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In Inspiration By

Esther Enewerome Odafe: Writing A Brilliant Book Involves  A Lot Of Research

A notable Author once said; “There is no friend as loyal as a book”. Reading is like a voyage through time, the more that you read, the more things you will know. We can’t downplay the culture of reading, and authors who write and curate the contents we digest.

Award-winning Amazon bestselling author, Esther Enewerome Odafe is one of such authors promoting reading culture, and also helping professionals, entrepreneurs, organizations, and individuals fulfill their dreams of becoming published authors.

Esther Enewerome Odafe

The famous writer has worked with local and international clients to birth top-notch quality books that reflect their personal or business brands with 0% plagiarism. Her passion for equipping individuals with the right knowledge and skill set for decent work and economic development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8) has led her to birth a Facebook community of passionate and talented individuals who want to earn from their skills and grow their businesses.

Esther was shortlisted for the 2018 African Writer’s Award- Flash fiction category and; the 2020 SME100 Nigeria 25Under25 Awards- Creative Writing & Content Creation category; and her book won the 2021 Bookney Book of the Year Award.

She is also the founder of The Midas Touch Literary Services and co-founder of Bookney. Her works have appeared in local and international magazines, blogs, and television programs including Writers Space Africa magazine, Freelancers magazine, and Patabah books blog

She shares her inspiring journey with Esther Ijewere in this exclusive and insightful interview.

Childhood Influence

Growing up, my parents would buy me storybooks to read, and I believe it was their way of helping me to cultivate a reading habit. The great thing about reading is that it sharpens your mind and makes you want to bring your imagination to life through writing. Today, as a ghostwriter, writing a brilliant book involves a lot of research, which has to do with intensive reading. So, yes, my childhood prepared me for what I do.

The inspiration behind  Bookney and From Hobby To Career Africa

Bookney was founded by me and Precious Osikha in 2020. In 2019, we noticed many authors complained about intellectual property theft, people selling their books and making money off them. This was what prompted us to start a unique and safe platform for book reading and publishing with better incentives for both authors and readers. I started the Facebook group, From Hobby to Career Africa out of a passion for equipping individuals with the right knowledge and skill set for decent work and economic development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8). My goal is to help passionate and talented individuals who want to earn from their skills and grow their businesses.

The journey so far

 It has been an interesting journey so far, but not without challenges. However, persistence and seeing the bigger picture of my dreams have kept me going.

Being an author, ghostwriter, editor, and managing all the hats I wear

 For me, it all boils down to knowing what jobs to take and how to arrange my schedule. Anytime I feel pumped to work, I do all the ‘heavy-lifting’ jobs and reserve the more fun ones for when I am lethargic and need an energy boost.

The ripple effect of training 100 newbie writers

This is certainly one of the most fulfilling things I have done. Getting testimonials and seeing milestones from past students about how they have put the training to use either by working for companies or running their businesses makes me happy. Also, helping clients who never thought they could become authors write their books and become bestsellers is fulfilling.

Esther Enewerome Odafe

Challenges of my work

The major challenge for me would be meeting several deadlines around the same time. As someone who wears many hats, jobs come in at different times with varying deadlines. Sometimes they are so close, that it becomes hectic meeting those deadlines.

3 women who inspire me and why

 My mum is my number one inspiration because of how resilient she is. The next person would be Esther Ijewere for her doggedness in helping people notwithstanding the outcome. Last but not the least, I would say to myself because of how determined I am to achieve my dreams.

Nuggets on how to become a successful ghostwriter and editor

The first thing I would recommend is to love knowledge. Whichever way you want to gain knowledge about new things is up to you although, I would recommend reading wide as your best shot. Also, develop the habit of being meticulous if you are not because you need this trait to deliver excellent work. Finally, learn the act of marketing your services and closing sales because, without sales, you are just not in business.

Being a Woman of Rubies

I am a woman of rubies because I am valuable, strong, and giving. Every business venture I have started, every book I have written, has all been intending 

Contact details;

Social media handles:
Instagram: @enewerome
Facebook: Esther Enewerome Odafe-Ohakah
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Adefunke Adewumi
In Editor's Choice By

Adefunke Adewumi Sets New Record With All Female-Owned Estate

Adefunke Adewumi has been supporting indigent communities, providing shelter for homeless victims of domestic violence, and empowering widows and single mums across the nation through her non-governmental organization, Black Diamond Support Foundation (BDSF).

The inspiring women’s advocate recently set a new record with first of its kind all-female-owned real estate initiative, Queens Estate, under her UNMASKED-Her Truth platform.

Defunke’s passion for seeing both children and adults live to their full capabilities and for women to thrive birthed her UNMASKED – Her Truth event, which allows women to be free, and be themselves, without the fear of being judged or condemned.

The Alumni of the University of Ado-Ekiti and Master of Arts in International Relations and Strategic Studies from Benue State University is also the CEO of The Food Sense Shop, a business that sells a variety of African items across the world.

Defunke shares her inspiring story and her recent feat as a real estate investor, and how she is creating room for women to thrive in this interview with Esther Ijewere

Childhood Influence

My greatest inspiration was gotten from my late mother, Eyesorun Adewumi, she was a selfless philanthropist who cared for children, before she passed on to glory, a lot of women acquired properties under her guidance. My mum denied herself the luxury of life just to support total strangers who all later became her adopted family.

I grew up seeing my mum, coordinate meetings with female indigenes in the palace premises bi-monthly for mentorship and to ensure that they achieve great feats independently for a more comfortable future. My mum was extremely protective of me. She was my rock and a great provider for us. My dad used to be busy due to his work, he was a strict man, loving too, and a provider for the house, but my mum molded me to become who I am, through the deeds I see her do, and her lifestyle.

Adefunke Adewumi

Black Diamonds Support Foundation

Black Diamonds Support Foundation was established to sustain and continue the legacy my late mum stopped, however, she limited her philanthropy gestures to her local community, we took a step further by extending our arms of love across the nation to impact the lives of the less privileged, especially, women, children, and elderly people. The foundation is divided into the following active departments, namely:

WATARA: Walk and Talk Against Rape and Abuse Project 5000 kids: Feeding indigent 5000 children during the festive period, Medical Outreach in  Slums/Shanties, Medical Interventions/Emergencies, Project Pick A child Project Pad a GirlChild/ Education Sensitization and Support for Teenage pregnant mums/babies

We started small and now to the glory of God, we are established in 10 states where we function actively, and we hope to reach more states to help less privileged homes.

The inspiration behind Queens Estate

The Queens Estate is a great achievement for us, and I am beyond excited that it’s the First All Female-Owned Estate in Africa. It started as a joke and as the goal-getter that I am, I couldn’t let it die a joke.

I am pleased to announce that our Queens Estate in Epe, Lagos, is finally a reality, and I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the 88 women who have taken the bold decision to be part of this dream and vision. You are all amazing, and I am honored to have you stand by my side.

I must give a special shoutout to Dr. Ibrahim Adekunle Israel, CEO of EverMark Homes and Properties, he has been our knight in shining armor, supporting the vision of the Queens Estate project greatly. He has been instrumental in all the necessary documentation processes to secure the properties. He stood with us through thick and thin, and we are eternally grateful.

Unmaskedhertruth Initiative

Unmaskedhertruth was born out of my desire to see fellow women flourish and realize our full potential as women of color, and I am bursting with pride as I reflect on how far we’ve come.

