16th September, 2021
Nigeria is the giant of Africa, one of the creative and humanitarian giants in Africa if not the world. Aliko Dangote, Dele Jegede, Buchi Emecheta, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Femi Otedola, Chinua Achebe, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, and Flora Nwampa many to mention but just a few are Nigerian humanitarians and creative giants who have earned their place in history books and are celebrated all over the world.
Drawn from the field of government, art, and humanitarian work, these are few of the women who have devoted their lives to doing humanitarian works, promoting arts, and contributing to Nigeria and beyond. These women are explorers and history makers.
Sadiya Umar Farouq
Sadiya Umar Farouq is a Nigerian politician who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. She is the youngest minister in President Buhari’s cabinet. She has held several posts including Federal Commissioner for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (2016), the National Treasurer of the ruling party APC (2013-2014), and the National Treasurer of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), (2013-2014).
Funke Akindele
Renowned Nigerian actress, filmmaker, and director Funke Akindele, the founder of the Jenifa Foundation, is one of the best actresses in Africa. Akindele starred in the late 90s Nigerian family-oriented television series “I Need To Know” which is her breakthrough, you can’t speak of the best and most talented African actresses without mentioning Akindele.
She started her career in secondary school, Funke Akindele has received over 21 awards and has established herself as one of the most influential African actresses.
Abisola Omolade
Abisola Omolade is a Nigerian art director, philanthropist, entrepreneur, production designer, and co-founder of The Sabinah Foundation. A charitable organization she co-founded with her siblings devoted to the care of children, orphans, women, and HIV patients. A foundation to help curb the problem of child abuse, child slavery, and abandoned children in Nigeria, with the aim of providing welfare support to families that cannot afford the basic needs a child needs to thrive in their environment.
Abisola who has been on the British Council discussing opportunities in the creative world is one of Nigeria’s most talented creatives and has already worked on huge number of films, music videos, and live events.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Born on September 15, 1977, Nigerian creative writer who’s works has appeared in several journals and magazines including The Times, Research in African Literatures, Oxford University Press, The Paris Review, Brittle Paper, and The New York Times is undoubtedly one of the best writers in the world was inspired by Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’ at the age of 10.
Adichie is renowned for her works on fiction and feminism, her first work “Purple Hibiscus” was published in 2003.
Ngozi Nkonjo Iweala
Nigerian economist and politician Ngozi Nkonjo Iweala, the first Nigerian woman to serve two terms as Finance Minister of Nigeria is the current Director-General of the World Trade Organization and the first woman and first African to hold this position.
She is the founder of Nigeria’s first indigenous opinion-research organization, NOI-Polls, and the founder of the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (C-SEA). Ngozi Nkonji Iweala is a member of the Joint World Bank-IMF Development since 2004, a member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank since 2016, and the member of the Japan International Cooperation Agency since 2017.
Grace Ladoja
Former British model Naomi Campbell’s manager and manager of the second grime artiste to win the Mercury prize Grace Ladoja is a Nigerian music executive and director who has devoted her life to empowering the lives of creatives through arts, and fashion.
She was awarded Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by the Prince of Whales in 2018, and founded Our Homecoming Festival to connect creatives in Africa.