integral part of the transformation team at Fidelity Bank in the last six years. With over 30 years’ experience across various banks including Standard Chartered Bank, Zenith Bank and Citizens International Bank/Enterprise Bank, Nneka has held several management positions in Legal, Treasury, Investment Banking, Retail/Commercial Banking and Corporate Banking. As an Executive Director at Legacy Enterprise Bank, 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.

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

NIKE DAVIES Nike Davies-Okundaye, also known as Nike Okundaye, Nike Twins Seven Seven and Nike Olaniyi, is a Nigerian batik and Adire textile designer. Over the past twenty years, she has given workshops on traditional Nigerian textiles to audiences in the United States and Europe. She had her first solo exhibition at the Goethe Institute, Lagos in 1968. She is the founder and director of four art centers that offer free training to over 150 young artists in visual, musical and performing arts, comprising more than 7,000 artworks.

Finding that the traditional methods of weaving and dyeing that had been her original inspiration were fading in Nigeria, Davies-Okundaye set about launching a revival of this aspect of Nigerian culture, building art centres offering free courses for young Nigerians to learn traditional arts and crafts. In her eyes, the traditional art of Adire Eleko is only possible because of a specific Nigerian heritage of passing knowledge from one generation to the next. Nike has trained more than 3000 young Nigerians for free and she continues to help by funding the poor to establish their small businesses and art workshops in different parts of Nigeria.

OBIAGELI EZEKWESILI Obiageli Ezekwesili is a Public Analyst/Senior Economic Advisor. She served as Federal Minister of Solid Minerals and later as Federal Minister of Education during the second-term presidency of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Subsequently, she served as the VicePresident of the World Bank’s Africa division from May 2007 to May 2012. Ezekwesili was a 2018 nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in transparency in the extractive sector. In March 2019, Ezekwesili won the Forbes Woman Africa Social Influencer Award for her efforts on the #BringBackOurGirls campaign on social media. Ezekwesili contested for the office of the president of Nigeria on the platform of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria. One of her campaign promises was to lift 80 million Nigerians out of poverty.

On 24 January 2019, Oby stepped down from the presidential race owing to a divergence of values and visions with her political party, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN). No doubt, Oby would have made a formidable President if winning depended solely on merit.

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

SHOLA MOS-SHOGBAMIMU

OSARETIN DEMUREN Osaretin Demuren is a Nigerian banker, and the first female Chairman of Guaranty Trust Bank. This doyenne of the finance industry joined Central Bank in 1976 where she served in several capacities including Trade and Exchange Department. She was later deployed to Human Resource Department where she served as a Director. Osaretin retired from banking in 2009 after 33 years in the industry.

She’s a member of several professional associations including the Society for Human Resource Management of America, Nigerian Statistical Association, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

She sits on the board of Trust Fund Pensions PLC and LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited. Demuren joined the Board of Guaranty Trust Bank PLC in April 2013 and was announced Chairman in 2015. It is worthy to note this gem is multi-lingual and asides from speaking the indigenous Itsekiri, Urhobo and Yoruba languages; unassuming Demuren also speaks French, Russian and Latin fluently. This in itself, speaks volumes about her depth of character.

OMOBOLA JOHNSON Omobola Johnson is a Nigerian technocrat and the Honorary Chairperson of the global Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI).

She is also a former and first Minister of Communication Technology in the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Prior to her Ministerial appointment, she was Country Managing Director for Accenture, Nigeria. She also co-founded a women’s organization, WIMBIZ in 2001.

During her time as Minister, her office was credited with launching the NigComSat-IR Satellite (Nigerian Communication Satellite) which helped to complement the country’s efforts at fibre connectivity and the provision of greater bandwidth.

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PAULINE TALLEN Pauline Tallen is a politician, currently serving as Minister of Women Affairs.