At “Unmaskedhertruth,” we are committed to providing a haven where every woman can share their stories without fear of judgment. We understand that women innately crave a place where they can unmask and reveal their true selves without bias, and we’re proud to be in that place.

We are a sisterhood movement that provides support to women across all spheres of life: physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually, socially, and mentally. Our group is a haven of truth and passion, and we’re thrilled to have been changing lives since inception and challenging the status quo. Matricahy is as important as Patriarchy. We are women and we deserve the honor.

What and who inspires me to be better

The lifestyle of my late mother whom I grew up to know, giving and volunteering in her philanthropic causes inspires me. Children are also my greatest motivation, picking a homeless child inspires me, as seeing an indigent child doing well in school, seeing a sick indigent child being well.

Hoping that all children have equal access to quality education, free health care, and total well-being for them to achieve their potential without any hindrances.

Why I support vulnerable persons with food

Growing up with a mother whose whole life is about feeding every mouth that is needed, it’s inborn.

Nigeria has been ranked 103 out of 121 countries in the 2022 Global Hunger Index, a position that signifies the nation “has a level of hunger that is serious”. My goal is to ensure they and others get the lifesaving support they need.

With support from individuals and a few corporate donors through the Black Diamonds Support Foundation, we create sustainable means of nutrition by establishing and supporting families with raw food within our selected communities. We reach the majority in a front-line model in the following methods: School feeding, Community-based nutrition interventions, Skills acquisition, and Job placement for beneficiaries

My greatest reward

My greatest reward is Genuine Smiles, seeing people smile from the bottom of their hearts is my most priceless gift. I do not do what I do for personal, social, or material gains.

Challenges of being a business owner

As the CEO of an NGO, our forefront vision is making our world a much better place by helping to fight injustice, poverty, hunger, man’s inhumanity to man, environmental abuses, global health challenges, gender-based violence, and many more. To achieve all these and more, we need grants, and sourcing funds from donor organizations had been difficult.

Lack of funds: running a foundation doesn’t lie in accomplishing projects alone. After the success of a certain project, we would want to maintain contact with our beneficiaries and make sure that there is continuous progress. Apart from that,  the foundation would also want to be able to help more individuals and communities depending on their needs. To do so, we need to constantly acquire funds. In some cases, NGOs become complacent and simply wait for donations or previous supporters to contact them.

Although Black Diamonds Support Foundation has been funded by myself, friends, and very few corporate organizations occasionally. Not having enough funds not only poses difficulties in accomplishing projects but also puts NGOs in difficult positions there are also many operational costs.

Lack of networking: NGOs working together to reach their goals will provide more efficient results from my perspective. However, a lot of NGOs also see it as a form of competition, and some see it as a means to hijack and sole acclamation of glory for personal interests.

As a Realtor, it is no doubt that shelter is one of the most basic human needs in life. It is in truth very essential. The shelter is universally regarded as the second most significant human need, after food of course. Having a good house to return to after the day’s work brings absolute comfort. There are a lot of challenges such as :

The Land Use Act: A lot of realtors do not take this factor seriously.

Lack of infrastructure: basic amenities such as good roads, drainage systems, etc.

Documentation process: The process of documentation and property registration takes too long.

High Cost of Building Materials: the high cost of building materials and how it affects property development cannot be overstated. Most building materials are imported leading to their high cost.

Shortcomings of Mortgage Institutions: there is a limited number of mortgage institutions in Nigeria compared to the rate overseas.

And so many more, though we are getting better by the year compared to a decade ago we can do better.

Queens Estate In 5 years

I hope that by then, my initiative would have provided affordable residential estates to over 5000 women across Nigeria states and globally.

 

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Patience Masua
In Career Gems By

Meet Patience Masua,The 23-Year-Old Member of The Namibian Parliament

At 23 years old, Hon. Patience Masua  is Namibia’s youngest Member of Parliament. She was appointed as a Member of Parliament by President Hage Geingob in April 2021 following Defence Minister Peter Vilho’s resignation, making her Namibia’s and one of Africa’s youngest MP.

With a history of serving as the Secretary-General of Namibia National Students Organization (NANSO) and as the Speaker of the University of Namibia (UNAM) Student Representative Council (SRC), Hon. Masua holds a Bachelor of Laws( LLB) from the University of Namibia ( UNAM) and previously served as the Head Girl of Delta Secondary School in Windhoek.

Apart from her work in politics, Patience is very passionate about empowering young people through education and currently serves as the Namibian Country Director of the Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYOF).

Early life

Masua was born in Gobabis, Omaheke, on 7 January 1999 after which her family moved to Windhoek. She attended pre and primary school at Kleine Professor College. However, she finished primary school at Suiderhof Primary School and proceeded to complete her high school at Delta Secondary School Windhoek where she served as Deputy Head Girl in the Learners Representative Council.

Student politics and activism

Patience entered mainstream student politics and activism in university, primarily through her newspaper opinion pieces and then serving in the student union as Faculty Representative for the University of Namibia Faculty of Law. Later she ran for the position of Speaker of Student Parliament of the UNAM SRC and won it in 2019. Thereafter she served as Secretary-General for the Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO). In 2022, Masua inspired women leaders at Women Leaders Expo in Dubai. She shared her story as a politician and lawyer, fighting for equality and justice in Namibia.

Community Work

In 2021, Masua founded the Patience Masua Foundation Africa (PMF Africa). PMF Africa was established with the mission to empower young Namibians in the areas of education, entrepreneurial development, capacity-building and research.

 

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Monisola Bukola Sugartowndesserts
In Career Gems By

Meet Monisola Bukola, The Highly Sought-After Canadian Baker Behind Sugartowndesserts

Nigerian women are breaking boundaries in Canada, and they are inspiring other women to do the same. Monisola Bukola is one of the most sought-after business owners in Canada.

She is the founder and CEO of fast-growing Sugartowndesserts, a cakes and desserts catering brand that provides custom cakes, desserts & chocolate-covered treats for all occasions and celebrations.

The brand has since grown in leaps and bounds. Sugartowndesserts is known for its unique tastes, colorful designs, and Customer-centric offerings which stand them out from the pack.

Monisola has a BSc in Statistics from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Nigeria. Her statistical knowledge helps her to better understand her customers, optimize her production process, improve her product quality, and increase profitability. She is revered for her commitment to excellence, eye for detail, and innovative ideas.

Monisola Bukola Sugartowndesserts

In 2023, she was named one of the “Top 22 Inspiring Women to Watch ” by Women of Rubies. She has also been invited to speak at various conferences and events about her experiences as an entrepreneur.

The inspiring damsel faced numerous challenges when starting her business, however, she persisted and was able to overcome these difficulties through hard work and willpower. This diligent damsel draws inspiration from everything around her. From movies to clothes, shoes, pictures, and lots more.

Monisola’s ultimate dream is to grow Sugartowndesserts, own her own bakery/dessert bar, and establish it as a leading cake & desserts catering brand across Canada. She is also looking to explore new business opportunities and give back to women who desire to impact society.

Childhood Influence

I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. Business was a daily conversation in my family. While growing up I learned patience, resilience & relationship building which has prepared me for my entrepreneurial journey.

Inspiration behind Sugartowndesserts

I have a history of entrepreneurs in my family, which has been a major influence I must say. I also have an entrepreneurial spirit and a very strong desire to succeed.

