5 Richest and Most Influential Women In Nigeria

Thus goes the saying “What a man can do, a woman can do better…” These women have tirelessly worked their way up to carve a niche for themselves. Their names make a statement and it speaks for itself any day. Of these women, the question remains- Who is the richest in Nigeria? This list below highlights 5 richest women in Nigeria.  You can share your thoughts in the comment section.

Folorunsho Alakija

Mrs Alakija was born in 1951 to the family of Chief L.A Ogbara of Ikorodu Lagos, Nigeria. She started her education in Nigeria but later proceeded to the United Kingdom for further studies. She rose through the ranks and ended up settling down to do business thus creating her sphere of influence.

Her company, Famfa Limited applied for and got the oil prospecting license in 1993. This gave her the opportunity to explore and export Oil products in and outside Nigeria. She has a well of experience in the oil business and has been very successful at it.  Madam Folorunsho Alakija was appointed the first female Chancellor of Osun State University Nigeria on the 9th of March 2016.

Amongst her recognitions include-

• Richest Woman in Africa, The Oprah Winfrey Program (2014)
• 96th Most Powerful Woman in the world, Forbes (2014)
• 96th Most Powerful Woman in the world, Forbes (2015)

She is also a great philantropist.

Hajia Bola Shagaya

Hajia Shgaya was born on the 10th of October 1959 in Ilorin Kwara state Nigeria. She studied Economics and Accountancy at Armstrong College California. She started her career at audit department of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Married to Alhaji Shagaya, she began the introduction of Konica brand of photographic materials into the Nigerian and West African market. She manages Practoil Limited- one of the largest importers and distributors of base oil in Nigeria, serving local lubricant blending plants. Also, she has huge investment in the real estate business. She was honoured in 2010 as a member of the Order of the Niger (OON) by then President Goodluck Jonathan.

Daisy Danjuma

A lawyer by profession, She started her career as a state counsel with the Lagos state Ministry of Justice before working for the investment bank Nigerian Acceptances Ltd. (NAL). A wife of one of the richest men in Nigeria – General Theophilus Danjuma. She got a lot of presents from her billionaire husband including a super jet which cost over $40 million. In 2003 she was elected as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. During her tenure as a Senator, she worked in various committees such as Senate Committee Chairman on Women Affairs and Youth Development and Chairman of the ECOWAS Parliament`s Women and Children`s Rights Committee. Her husband helped her to earn more than $1 billion of her net worth.

Fifi Ekanem Ejindu

Fifi Ekanem Ejindu is an architect and businesswoman. According to her biography, she is the great granddaughter of King James Ekpo Bassey. Her father, the famous Professor Sylvester Joseph Una, first Minister of Health in the former eastern region of Nigeria. Princess Fifi schooled in Queens College, Yaba Lagos and later proceeded to Pratt Institute to study Architecture. She returned in 1995 to set up her business- Starcet Group of companies which includes Starcrest Investment Ltd., Starcrest Associates Ltd. and Starcrest Industries Ltd. Her businesses range from real estate, oil and gas, and building construction.  Fifi Ekanem Ejindu describes her architectural style as Neo-traditional. She defined building with tribal old style features. Her current net worth is about $600 million.

Stella Chinyelu Okoli

A medical doctor and pharmacist by profession, Dr Okoli schooled at the All saints Anglican Primary School Onitsha, University of Bradford and University of London.

Initially called Emzor Chemists Limited, Stella went into drug manufacturing with the passion of making healthcare affordable in Nigeria. She later converted the name to Emzor Pharmaceuticals which produces over thirty types of pills consumed by millions of Nigerians. The company has been in the market for over 35 years. Her passion did not only make her affluent but also accorded her the honour of being one of the most influential woman in Nigeria (Street Journal, 2016).

As part of her philanthropic desire, she launched the Chike Okoli Foundation in 2006: a non-profit organisation committed to eradicating poverty and diseases by raising awareness for cardiovascular diseases.

Dr. Stella Okoli was honoured at the This Day Annual Awards (2012) and also a member of the Order of Niger.

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