Life Lessons To Learn From These 7 Powerful Nigerian Women In The Business World

Life lessons from these Nigerian women in business will spur you to success.

Some Nigerian women in the business world have inspired thousands of other women to greatness with their accomplishments.

These women have faced seemingly impossible challenges and succeeded, challenging the status quo.

They have also proven that irrespective of gender, anyone can attain greatness when they put their hearts to it.

On this note, we present to you seven of such powerful women.

1. Folorunsho Alakija

Folorunsho Alakija is the epitome of an Alpha female in the Nigerian business world. She is one of the richest women in Africa and has also been listed on Forbes’ World 100 Most Powerful Women multiple times.

Her incredible rise from being a fashion entrepreneur to owning an oil company, Famfa Oil, and a publishing company is a story that has been retold several times.

One lesson we can learn from Alakija is: ‘Take advantage of opportunities’.

2. Mo Abudu

Mo is just as beautiful as she is media-savvy. Listed by Forbes on its ‘World’s Most Powerful List’ in 2023 for her contributions to the media industry, Mo started her career as a recruitment consultant in the UK. In the year 2000, Mo established Vic Lawrence & Associates, a specialist human resource development company, and made a success of it as well.

In 2013, Mo became the first woman to own a pan-African television channel after establishing Ebony Life TV, a multi-channel broadcaster.

One lesson we can learn from Abudu is: ‘A CEO is not groomed in one day’.

3. Tara Fela-Durotoye

Tara saw the future of the makeup business in Nigeria even as an undergraduate studying law at Lagos State University. Despite having a law degree, she took the plunge and went full-time into owning a makeup business. She is credited with being the pioneer of bridal makeup in Nigeria and the founder of the first makeup school as well.

A lesson we can learn from Tara is: ‘Never be afraid to start small’.

4. Ibukun Awosika

Business magnate, motivational speaker, and author, Ibukun Awosika is an all-round achiever.

On September 7, 2015, she became the first woman to be appointed chairman of the First Bank of Nigeria. Before this, she worked at Alibert Nigeria Ltd., a furniture company, as a showroom manager before establishing the furniture manufacturing company, Quebees Limited, in 1989, before it evolved into The Chair Centre Limited and later SOKOA Chair Centre Limited, following a venture merger with SOKOA S.A. and Guaranty Trust Bank in 2004.

One lesson we can learn from Awosika is: ‘Always be prepared to take on new challenges’.

5. Bola Shagaya

Hajia Bola as she is popularly known, is a business mogul and a lover of fashion and the arts. She started her career with the audit department of the Central Bank of Nigeria before starting her business experience with the importation of photographic materials. She was the first to introduce the Konica brand to Nigeria.

Shagaya currently serves on the board of Unity Bank Plc and was awarded the title of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by former president Goodluck Jonathan in 2010.

A lesson one can learn from Shagaya is: ‘See opportunities where others see none’.

6. Linda Ikeji

Linda is Nigeria’s foremost blogger. She started her career as a model but her love for writing later came to pay off, as she is currently the highest-paid blogger in the country. Linda worked odd jobs to support herself and her family while she was in school and after graduating, she started blogging as a hobby in 2006. Today, she has made a multi-million-naira business out of it.

One lesson we can learn from Linda is: ‘Hard work pays’

7. Olajumoke Adenowo

Award-winning Nigerian architect, Olajumoke Adenowo has been described as ‘Africa’s Starchitect ‘ by CNN. At age 19, she got her degree in architecture from the University of Ife, now known as the Obafemi Awolowo University. At 23, she worked on the Federal Ministry of Finance project in Abuja, and by 26, she had established her boutique architecture firm, AD Consulting.

Her firm has worked on over 70 of the most notable government and international projects in Nigeria, including with Coca-Cola and L’oreal.

One lesson we can learn form Adenowo is: ‘There is no such thing as being too early’.