The journey so far

The journey to starting a business can be rough and interesting, I mean the thought of being my boss is enough motivation for me to keep it going. Honestly, there have been ups and downs, struggles and failures, losses and gains, it’s all worthwhile I must say.

The pastry industry in Canada

It is a thriving industry with prospects. I have seen and met other bakers who are doing amazingly well because we are in a society where the system helps entrepreneurs to thrive.

My future  goals for  Sugartowndesserts 

I am looking to have my bakery where I can serve cakes and desserts, a one-stop place for everything pastries where customers get value for their money and refer my business to others.

Monisola Sugartowndesserts

3 women who Inspire me and why

1)My mum for her inspirational teachings & advice

2) Oprah Winfrey for her compassion

3)Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for her boldness

Challenges of being a business owner

Accessing funds & balancing business and family life. As a career woman, I try to balance every area of my life and ensure everything runs smoothly. I am also blessed to have a supportive partner who understands the challenges of my business, and steps in to help at all times.

Managing my role as a  mom, wife, and business owner

I set daily goals and I don’t forget self-care. I have set a boundary between workspace & family time that works for me.

To young Canadian women who want to go into my line of business

Dream big, never stop improving yourself, be teachable, and never give up. The sky is comprehensive for everyone to fly. Soar and keep pushing.

Nuggets on how to build a successful business in Canada

If you want to be successful, surround yourself with business owners in your field and have a clear purpose for your unique selling point

 

 

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In Inspiration By

Omotoke Olugbode: I Want Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder To Have Access To Therapy

Omotoke  Olugbode is an inclusive education advocate with over five years experience in education, community service, and advocating for children with disabilities.  

She holds a Bachelor Degree in Education (Educational Foundation and Counseling) from Obafemi Awolowo University and a certificate in Youth Mental Health First Aid in USA. She is a Mandela Washington fellow and a 2020 LEAP Africa SIP Fellow.

She has spoken at International conferences including, The Concordia Summit at the Grand Hyatt, Voice of women at Wagner College. She also had an internship opportunity with the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability, Philadelphia, USA.

The Autism Awareness Foundation team

Omotoke believes education is the bedrock of everything and without it she would not have been able to achieve all she has. She is the Founder and CEO of The Autism Awareness Foundation   and Theraconnect.

Childhood Influence

Growing up was a bit challenging, but I grew up in a family full of love; my parents are loving and amazing people,my mum is the disciplinarian while my dad condones me a lot; people often say it’s because we look alike. I never had all I wanted while growing up, but received love from my sisters all the time; we shared everything, and we confide in each other.

 My upbringing definitely contributed to what I do now, I understand the pain of women with children with disabilities in rural communities having been born and raised in one at Oworonshoki community. My passion for setting up The Autism Awareness Foundation came from my personal experience too.

Omotoke Olugbode

Inspiration Behind Autism Awareness Foundation (TAAF)

The Autism Awareness Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that raises awareness about disability and inclusion of children with disability in the classroom and society while eradicating stigmatisation and marginalisation. We ensure children with disability, especially children on the autism spectrum disorder, get access to good and quality therapy for early intervention to function and get included in the school system as most children with disability are always denied access to inclusive and quality education.

The Foundation started in 2017 where we create awareness for children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We have been involved in active teachers training and parental support group. Due to our work expansion and experience, we set up the social enterprise of THERACONNECT as physical connecting platform before thinking of the App. Currently, since May 2018, we have been involved in outsourcing over 50 therapists and special needs educators to parents, teachers and school. 

Passion For Inclusive Education

I am a Teacher by profession, and I got into the teaching profession as a zeal I have for teaching, which was further influenced by my friend who had a disability during my secondary school days; I watched how she couldn’t get the adequate and efficient education during our school days. Teachers would rather not have her in their classroom and she most often does not come to school at all.

Omotoke Ayo Olugbode

 That experience made me developed a passion to become a teacher and a deep commitment for children living with disability so that I could be able to teach them in the classroom. After my University Education, I discovered that my teachers then could not teach my friend because they do not have the knowledge and skills to teach children with disabilities. The spark and motivation to start my social initiative came after reading an online article about a mother with a child with Autism, how people referred to her child as being possessed; this brought back memories of my experience in secondary school with my friend.

 Other Projects And Activities

Apart from my NGO, The Autism Awareness Foundation, I am also an Innovator; THERACONNECT is online App where parents can connect with therapists without leaving their home, which saves them stress, money and time. I am a social entrepreneur, I currently run a social enterprise called The Sensory Place, which focuses on sensory materials, toys and montessori schools equipment for parents and schools owners while also consulting for schools on issues pertaining to inclusion in their classroom and connecting with therapists to schools and parents. 

Omotoke, Theraconnect

Achievements ‎As A Global Youth Figure

My achievement on inclusion has always come through my NGO; my impact has made over 100 parents access therapy for their children for early intervention, increase the awareness around autism spectrum disorder to over 5000 people in the community through our annual Walk Aware Autism and trained over 1000 teachers on skills needed to include children on the spectrum in their classroom both online and physical training with the advent of our online support for 30 parents as a form of continued training and counseling.

In all of this, my greatest achievement is when parents call me after their kids have been able to achieve a developmental milestone and when they get accepted in an inclusive school, the joy and smiles on parents at such moments always mean everything to me.

Challenges

Challenges are bound to happen, will happen and they still happen. One of the challenges I faced is the stigmatisation and marginalisation that comes with working with children with disability, which is a big problem of acceptance and inclusion. Another challenge is the myth associated with children with disability as a punishment from God.

As such, most parents in my community prefer to keep their children at home and lock them inside rather than bring them out for assessment and therapy, as most schools won’t accept them. Even when schools finally accept them, other parents in the school sometimes withdraw their children from the school, saying they don’t want their children to catch the disability.

Finally, I am faced with the challenge of lack of trained teachers to facilitate learning in the classroom. I have been able to overcome these challenges through training and holding meetings with school owners to explain that disabilities are not contagious and children benefit more when they learn in inclusive settings.

Women Who Inspire Me And Why

One of the women who inspire me is Clare Henshaw, she runs Girls Inspired Foundation. She has gone off to inspire many girls and yet with a humble and kind spirit; I am surely learning humility from her.

Another is Jasmine; Jasmine is a mother to a child on the autism spectrum disorder who I met in Philadelphia. Despite her position, she has constantly been reaching out to me on how to provide support for more mothers in Africa and especially Nigeria.

Lastly is my Mother, being a mother to four ladies without a boy child, I know we all know how the narrative would have been, but she has kept it all together and always there for us her children. She constantly teaches faith and trust in the most difficult time.

Advice To Young Women

I will tell them to explore all the opportunities they have at their disposal, aim for the sky and land among the moon, dare the impossible and to keep showing up for themselves. I will tell them that impossible is nothing and they are born to do great and amazing things. They should never underestimate themselves and to keep shattering limits and breaking new grounds.

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Blessing Okebe
In Inspiration By

Blessing Okebe: How To Use Personal Branding To Turn Your Failure Into Opportunities

We often hear about the  importance of showcasing our strength and accomplishment while building our personal brand but what about our mistake? What about the times when we failed, the times we wanted to give up or give in,  Why don’t we share these moments as well?