She has enjoyed a fulfilled life and career with a barrage of sterling achievements in various aspects of her interests, including but not limited to education, politics, administration, peace and development. From 1994 to 1996, Dame Pauline served as Commissioner in the Ministry of Social Development, Youth, Sports and Culture, and Commissioner in the Ministry of Health, all in her state, Plateau. She also served faithfully as Honourable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1999 to 2003, and in 2005, she served as Chairman Governing Board, Raw Materials Research and Development (RMRDC). In same year, 2005, she was decorated with the award of National Honors of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as an official national recognition of her invaluable contribution to national development.

Tallen’s political career continued to soar on wings of tremendous achievements, leading her to very deservingly serve as Deputy Governor of her state of Plateau from 2007 to 2011. Pauline is the CHAIRMAN (Governing Board) National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA), a position she has innovatively and successfully manned from 2017 till date. She has been a world Ambassador of peace Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace, since 2000. She has received very many awards and honours in different fields and works of life.

RENI FOLAWIYO Reni Folawiyo is a Nigerian lawyer turned fashion entrepreneur, business woman and founder of Alara, West Africa’s first fashion luxury and lifestyle concept store designed by British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye. To say Reni has raised the bar when it comes to the presentation of the richness of African culture and talents is an understatement as her store is an archive of the most unique products ever to come out of the continent. This has made Alara a one-stop store for tourists from all over the world. Folawiyo has put a huge stamp on the global space by highlighting the indigenous and uniqueness of various creations through her ‘space’. She is easily one of the biggest ambassadors in changing the African narrative of today’s times.

She also owns NOK and NOK Garden by Alara to promote African cuisine.

SHOLA MOMMOH Olusola Momoh is the Vice Chairman of the Channels Media Group. With an experience spanning over four decades, her proficiency in business strategy and management skills ensures that she efficiently drives the Group’s corporate development, as well as its effective use of all corporate resources to raise the organization’s profitability and profile. Her leadership has brought several awards to Channels Television, including winning NMMA’s Best TV Station award for a record 13 times

Shola Mos-Shogbamimu is a Lawyer well known and highly respected women rights activist from Britain. Being passionate about diversity and equality, Shola is the Founder and Editor of Women in Leadership Publication.

She has taught intersectional feminism to female refugees and asylum seekers; she scrutinizes government policies from a gender and diversity inclusion perspective; and coorganizes women’s marches and social campaigns. She is also a New York Attorney and Solicitor of England & Wales with broad expertise in the financial services industry.

She is a writer, public speaker and political commentator featured in mainstream and online media. Shola took the world by storm recently with her blistering ‘show-down’ with Piers Morgan of ITV’s Good Morning Britain when they slogged it out with their differences in opinions about the Meghan and Harry debacle with the Monarchy.

Shola pointed out the card of racism not well managed

by The Firm that has ignited so much rage and revisited old wounds, an issue the palace can not and should not brush aside while Piers dug in his heels refusing to accept her views albeit rational. So much so, that the next day when another presenter’s views also favoured Meghan, Piers allowed his emotions lead him to his final exit from his job! As a feminist and a woman of colour, Shola was unyielding in her stand as she spoke on black suppression and emphasized the need to call out The Firm and put an end to this behavioral pattern.

SOLA DAVID BORHA Sola David Botha is the Chief Executive of Africa Regions for Standard Bank Group, a position she has held since 2017. She also served as Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC holdings until January 2017 having also served as its Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Corporate and Investment Banking Coverage for Africa.

An astute Board Leader with a keen eye for Corporate Governance, Sola has led and sat on various boards including being the former Vice Chairman for the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, subsidiaries of the Stanbic IBTC and Standard Bank Groups, Coca-Cola HBG AG, and many others.

She is an honourary fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

A frequent speaker at business conferences, Sola was named Business Woman of the Year for the West Arica Region in 2016 at the All Africa Business Leaders Awards.

STELLA OKOLI Stella Okoli is an entrepreneur, a pharmacist and a philanthropist. She is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries.