The truth is most mistakes can be frustrating, embarrassing, and even painful, but they are also an integral part of life. We all make mistakes, in our businesses, careers and personal lives, and while they can be difficult to navigate, they can also present opportunities for growth for us and inspiration for others.

Contrary to what some people think, sharing your mistakes and past failures actually shows how strong you are. They show what you’ve been through and make your journey a source of motivation to everyone going through a rough patch. With your failures, people can easily connect with your brand and this makes you relatable which is the spice of every brand that desires to stand out.

Before you go sharing your mistakes, there are a couple of things you must know  to protect yourself, inspire your audience and attract your desired opportunities.

They are:

Embrace Your Mistake

The first step in leveraging mistakes for your personal brand is to embrace them. Don’t beat yourself up about them but recognize that they  are a natural part of the learning process and that they can be a source of valuable lessons. Believe that they are only in your past to push you forward. Accept them and embrace them by doing this, you demonstrate vulnerability and authenticity, which can help to build trust and connection with your audience.

Acknowledge The Lessons

 The second step is to learn from your mistakes. This involves reflecting on what went wrong, what you could have done differently, and what you can do to prevent similar mistakes in the future. If they are mistakes in your business or career, recognize the cost of it and adopt a growth mindset approach to see how you can turn them into opportunities for improvement, which can help to build your brand as a resilient professional or entrepreneur who learns from the past and moves on.

Share The Lessons Not The Mistake

 When you do the first two, this part becomes easier but must be done focusing on the outcome of your failure and not the failure itself.

Create content around the lessons you learned from that mistake or failure and how you are applying these lessons. If the application of these lessons have led to a win, use that to your advantage. This way you are not talking from a place of pity but of strength. You are using that mistake of yours to prevent others from making it, inspire people who have made it and teach them how to push through after making it.

The goal is to brand yourself based on what you learned from the failure  –  not the failure itself.

While sharing this you should focus on:

  • The investment you made (You can keep this as vague as possible)
  • What made you realize your business wasn’t ready for it
  • The lessons you learnt as a result
  • How your business recovered
  • How you knew your business was finally ready for the investment
  • Your progress so far
  • What this means for your business

This way, you are:

  • Being human and building an emotional connection with your audience through your mistakes
  • Inspiring other entrepreneurs and teaching them from your failure
  • Inspiring other people who may not be entrepreneurs but can learn from your failure
  • Showcasing your expertise through your progress
  • Promoting your business and positioning it for opportunities

Most importantly, it is coming from a place of strength and you don’t feel bad about your mistakes anymore because you’ve learnt from it and are now leveraging it to attract opportunities and connect with your audience. You are flipping the coin on failure and taking advantage of it.

In a world where perfection is often expected and mistakes are viewed as failures, it can be difficult to imagine how making mistakes can actually be a good thing. But with this article I have shown you that it is possible.  I have shown you that by leveraging the power of personal branding, you can turn your failures to opportunities.

 

About the Author

Blessing Okebe is the game-changer for experienced professionals and entrepreneurs who want to stand out in crowded markets, attract high-level opportunities, and make a lasting impact. She does this by helping them amplify their work and voices while building thought leadership in their respective fields. Reach her via okebeblessingifegwu@gmail.com or @blessing.okebe

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Stephanie Obi
In Inspiration By

Stephanie Obi, Techpreneur and The Queen of Online Courses

Stephanie Obi is popularly referred to as the Queen of Online Courses. She is an award winning business coach and the founder of TrainQuarters, the first female owned tech platform which provides tech support to thought leaders so that they can create and promote their products with ease.

She is the creator of the Course Launched Delivered program, which helps female thought leaders to earn Six Figures from creating and selling evergreen online courses.

She has helped some of Forbes Africa’s most powerful women and LinkedIn Top Voices to launch their courses and is the author of the Amazon best-selling book, Knowledge Is The New Gold.

Stephanie Obi is a recipient of the Beta Gamma Sigma 2021 Entrepreneurial Achievement Award, the Social Media for Social Good Award and was named one of the “100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria” in 2017 by Leading Ladies Africa.

She has spoken at the Women In Management, Business & Public Service Annual Conference, one of the largest women in leadership conferences in Africa, as well as The Lagos Business School’s Entrepreneurship Expo and Contest.

She’s a First-Class Graduate of Computer Science and holds an MBA from the prestigious Lagos Business School.

Early Life

Growing up, all the women entrepreneurs she saw owned mom and pop shops. They never grew to be CEOs of big companies and so Stephanie didn’t even know that women could be CEOs. It was not on the cards for her and she thought the best she could be was to rise up the career ladder in a good job, get married, have children and be satisfied.

Her perception started to change when she started to see other women who were mothers and wives and had founded successful businesses. She started to see that it was possible for her. What made their stories so profound was that they were just like her. African Women.

Representation matters. If young girls see other women who look and sound like them founding companies, it helps to build a pipeline of women founders.

This for Stephanie, is why she believes that the biggest hindrance to women founding companies is the lack of representation. If women see women who are just like them founding companies, they will be inspired to start.

To empower women to become founders, Stephanie’s company has helped thousands of women to start an online course business using their different training programs.

Bridging the gap

In the course of the trainings, she also noticed that a lot of women were not tech inclined and this stopped them from really growing. In order to resolve this challenge, they built an easy to use online business platform, TrainQuarters which makes it easy for women to create and sell all their training products online.

Stephanie believes that female entrepreneurship will go a long way to alleviate the effect of poverty in African households. With more disposable income in the household, children can be exposed to more opportunities.

Stephanie is particular about women empowerment because she believes that when women are empowered, communities become empowered.

She also believes that there are problems that women are in a better position to solve just because of their feminine nature. If women become founders, they will be able to contribute their innovative ideas to solving problems that society has.

Stephanie obi

Stephanie mentioned practical ways that women can be empowered and in her own words, “One powerful way to empower more women to become women founders is just by showcasing the stories of diverse women entrepreneurs from different backgrounds. Women should be exposed to more female founders as they grow up, and as much as possible, entrepreneurship should be a part of the curriculum in schools.”

“Access to funding will help a lot of women to become founders however a lot of women struggle to access the available funds because they cannot pitch themselves. There should be training programs focused on teaching women how to pitch and to access funds. It will also help if women can become investors because investors tend to invest in people who look like them.”

Stephanie Obi

Through her website, she has reached over 82,000 people in over 10 countries.

She has also been recognized as one of the 100 most inspiring women in Nigeria, and won First prize at the Wimbiz Impact Investment Competition.

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Endometriosis
In Career Gems By

Endometriosis: What Every Woman Should Know (Causes, Diagnosis, Symptoms And Treatment)

Endometriosis is a relatively prevalent female reproductive disease. It is a painful disorder that affects the reproductive system and surrounding organs.

Women are diagnosed with endometriosis when the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus actually grows outside the uterus. When this happens, the ovaries (and possibly the fallopian tubes and tissue lining of the pelvis) are affected.

It is a gynaecological condition associated with menstruation where tissue similar to the lining of the womb is found in other areas of the body, including the fallopian tubes, pelvis, bowel, vagina, and intestines.

It has been alleged that 30 – 40% of Nigerian women (who live in Nigeria) suffer from endometriosis.

There is also a recent study that claims approximately 11% of women and girls in Nigeria unknowingly live with the disorder, even though they show no symptoms, with diagnosis only occurring years later.

These are important tips every lady should know about Endometriosis.

1. Cause And Risk Factors

The exact cause of endometriosis is not currently fully understood. Any woman can develop endometriosis, but some risk factors increase the risk. Risk factors such as age as it is most common in women in their 30’s.

Other possible risk factors of endometriosis include;

  • Problems with menstrual flow: Menstrual blood enters the fallopian tubes and the pelvis instead of leaving the body in the usual way.
  • Surgical scar: Endometrial cells can move during a procedure such as a hysterectomy or C-section.
  • Genetics: There may be an inherited component. A woman with a close family member who has endometriosis is more likely to develop endometriosis herself.
  • Hormones: Endometriosis is stimulated by the hormone estrogen.
  • Immune system: Problems with the immune system can prevent the destruction of extrauterine endometrial tissue.

2. Symptoms

  • Severe menstrual cramps
  • Long-term lower back and pelvic pain
  • Periods lasting longer than 7 days
  • Heavy menstrual bleeding where the pad or tampon needs changing every 1 to 2 hours
  • Bowel and urinary problems including pain, diarrhea, constipation and bloating
  • Bloody stool or urine
  • Painful intercourse

3. Diagnosis

Diagnosis can be challenging because there is no single test for evaluation. The only way to truly confirm the condition is by undergoing a surgical laparoscopy.

A surgical laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure in which a thin, lighted tube with a miniature camera attached, called a laparoscope, is inserted through a small incision in the pelvic area. It can take many years to receive a diagnosis.

Other possible diagnostic strategies include a pelvic exam, radiologic imaging with ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging, and the use of certain medications including birth control.

4. Treatments

Surgery is possible, but it is normally considered only if other treatments are not effective. Other options include for treatment may include;

  • Pain medications: Either over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or prescription drugs for the treatment of painful menses. Some doctors also recommend hot water bottle therapy.
  • Hormones: Treatment may be with hormonal therapies such as hormonal birth control. Placement of an intrauterine device (IUD) may also be recommended.
  • Fertility treatment: Pregnancy may be recommended via in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
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Sally Suleiman
In Inspiration By

Sally Suleiman: Community Service Increases Your Social And Relationship Skills

Sally Suleiman is an extraordinary humanitarian. She lends her voice to the voiceless, and disadvantaged persons in the society on and offline.

The   notable  Humanitarian, Strategist, Writer and a Media Personality is also the  founder of The Isolycia Foundation – a Non Governmental organization that focuses on Education for underprivileged children.

She has impacted and put smiles in the lives of many children through her educational outreach.

Sally Suleiman is an Alumna of Middlesex University where she studied International Business and she’s part of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Sally through her social media platforms has become an household name, using her voice and resources where it matters.

She has worked in the oil and gas industry for more than ten years, as well as in the media for ten years. She excels at brand management, project management, sales, marketing, administration, customer service, company development, and content production.

She has received the necessary training and grooming to become a purpose-driven individual with a drive for success and an appetite for excellence, making her well-suited to make a meaningful contribution to any assigned team and the company as a whole.

Sally shares her inspiring journey, and how her mom’s death changed her perception of life in this exclusive interview with Esther Ijewere.

Sally Suleiman

Childhood Influence

I was such a generous and empathetic child. I loved to do things for people, I loved to help the poor. I started helping when I was in primary school, I would give the less privileged my old school items and even share my lunch and lunch money with the underprivileged. So I had that path right from my childhood.

My childhood wasn’t the best. I lost my Mum when I was 5years old. This made me grow up very fast and opened me up to challenges that a 5years old shouldn’t be going through. My Mum was a great woman, she was a teacher, she was my best friend, she was my everything, that was a very painful experience for me and my siblings.

Things changed when my wonderful stepmom came into the home, I am who I am today because of this woman, she made sure that I grew up in the way of the Lord, she taught me almost everything that I know today. I owe my success to her.

Inspiration behind Isolycia Foundation

The Isolycia Foundation was inspired by my love for education especially at the elementary level. I believe that every child should be in school, peculiarly at that tender age. So the Isolycia foundation focuses on education for children in rural areas. We also sensitize parents on the need to send their children to school. I formed the name from my late mum’s name and my step mum’s name.

The Journey So Far

It’s been humbling so far. Every challenge I face teaches me a lesson, so I’m grateful.

Supporting The Less Privileged And Using My Platform For Social Good

I love the fact that I wake up fulfilled doing what I love to do. I love the fact that I’m able to touch lives and inspire people. I get messages everyday from people saying how much I inspire and motivate them, this is enough impact for me knowing that I am touching the world one day at a time.

The Impact Of Being A YALI fellow

It has helped through learning by taking their courses. I’m a professional at what I do because of the available resources YALI provided.

Coordinating A Giveaway Platform Online

Giveaway platform just like the name implies, is a platform where I give out things to people, this is part of my Social responsibility for being a media personality. I also help promote small businesses through this platform, I open them up to their potential clients.

Positive And Negative Side of Being a Social Media Influencer

The positive side is impacting lives and making money (LOL), the negative side is sometimes you get misunderstood and you get attacked. You experience bullying, hate and all sorts. But I have learnt to ignore and focus on the positives and those who love me.

Challenges Of My Work

It could be tasking financially because I do not depend on anyone, I do everything from my pocket. Also managing my time can be challenging. I have so much to do but little time.

3 Women Who Inspire Me To Be better 

HE Toyin Saraki

HE Bisi Fayemi

And the most recent Vice President of America, Kamala Harris.

These women inspire me in different ways. Their passion, their success, the change they bring in their various fields inspires me.

Sally Suleiman

Nuggets on the power of community service

  • Community service connects you to others. It allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place.
  • Community service increases your social and relationship skills
  • Community service also increases your self-confidence. It provides a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment.

I’m going to leave a quote by Denzel Washington – “At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.”

Being a Woman of Rubies

I’m a woman of rubies because I stay positive, i inspire and impact lives.

 

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50 Impactful women voices
In Inspiration By

ABCD Africa 50 Most Impactful Voices List Released To Mark 2023 International Women’s Day

ABCD Africa is proud to announce the release of the 50 Most Impactful Voices List to mark 2023 International Women’s Day. This list recognizes African female coaches, content creators, and community builders who leverage their voices and digital content as tools for impact.

Women all over Africa have made significant strides in breaking barriers and challenging norms. Despite this progress, women still face numerous challenges that hinder their voices from being heard as much as they should be. 

The ABCD Africa 50 Most Impactful Voices List features 

Thought leaders, change-makers and bold storytellers who have engaged their audiences, and inspired others with their unique stories, perspectives, and skills across various digital platforms, including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, Netflix, Podcasts and Blogs.

“We are thrilled to unveil the 50 Most Impactful Voices in Africa and amplify their contribution. We hope that this list inspires other women to use their voices, create impactful content, and shape conversations that contribute to the development of a more equitable society,’’ says Joké Pearl Oyebamiji, Founder of  ABCD Africa

The selection process was rigorous and thorough, with nominations received from digital experts and the general public. The finalists were evaluated based on their creativity, impact, authenticity, and engagement.

Here they are:

  • Jumoke Adenowo

Polymath, Founder, AD Consulting

Olajumoke Adenowo is an award-winning Architect, Academic Laureate, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, Arbitrator, Author and Radio Show Host. She is the founder of AD Consulting, a leading Nigerian-based architecture and design firm.