Okoli started out as a Ward/Clinical Pharmacist at Middlesex Hospital in London and later worked briefly as a Pharmacist at Boots UK. She returned to Nigeria and worked at Massey Children Hospital for a short while. In 1977, Stella started a small pharmacy retail shop, Emzor Chemist Ltd in Shomolu, Lagos. She named it, Emzor Chemists Limited, which later metamorphosed to Emzor Pharmaceuticals in 1984, a multi-billion Naira enterprise.

Today Emzor Pharmaceutical is a leading indigenous pharmaceutical company with well over 50 leading products to its name.

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

UCHE PEDRO Uche Pedro is a social media expert, Nigerian entrepreneur, and media entrepreneur. She is the founder of Nigeria’s trending fashion and celebrity blog, BellaNaija.com, and has inspired young Nigerians into the blogging industry.

Uche’s savvy grasp of media trends has led to BellaNaija. com becoming the go-to lifestyle, entertainment and fashion portal in Africa. Her website has established a loyal following amongst the young, cosmopolitan, upwardly mobile set in Nigeria, with over one million unique visitors and nine million page views each month.

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YEMI ALADE Yemi Alade is a Nigerian Afropop singer, songwriter, actress and activist. She won the MTV African Music Awards for Best Female in 2015 and 2016 and was nominated for Artist of the Year in 2015, making her the first female to win the MAMAs for Best Female consecutively. In 2015, Alade was the first Nigerian female to be nominated for the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) for Best African Act. It is no surprise then, that she was a coach on season two of The Voice Nigeria. Alade was recently among the forefront of artists and musicians from across the world to perform at The Global Goal: Unite For Our Future which aimed to deliver COVID-19 tests and treatments, especially in the most remote places in Africa and across the world.

She performed alongside Miley Cyrus, Shakira, J Balvin, Jennifer Hudson, Coldplay, Usher, Justin Bieber and Quavo.

As an activist, Yemi was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in September 2020. She pledged with the UNDP that her focuses on Sustainable Development Goals would be on inequality, empowering women and creating awareness for the impact of global climate change.

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

Y A D S ’ R E H MOT

TIWA SAVAGE Tiwa Savage is one of the biggest female pop stars to emerge from Nigeria with numerous hits and international awards to her name.

Initially active in the music business as a backing singer and songwriter, she warmed the hearts of her fans with her ‘Kele Kele’ love single and gradually became a household name and a major success. Over the years, she has continued releasing hits and expanded her global reach. When she’s not focusing on music, Savage touches people’s lives through her humanitarian work. She’s supported breast cancer screening projects across Nigeria and empowered youth by helping build schools in her hometown.

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s r e h t o M l l A o t e t u b i A Tr IADE

S

BY ISIOMA U

FUNKE OPEKE Funke Opeke is a Nigerian electrical engineer, founder of Main Street Technologies and Chief Executive Officer of Main One Cable Company in Nigeria – a company she started in 2008 when she noticed the low internet connectivity in Nigeria. MainOne is West Africa’s leading communications services and network solutions provider. The company built West Africa’s first privately owned, open access 7,000-kilometer undersea high capacity cable submarine stretching from Portugal to South Africa with landings along the route in Accra, Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria.

Funke has contributed greatly to correcting the country’s connectivity problems which also includes Online banking, booking services and retail websites which has helped built what is now Africa’s biggest economy.

YEWANDE SADIKU Yewande Sadiku has been Executive Secretary/CEO of NIPC, Nigeria’s foremost investment promotion agency, since November 2016.

Until then, she was the Executive Director responsible for Stanbic IBTC Group’s Corporate and Investment Banking business, ensuring the realization of business opportunities in Nigeria’s complex operating environment. She managed key relationships with regulators, and several of Nigeria’s leading corporate and multinational clients. Sadiku was previously Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC’s investment banking business.

In a 23-year banking career, Sadiku handled assignments for clients in virtually every sector of the Nigerian economy, providing financial advice on a variety of assignments, while ensuring strict legal and regulatory compliance. She played an active role in the development of the capital market by participating in industry committees and chairing the Rules and Compliance Sub-Committee, which advised SEC on the rules that guide the operation of Nigeria’s Investments and Securities Act. She frequently facilitated dialogue between corporate clients and regulators.