A renowned passion-driven polymath with several media of expressions – she shares insightful content via her books, global publications, social media platforms, radio show, and global events.

In 2020, Jumoke was awarded the Forbes woman African Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

  1. Bodam Taiwo

Marketing Executive, Change Catalyst

Bodam Taiwo is a Change Catalyst and a Master Manifestor for women. Through her coaching programs, book (titled Be-You-Ti-Ful), masterclasses and YouTube Series – The Refined Lady’s Conversations, she helps women get unstuck by inspiring and organizing them to dream bigger, see clearer and live brighter so they can create the life they really desire. 

She is a Seasoned Business Leader and Marketing Executive with 15+ years of cross-functional experience.

  1. Modupe Ehirim

Marriage Coach

Married for thirty-four years, Modupe Ehirim is passionate about helping people get marriage right. She has worked as a Marriage Educator since 2014. 

She talks about marriage, Building Understanding among couples, Building Communication Skills, Building through Conflict, and Building a Covenant Relationship. 

Ehirim is the current National President of the Association SYMBIS (Save Your Marriage Before It Starts)

 

4.Tricia Olufemi-Olumide (TriciaBiz)

Marketing & Sales Strategist

Tricia equips entrepreneurs and experts with marketing strategies, funnels, growth strategies and systems to scale their revenue significantly to 9 figures and beyond. Through her social media platforms, newsletters, and YouTube Series – ‘How They Did It’, she is fueling the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Africa and beyond.

In 2020, she was recognized as one of The Top 10 Marketing Coaches To Follow by Yahoo.

  1. Udo Okonjo

Global CEO/VC of Fine & Country WA

Udo Maryanne Okonjo is the Global CEO/VC of Fine & Country West Africa, an official member of the Forbes Business Council, a sought after global transformative speaker and possibilities igniter.

A prolific writer, she has authored several books, and regularly shares content around female leadership development, financial freedom for women, real estate, entrepreneurship, business development, and wealth mastery.

  1. Wendy Prince-Amahdi

Founder, Women In Portharcourt 

Wenenda Ndu-Ajikeru is the Founder of WomeninPortharcourt, the largest Online Business Community in South-South Nigeria, creating visibility for growing businesses, and connecting entrepreneurs with potential customers via social media. Through corporate partnerships, business  masterclasses and events, she provides learning, networking and business growth opportunities for her audience. 

  1. Dr Ola Brown

Founder of Health Cap Africa

She is a Director at Flying Doctors Nigeria, and Founder of Health Cap Africa, an Africa-focused investment firm. 

An international speaker, she has spoken at the TED global conference, the UN, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the World Health Organisation, amongst several others. Dr. Ola and her work have been featured by CNN, the BBC, Forbes and Al-Jazeera.

Her prolific tweets on Business, Innovation and Tech have garnered a following of over 209,000 on Twitter.

Follow her here 👉 CLICK

  1. Brenda Okorogba

Founder, MomentsWithBren

Brenda Okorogba is a multi-award-winning service and learning experience designer and a facilitator. She has a gift for creating targeted learning solutions that address relevant classroom, workplace, community, career, and business needs in advancing opportunities for equity-deserving groups in particular.
Brenda has provided college and career readiness coaching to diverse students and professionals in Canada and across the world who have successfully secured $80.4M in college funding, transitioned into dynamic career paths, learned specialized skills, built positive personal identities, increased their social and emotional learning skills, and improved their leadership abilities.
Brenda is the Founder of Momentswithbren Consulting, a professional training and coaching company based in Canada that supports a variety of clients, organizations and institutions through professional and leadership development training, strategic advisory, and outcomes-based programming to help them better accelerate their successes. Brenda currently serves on the Board of Directors of social-impact driven Canadian Charitable organizations like the Students Commission of Canada, Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity, and the Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO).

Her insightful tweets have garnered a 177,000+ following on Twitter.

Follow her here 👉 CLICK

9.Temitope Olagbegi 

Life Coach, Entrepreneur 

Temitope Olagbegi is a Life Coach passionate at helping women find purpose. A multipotentialite, she shares her unique stories and perspective to help her audience rediscover their true authentic selves, fulfill purpose, and balance life on different levels.

She is a recipient of over 50 awards and recognitions for business and enterprise development in Nigeria, including the Bank of Industry Recognition Award in 2015 amongst numerous others. 

  1. Roseanne Kamau

Founder, Treasure Fitness

Roseanne is the Founder and Managing Director of Treasure Fitness, a weight loss and healthy lifestyle service firm.

A Kenya-based ardent advocate for healthy living, she shares content around holistic approaches to help women live sustainably wholesome lives.

Roseanne and her work have been featured on National and global media such as BBC

  1. Audrey Joe-Ezigbo

Impactonaire, DMD, Falcon Corporation

Audrey Joe-Ezigbo is a multiple award-winning Impactonaire, business leader, life and business transformation coach, speaker, and author. Her digital content helps people discover their life’s purpose, build sustainable businesses, and unleash the most profitable expressions of themselves in all areas of life. 

She is the Co-Founder of Falcon Corporation Limited, an industry-leading company in the middle and downstream Energy, Natural Gas distribution sector in Africa. 

She was recognised among the 100 Outstanding Female Executives in the African Oil & gas Industry in 2021.

  1. Nkem Onwudiwe

Founder, HerNetwork

Nkem Onwudiwe is a Public Relations professional, Marketing Consultant and founder of Her Network – a global inspiration and lifestyle platform for women.

Through Her Network, she has impacted over 50 thousand women through the network’s impact events and experiences, including the annual Her Network Woman of the Year Award Ceremony. 

She was previously the Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

  1. Confidence Stavely (SisiNerd)

Cybersecurity Leader

Confidence Staveley is a Cybersecurity Awareness Evangelist and Inclusion Advocate.

Her superpower is a deep understanding of cyber security fused with great communication skills; enabling her to communicate cyber security best practices in a relatable and engaging way with no jargon, to audiences of all types. Little wonder she has been nicknamed “The Relatable CyberSecurity Leader”

She was listed among the 45 Most Influential Women in Digital Transformation 2021-2022. She was also Featured on the 40 under 40 in cybersecurity List in 2023

  1. Omotolani Tayo-Osikoya (Diaryofakitchenlover)

Certified Culinary Expert

Popularly known as Diaryofakitchenlover, Tolani is a Nigerian Food Blogger/Recipe developer, Food tutor, and entrepreneur. 

Tolani shares amazing food pictures and curates detailed recipes from regular home ingredients to the delight of her over 1 million followers. 

  1. Funto Ibuoye

Marketplace Apostle, Entrepreneur 

Through her several expressions across her books, courses, events, business and speaking engagements, Funto Ibuoye is propelling and equipping individuals to launch a higher version of their purposes and businesses.

She was listed among the Ynaija & Leading Ladies Africa 100 most inspiring women in Nigeria in 2017, Mogulettes Africa 100 Most Inspiring Moguls in 2020 and 100 Most Impactful Women in 2022 by The Richer Woman Inc.  

  1. Crystal Chigbu

Executive Director, IREDE Foundation

She is a Nigerian social entrepreneur and a development consultant. She founded IREDE Foundation, which provides prosthetics and other walking aids to children 18 and under. Through her foundation, Crystal has provided over 120 prosthetic limbs to over 82 children across 17 states in Nigeria.

She leverages her social media platforms, book and speaking engagements to advocate for Child Amputees and NGO Corporate Governance.

  1. Ife Olarinde

Founder, CoolHouse

Ife Olarinde is a serial entrepreneur, doctoral researcher, and graduate of the Imperial College London.

She is the founder of Cool House, the largest African/Black community on Clubhouse with over 70,000 members. 

She shapes conversations around topics that impact people of African descent. Her key areas of interest are Human Capital Development, Entrepreneurship, Politics, Health Care Systems, Poverty Alleviation and Wealth creation. 

  1. Yolanda Cuba

Regional VP, Southern and East Africa, MTN

Yolanda Cuba is the Regional VP, Southern and East Africa, MTN

She was once the youngest CEO of a company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange,and has been blazing a trail through corporate South Africa since she was in her mid-20s. 

With years of experience as a business leader, Cuba shares tips and lessons on leadership and entrepreneurship, as well as insights into Africa’s business landscape.

  1. Tobi Ayeni (misstechy)

Video Creator

She is a Digital Strategist and the founder of MissTechy, a tech oriented blog that has gained prominence due to her innovative VFX Videos. 

She talks about tech and technological gadgets on her social media platforms and has grown her following to over 130,000.

  1. Yetty Williams Founder, Lagos Mums

Yetty Williams is a Digital Media Marketing Consultant

passionate about helping businesses, particularly women owned enterprises, leverage technology to thrive and scale up. 

She is also the founder of Nigeria’s premier and first parenting blog, Lagos Mums which convenes annual parenting conferences bringing together thousands of parents, experts and vendors and holds a community of nearly 55 thousand people.

In 2020, she was listed on the YNaija Top Media 100; recognized for curating culture and driving conversations.

  1. Tonye Briggs

Founder, Port Harcourt In Pictures

Tonye Briggs is the current curator of Portharcourt Global Shapers Hub, an initiative of the World Economic Forum.

Passionate about Human capacity development, she curates insightful content via her social media blog @portharcourtinpictures which has garnered an audience of over 70,000 on Instagram.

Follow her here 👉 CLICK

  1. Peace Hyde

Head of Digital Media and Partnerships, Forbes Africa

Peace Hyde is the head of digital media and partnerships as well as the West African correspondent at Forbes Africa. Passionate about shaping the African narrative, she co-created Netflix’s first African reality series in 2022, which won the Best Reality TV Show at the African Entertainment Awards USA.

Through her content, Hyde aims to inspire younger Africans to own their stories. She shares her personal journey, unique perspective, and ‘random dumps’ that we find ever so inspiring.

  1. Sinikiwe Kademaunga

Disability Activist

Sinikiwe Kademaunga is a disability activist and a member of the African Women Leaders Network, Zimbabwe Chapter.

Through her social media platforms, she advocates for the rights of people with disabilities, especially women.

As an advocate for gender equality in Zimbabwe, she believes that as women, it is time to rise, and to create the generation that we’ve always wished for.

  1. Debola Deji-Kurunmi

Transformational Coach

She is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, ministry gift, public policy advisor and transformational coach for visionary leaders. Through her coaching, consulting, capacity building, and digital content, Debola deploys her extraordinary gift of unlocking potential in people, institutions and nations.

She is the Founder of IMMERSE Coaching Company (a professional coaching practice), Executive Director at Ideation Hub Africa (a public policy and impact advisory firm) and President at Kingdom Leaders Global Alliance (a non-denominational Christian Ministry).

  1. Malama Maryam Wahid Ahmed

Skincare Coach, Entrepreneur

Malama Maryam Wahida Ahmed is a multi-faceted educator at the Federal College of Nigeria, Kano.

She is also a safe skincare evangelist, championing ‘stop-bleaching’ campaigns on social media, and offering insightful skincare advice to African women.

  1. Tolulope Adejumo (Tolulope solutions)

Lifestyle Content Creator

She creates wholesome lifestyle content around her Christian faith, Marriage and Motherhood.

From inception, her social media platforms have been more than numbers but a way to share the big and little moments of her dynamic life. Her YouTube channel and Instagram profile have a combined following of over 250,000

  1. Rinu Oduala 

Human Rights Advocate

Rinu Oduala is a Human Rights advocate, Influencer and community organizer focused primarily on issues of equity, justice, humanity and community advancement. 

Leveraging social media, she advocates against police brutality in Nigeria and beyond. Rinu has become a key player in the work to confront the systems and structures that have led to mass incarceration and police killings of Nigerians.

She has been nominated for CAHR Aminu Kano award for Leadership, 2020, and one of NBCWashington 31 Women creating a positive impact in Africa.

Follow her here 👉 CLICK

28.Kobe Campbell 

Trauma Therapist

Kobe Campbell is an award-winning licensed trauma therapist, author, media expert, and speaker.

Kobe shares content around healing from trauma on TikTok and Instagram, where she has garnered a combined following of over 150,000.

She is currently preparing to release her first book titled Why Am I Like This?: How to Break Cycles, Heal From Trauma, and Restore Your Faith.

She is Named one of Charlotte’s Most Influential Women by Charlotte Lately Magazine and awarded as the Rising Star Under 30 by WILMA magazine.

29.Blessing Abeng

Branding & Communications Expert

Blessing Abeng is the Co-founder and Director of Communications at Ingressive for Good, a non-profit organization through which actively connects African youths to tech training, scholarships and resources for the growth of the African startup ecosystem.

She regularly shares content on her social media platforms and email newsletter around branding, communications and tech.

In 2022, she was recognized as one of the United Nation’s 100 under 40 most influential People of African Descent.

  1. Bolaji Bolu-David

ESL Instructor

Bolaji Bolu David is a professional editor, ESL Instructor, and Founder of Eliz Pro.

She is passionate about helping people gain correctness, precision and confidence with the English Language and regularly shares pronunciation lessons on her Instagram profile which has garnered over 71,000 followers.

  1. Oluwatosin Olaseinde

Founder, Money Africa

Tosin Olaseinde is the founder of three leading African tech financial brands – Money Africa (a personal finance & investment literacy edtech platform), Ladda.ng (an investment fintech platform) and Money Africakids (a finance and investment literacy platform for kids and teenagers). 

Through her social media platforms and podcast, she shares lessons on financial literacy and connects her audience to investment opportunities 

Tosin was named a LinkedIn Top Voice, Finance & Economy in 2020 and is also a member of The Mandela Washington Fellowship. 

  1. Glory Edozien (Phd.)

LinkedIn Visibility Expert

Glory Edozien is passionate about helping African female executives build visibility and gain global recognition using LinkedIn & Personal Branding. 

A LinkedIn 2022 Top Voice, she shares thought leadership content on LinkedIn and Instagram to enable her audience to become visible.

Glory Edozien is a Forbes Coaches Council Member

  1. Ifeoma Nwobu

COO, Sendstack

Once the face of Vogue online, Ifeoma Nwobu is now the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Sendstack, a mobility tech startup in Lagos, Nigeria focused on achieving next-day delivery infrastructure for African businesses. 

Through her social media platforms, she shares her thoughts around entrepreneurship, building a tech startup, and living purposefully.