Sadiku has an interest in bringing formal financing to the Nigerian film industry and raised funding for Half of a Yellow Sun (2014), a full feature film. She was awarded the Eisenhower Fellowship for International Leadership in May 2010 and was one of “35 International Women Under 35” featured in the October 2007 edition of World Business Magazine.

r lebrate ou e c o t t n e om for to take a m nd thank mothers t n a w o t r us ect a 020, ime to refl ave aged mothers, 2 in order fo t y a a D is , ’s y r a e ere in our be Moth s who h other’s D w o u M t f y e o e g v h e a in t e h m b w o ’t s o y n kn For y nda No, it does to let them ted from them. The special Su f fsprings. t o is u h o ir t e e h n t o im r t t c u fo took th. expe mothers. B ces they have made but we all s of streng cause it is r , e n b la o il d s e r p e e in ifi p r r m a c rs in hey ide nder all the sa rses and t our mothe st times u ge, they gu u o e a e n r m s e u e o r o r t a c a n lt y e y e u cates. Th thers pla lift, they ts on their was diffic o c o p v e u m d fl e a s y r e e le h r o fe T r a li .

The hey not ild’s ities. thoughts. teachers. T , most mothers will ure in a ch hey build commun e g r fi a y ly e r h e T h . u t s o mo s of es. T are healer world gives up on y mother or d successe build hom n a y a f e s o h h T k t . c s w e r o la h e Even if t many gr nt teach ically and time, the s d ie a y t h in a y h p p n e , a t b y s M ll o h . a t ad eng he m tion ful and they le ause Mothers are t fully, emo een the str he prayer r t b e e s y il a a h h r p w r e u n c y e pra hat g be ide yo t less upbringin nations. A mother’s d imbibe w rd and gu and financial aspec n a a u r g e y h e t h o t aM al They build hen you are young, the physic lso become a d , o lf o e h s lt r W u u . d o to a . ou y y her of fsprings mature in eightens. Y ther into your child ken of your love, pa u h o y m o s d A . is y w se who are small to your mo o financiall words of h a t m h s o it ll a fr a w d t r r d n o e a r F t ac om. r ac you lea aspect imp hrough zo our mothe t y it d is n v e l s a , y u da irt ER’S DAY! v o H t T a y O h a M it D Y w ’s P e r HAP ativ te Mothe ) or get cre he role of mothers... s le u To celebra r id v yed t erving Co r have pla o s r a visit (obs e h t o m

TOMISIN, TIFFANY, HELEN PREST-AJAYI & TOSAN When I talked to my sisters about writing this piece we slowly came to the realisation that almost every day is Mother’s Day with us. From the biggest worry at work to the smallest fashion crisis with a brunch outfit, Mama always seems to have the perfect piece of advice (or perfect bag) to solve one small thing or the other. She can sit and chat with us about politics then switch it up to WizKid without missing a beat. Funny enough our Mother has found a way to nail that intricate balance of being a Mother and a friend that mythical “best friend Mom” type. But most importantly why it feels like every day is mother’s day is because even when we aren’t around each other I’ve noticed there are little everyday choices I make with her voice in my head remembering things she had warned me about. Habits formed based on her constant reminders. The values instilled in me while growing up, they make their way into my day everyday because of her. People often say they love their Mother and it seems to be tied to some mysterious inexplicable bond, that to me sounds really lovely but what I realised for me a long time ago is that I actually like my Mother. My sisters and I talked about it coming to the conclusion that if she was our age and we weren’t related, we’d actually be friends. So many women raise children providing them with the much needed foundation to navigate life but it is such a blessing to go through this journey being backed by someone you not only love, but also really like. Someone who has not only made our experiences growing up meaningful but also made the extra effort to make it fun. Thank you and Love you always Mama.