  1. Ifeyinwa Omesiete

Co-Founder, Nutrition4Kids

Ifeyinwa Omesiete is a pediatric nutritionist and co-founder of Nutrition4Kids – where she is helping to provide effective feeding techniques and assisting parents with curial information for proper child development.  

In 2019, she co-founded the first pediatric Nutrition Challenge in Nigeria. This quarterly online programme provides materials in different learning styles to reorient the minds of parents on the importance of feeding children healthy homemade meals.

Through her website, burgeoning telegram community, and Instagram page, she shares valuable content that provide nutritional support, education and advocacy. 

Follow her here 👉 CLICK

  1. Foluso Gbadamosi 

Coach, Author

Foluso Gbadamosi is a global speaker, author, and trainer who is vocal about helping people unleash their superpowers and gain mastery of their talents towards achieving maximum growth in all areas of life 

A Gallups Certified Strength Coach, she regularly shares insightful content that helps individuals and organizations live out their purpose.

She is on the Board of Directors of Swift Networks, Croissant Technologies, and Intense NG. 

  1. Adaora Mbelu

Founder, Lumination Global

Adaora Mbelu is the founder of Lumination Global – an Afrocentric transformational learning organization, and the co-founder of Socially Africa – focused on teaching people to Be Good, Do Good and Inspire Good. 

A multipotentialite, she leverages her Book (This Thing Called Purpose), Music, Podcast, Social media platforms, Newsletters, and social enterprises to shift mindsets and transform lives.

Adaora was named one of the 100 Most Influential People of African Descent in 2020. 

  1. Aisha Yesufu

Activist

Aisha Yesufu is a political and social activist, influencer educator, public speaker and advocate of African women’s rights. 

Using social media and physical means of protest, she has played key roles in social -political movements such as the #BringBackOurGirlsCampaign, which served to draw attention and action to the kidnapped schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno, Nigeria in 2013.

She is a recipient of the Martin Luther King Award and was named on the BBC top 100 Women List of 2020.

  1. Bunmi George (Jbums)

CEO, Shredder Gang

Bunmi George is the Founder, and CEO of Shredder Gang – a health and wellness consultancy where she has helped over 70,000 women achieve their body goals through the right nutrition plan.

An avid storyteller, she inspires and educates her 120,000 + followers on Instagram with her unique faith-based perspectives and experiences.

Bunmi is a brand ambassador for Carex Soap. 

ABCD Africa

  1. Bolaji ‘Billions’Ajibare

Social Media Coach

Bolaji ‘Billions”Ajibare is a social media coach and content creator with experience in public relations, digital marketing and communications.

Bolaji has trained over 240 students to start careers in social media management and curates one of the largest social media managers communities in Nigeria.

A seasoned content creator, she creates explainer videos to improve the content creation skills of her over 60,000 followers on Instagram.

  1. Olere Odior

Style Expert

Olere Odior is a leading style expert and personal stylist who is focused on helping African women differentiate and showcase their value by creating an authentic personal style. 

Leveraging her social media platforms, she helps African women find their confidence, rediscover their style and build executive presence.

She has built a community on Instagram and TikTok with a combined following of over 35,000. 

  1. Niven Postma

Leadership Expert

Niven Postma is a South African leadership, personal career growth and business politics expert with an audience of over 19,000 on LinkedIn. 

She helps her clients build beneficial business networks, foster leadership, navigate the murky waters of office politics, drive leadership change across organizations and build sustainable work culture.

Niven is an author and visiting lecturer at Henley Business School; contributes to Harvard Business Review and Inc. Africa, and is currently pursuing her PhD.\

  1. Ifedayo Agoro

Founder, DANG!

Ifedayo Agoro is an avid community builder, creative storyteller and founder of Diary Of a Naija Girl – a vibrant community of over 630,000 women where she shapes conversations around topics that impact women professionally and personally.

She is also the founder and CEO of Dang Lifestyle, a premium Skincare, Home and Body Fragrance and Gifts brand.

  1. Jola Ayeye

Co-host, ISWIS Podcast

Jola Ayeye is a creative writer, storyteller and strategist with an unwavering interest in contemporary African culture and its global representation. 

She is the co-host of the famous pop culture podcast  “I Said What I Said” (Number one podcast on Apple podcast, 2022). 

She is also a co-host on “Cash Madam Collective”, a work, money and leadership women-centric podcast.

Jola is currently the Head of Development at Salt & Truth, a Nigerian and African entertainment provider focusing on indigenous story content for film, television, and global features

  1. Stephanie Busari

Senior Editor, Africa, CNN

Stephanie Busari is a multi-award winning journalist,  notable for exclusively obtaining the “proof of life” video for the missing Chibok schoolgirls in the wake of the Bring Back Our Girls advocacy which led to negotiations with Boko Haram that resulted in the release of over 100 of the kidnapped schoolgirls.

She is the pioneer and head of CNN’s first digital and multi-platform bureau in Nigeria. In May 2020, she was listed among 25 of the most powerful female journalists in Africa by Women in Journalism Africa.

  1. Anita M.V Erskine

Entrepreneur, TV Host

Anita M.V. Erskin is a TV Host and Producer, Event Moderator, Actress, Keynote Speaker, and Entrepreneur. 

Anita employs storytelling to showcase African cultures, traditional and social pillars that hold up our communities and how tech Innovation, entrepreneurship and education are creating African solutions for African problems. 

Anita Erskine’s Sheroes show garners over 15 million global viewers.

She has been named among the top 500 most influential Africans around the world, and one of the top 100 Women CEO’s in Africa

  1. Amin Ameen

Founder, Every Na Art 

Amin Ameen is the founder of Every Na Art and a Monetization Product Professional who pivoted from Engineering & Projects.

Driven by her passion for teaching, she shares knowledge that produces access (from a social-economic standpoint); especially to those who are underserved via her social media platforms. 

In 2022, she launched the #LinkedUp Series which connected thousands of young professionals to  practical tips on how to navigate Tech Interviews.

Through her digital content, she continues to connect young people to global opportunities.

  1. Folashade Daini

Brand & Content Strategist

Folashade Daini is a brand & content strategist.

She shares wholesome relatable content around navigating life, family, and faith on her YouTube and Instagram channels where she has garnered a combined audience of over 100,000 followers.

  1. Abena Brigidi

Founding Partner and the CEO, Nimed Capital Limited

Abena B. Brigidi is a Founding Partner and the Chief Executive Officer of Nimed Capital Limited; a leading investment banking firm in Accra.

Through her blog and social media platforms, she shares insightful content on investing and finance.

  1. Patricia Murugami

Group CEO, Breakthrough Leadership Transformation Group

Patricia Murugami is the Group CEO of Breakthrough Leadership Transformation Group – a leadership growth advisory solution group.

An award winning global leadership coach- she inspires her audience to evolve into their next best selves through her academy, books, podcasts, and other digital content. 

She is an accredited certified executive coach with The Performance Solution UK.

  1. Dr Nkechi Harry Ngonadi (NHN Couture)

Entrepreneur, Founder, NHN War Room

Dr Nkechi Harry Ngonadi is a multi-award winning entrepreneur. In 2018, she was recognized as the Designer of the Year award at the Runway Dubai Fashion show.

An ardent community builder, she established the NHN War room, a faith-based global community of women, and continues to touch lives across her social media platforms which has a combined following of over 430,000.

Follow her here 👉 CLICK

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