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

NANA BUCKNOR-SMART & DEBBIE OGHENE Dear Mummy, I celebrate you not just today on Mother’s day but every day. I feel blessed that you are my Mother and thank you for your unconditional love. You nurtured me, prayed for me, worried about me, guided me and supported me in every pursuit. Thank you for being there every day with just the love I needed. What an amazing mother you are to my siblings and I. As a mum, as a mother in law, as a grandmother you are simply the best and we feel so blessed to have you as our Mother. Mummy I thank you today and every day for your love. I thank God for making you my mum.

Love you Mummy.

Debbie Oghene.

DEINTE & ADESUWA PRINCEWILL My mother,

The one who wakes up singing.

The one with the kindest heart.

The one with the most positive spirit.

That’s my mother.

With the sweetest voice, she’s a constant source of joy wherever she goes.

My mother.

So many blessings I’ve received from strangers who find out I’m her daughter.

It’s such an honor.

My daily reminder that faith can move mountains.

That’s my mother.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Deinte Dan-Princewill

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

AJOKE OJIKUTU & NIKE ANIMASHAUN Growing up, my mum was always the disciplinarian. The kind of mother that when my brothers and I would hear car horn, we would scurry to our rooms and pretend we weren’t up to no good as she walked in. As we grew up, her stern facade began to fade and we became best friends; we became sisters.

Becoming a mother myself a couple of years ago really pointed out to me the kind of strength, determination, resilience and grace my mum exuded during my childhood - and till date.

No one in this universe inspires me more than she does. She’s taught me the importance of hardwork, diligence, patience, independence, loyalty, family, sacrifice, kindness and love. She’s always been by my side even when I didn’t want her to, and even when she probably needed the support herself the most. I will never be able to repay her for all she’s done for me, but I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying my darnedest to try.

Happy Mother’s Day mommy, thank you for EVERYTHING

Ajoke Ojikutu

ALEXA & JOKE CHUKWUMAH In describing her mother, Dr Maya Angelou says, “My mother is so full of joy and life. I am her child. And that is better than being the child of anyone else in the world.” I cannot think of better words to describe the privilege of being my mother’s daughter.

My mother is so full of joy and life.

My mother is so full of patience and resilience.

My mother is so full of love and compassion.

Living so far away and alone during the pandemic, I have never doubted her nearness because of the confidence she continues to instill in me.

Mama, as I call her, is like a compass that guides me back to myself when the world tries to pull me in different directions.

I simply would not be me if not for her. Everything good about me comes from my mother, and I will spend the rest of my life trying to find the words to thank her.

Happy Mother’s Day Mama, Love,

Alexa

YEMISI DASILVA & LANRE DASILVA AJAYI MODUPE CLARA & NGOZI EDOZIEN “She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.”

Proverbs 3:15..My Rock, My Mentor, My Idol, My Friend, my Beloved Mother... , God broke the mold after he made you! An example truly of a good woman indeed you are...

Proverbs 31:10-31 is surely a description of you! You are a wife of 66 years, a mother of six, a healthcare practitioner with decades of experience in the field of radiology having graduated from the great University of Ibadan and School of Radiology at the University of North Carolina. You are an icon of history in being the oldest living descendent of Herbert Macauley. You are not only my Queen but our very own Agu Nwanyi in being the wife of the Asagba of Asaba. You are beautiful and youthful at 87. You are a Warrior in the defense of your family and in the prayers with which you cover us with. In short dear Mummy... You are amazing and the love we have for you cannot be contained in words.

Ngozi Edozien

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My Dearest mum, has been a pillar of support for me, through thick and thin, with her unconditional love, and nurturing, my home was a safe haven for me whilst growing up. It gives me Great Pleasure to celebrate her specially today on Mother’s Day as I recap briefly on her awesomeness through the years. My mum instilled moral and ethical values, in me from the early stages of my childhood, and this has molded and shaped my life to the woman I am today. Love thy neighbor as thyself, kindness, Perseverance, Integrity, and Respect for everyone are some of the values, I hold dear to my heart, and have also passed it on to my children.

Being a mum myself now, I appreciate and cherish my mum’s sacrificial love, her words of wisdom, and guiding me along the right path. I firmly believe that one should “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) was emulated from my mum and extremely valuable in training my own children.

My mum is Amazing, Selfless, Loving, Supportive, Strong, Creative, Dependable, and all round lovely. Love you dearly mama. Happiest of Mother’s Day to you Dear Mama. May the good Lord’s continuous Grace, and Blessings be yours in Jesus Name. Amen Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mothers, Aunties, and Carers of children.

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

STYLE & DESIGN

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9439 Sunday, March 14, 2021

VANESSA & SYLVIA COLE

The other day I was sat in the living room with my mum gisting as we do ever so often.

Conversations went from watching the latest trending news to the realities of being a woman in Nigeria. Being a doctor, my mum looks at things from the angle of health.

She shared with me the struggles of ensuring me and my siblings were born /raised abroad to ensure we had a smooth life as adults. Her main thing for her children was for us to be able to get adequate healthcare in the uk for free or under insurance, excellent education and access to impressive careers:privileges we don’t always have here at home.

As a child I had a misunderstanding for my mums sacrifices. She would work non stop in her profession to ensure she met the criteria to get work permit after work permit in order to be able to apply for a UK passport. She would take on the crazy hours because this was the way to ensure we’d be eligible for our passports. Because I barely saw her, I thought she didn’t care. I didn’t feel the love I saw other children get when their mothers would be at all the school games and plays. I didn’t understand and for that I distanced myself emotionally. What I didn’t see growing up was that my childhood and priorities are different, whilst my classmates were British and born into an easier race and socioeconomic background, we as Africans abroad have to fight to experience a taste of that ease. She moved from Nigeria away from her husband and took us under her wing for 10 years. She did that for her kids.

My mum endured the fight and wasn’t one to complain to us in order for us to understand the struggle.

But as I’ve become a woman, as I prepare myself for the next phase of my life, there’s a deep appreciation I get for my mum. She sacrificed the easy road of staying in Nigeria and being with her husband; she put her selfishness aside, to ensure that me and my siblings were set for life. This is a sacrifice I cannot help but cherish with all my heart.

My mother is strong. My mother is a fighter. My mother puts everybody before herself.

Happy Mother’s Day mama. I am so grateful to have experienced unconditional love from you. I hope to be as giving of a woman and as loving of a mother as you are.

I love you

TEMITAYO & SHOLA COKER Mother’s Day is a day that celebrates and honours motherhood in all its versatility and strength and commends all the mothers that continuously go above and beyond their role in the family dynamic. I don’t know about anyone else, but I strongly believe that my mother, my MUMMY, deserves to be celebrated every minute of every hour of every day of every month of every year. My mummy is the epitome of strength, of resilience and of love. She is unapologetic and she is fearless. She is knowledgeable and she is sophisticated. Mummy - thank you for being my greatest teacher and my bestest friend, I love you more than words can comprehend.

Everything that I am is because of you - because of your tough love when it’s necessary and your non-stop coddling; because you first loved me, I can love others; because you show me on a daily basis what it means to live a life worthy of and dedicated to God. As your last born, it is easy for me to think that I’ve known you the least amount of time out of my siblings, especially my twin, who managed to get a 30-minute head start on me, but all I can say is time is nothing but a number when it comes to me and you. Happy Mother’s Day to my very own Sholly C, my first-born child and the absolute love of my life. You are my greatest blessing in this thing called life and I can’t wait to spend the rest of it with you. Like I always say, “When you go, I go too.

There’s no me without you”.

Love from,

Temitayo Coker

Vanessa Cole My mum is a handful and there is no adjective great enough to describe her and trust me I mean that.

Sometimes I feel selfish because I know I have the best mother in the world but I am grateful to God for blessing me. After several hours on thesaurus, I discovered there wasn’t one just good enough.

My mother is my best friend, my sister, my partner in crime, my contingency, my teacher, my idol and I think that’s about all for now. From the bottom of my heart I really don’t know where and what I would be today without my mother; Mrs. Ibijoke Bakare.

My mother has done so much for me that can never be repaid in words or actions. Everything I am today is because of my beautiful, amazing and kind mother. No Oxford Dictionary word can even start to begin to explain how much I love,adore and appreciate my mother; they’re simply just not good enough.

Everything she does for me and my brothers is highly appreciated. Having five children,managing an incredible successful pharmacy and also being a wife, a daughter

AISHAT ABDURRAHMAN & SALIHAT ‘RAHAMAN To my heart on mother’s day. I love you with all of my being.... You are my backbone; my joy; my inspiration.... The force that blasts doors open for me.... I adore you. It’s no wonder mothers take the highest pride of place in heaven, for I see no other who is befitting of such prestige.

Our story starts with “us three” but today I choose to celebrate our “you and me”. I find myself understanding more and more how much you sacrificed and thank God for the fight in you that spurred you on to do the absolute best for your children.

A true Ozi -Idu (child of the lion) that you are! What courage!! What audacity, that you should dare to rise always, and in doing so, never ever settle. God is so so good! Alhamdulillah!!

Thank you, Mummy. I cannot find bigger words to say how much you are everything. I only pray Allah grants me many more moments with you.

Happy Mother’s Day, my love.

Best wishes,

Salihat ‘Rahaman

FARA & JOKE BAKARE HADASSAH & TOYIN OLAKANPO

and a sister, all at the same time. This can’t possibly be easy. Even just thinking about the fundamentals is simply just mind-blowing.

Only someone like THE Joke Bakare could handle all of that without any repercussions.

There is nothing she believes she can’t do. The word impossible is not in her dictionary. She is truly the definition of a blessing.

If you know my mother well, you will know she’s very caring, loving ,forgiving and fun.

My mother will go out of her way to make a stranger comfortable or satisfied; that’s probably why she’s such a successful pharmacist and that just begins to express her caringness. The way she cares for her mother is the way I aspire to care for her in the future. So thank you Mum for everything you do for us: we love you, we appreciate you and we would do anything for you.

Tribute for My Mother by Hadassah Olakanpo God made mothers because He couldn’t be everywhere.

Never selfish, you’ve always made sure I had everything I could ever ask for: the clothes, the shoes, the bags, the holidays and the experiences. What’s the point in having a daughter if you can’t spoil her, anyway? I’m so lucky to have a mother like you.

But you gave me more than just material things, Mom, you gave me your overflowing love which comes in many forms: from life advice to spending quality time together, watching our favourite television shows. You always put a smile on my face and I would not know what I would do without your company.

Always sincere, you know what is best for me and you always push me to do my best in everything that I do, like the ‘Tiger Mother’ that you are. You have taught me discipline and consistency. You have also instilled in me faith in Christ. You are a great mother.

Always positive, your bubbly energy speaks volumes when you are in a room. Easily swift with your words, I watch as you create magnetic energy with everyone you meet. Your smile can light up a room, beautiful Mom. I thank God that you are my mother because you gave me your gorgeous looks and made me into the young lady that I am today. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you.

IKEPO & MOTOLA BRAITHWAITE My Mother, Onikepo Braithwaite, is my rock and my motivation. She is a leader and caretaker at heart. She strives every day to put her children first, and herself last. She loves each of us, and shows it every day. I thank my Mother for not only giving me life, but for giving me my faith that sustains me through life. Before I knew God through Christ, I knew about Him through my mother. I knew that God loved sinners, because she loved me. I knew that God was faithful, because she never left me. I knew that God was long-suffering, because she suffered long for me. I will never forget all the sacrifices she made, to ensure that my siblings and I had everything.

The Scripture states, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139: 13-14). I thank God every day, for making me my Mother’s daughter.

Mummy, please forgive me for when I have not honoured you, especially as a younger child, and thank you for everything that you have done for me. I hope that one day; I can be a reflection of you. Even if I am half the mother you are, I will consider myself blessed.

Happy Mother’s Day. I love you,

Motola 22

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