In the Spotlight: Some enterprising women entrepreneurs from “The Heart of Africa”
#WomenEntrepreneurs #NigeriaBusiness #FemaleFounders #EconomicGrowth #WomenInLeadership
“The Heart of Africa” or Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape is evolving, and at the forefront are enterprising women, who are turning challenges into opportunities. Despite facing significant barriers – such as limited access to funding, cultural expectations, and gender biases, women entrepreneurs in Nigeria are making remarkable strides across diverse industries. From tech startups and agri-businesses to fashion and finance, these women are not only transforming their own lives but also driving economic growth and innovation.
Entrepreneurs Driving Change in Nigeria
The rise of women-led businesses in Nigeria is fuelled by a growing ecosystem of support. Government initiatives like the Women Empowerment Fund, as well as private sector programs such as the Tony Elumelu Foundation and African Women’s Development Fund, are providing critical resources like mentorship, training, and financial backing. These initiatives are helping women entrepreneurs scale their businesses, create jobs & contribute to the nation’s economic resilience.
Redefining Business: How Women in Nigeria Are Thriving as Entrepreneurs
As more Nigerian women embrace entrepreneurship, they are redefining leadership and proving that business success is not limited by gender. Their perseverance, creativity, and vision are paving the way for a more inclusive and dynamic economy – one where women play a central role in shaping Nigeria’s future.
Here’s presenting some enterprising women entrepreneurs from Nigeria.
> Tara Fela-Durotoye, Founder, Tara International
Tara Fela-Durotoye, the Founder of House of Tara International, is known for pioneering the beauty industry. She turned a small bridal makeup business into a beauty empire. Her influence extends beyond cosmetics, as she empowers young Nigerian women through her beauty academy – positively affecting the nation’s employment rates. She is the Founder and CEO of House of Tara International and creator of the Tara Orekelewa Beauty range, Inspired Perfume and the H.I.P Beauty range. At 2019, her brand House of Tara, had 270 products, 23 stores, 14 beauty schools and 10,000 representatives all around Africa.
> Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, Founder, Wecyclers
This story is about innovating waste management. Bilikiss Adebiyi or Bilikiss Adebiyi- Abiola is a Nigerian entrepreneur who founded the Lagos-based recycling company ‘Wecyclers’.
As the Founder of Wecyclers, which was founded in 2012, she is tackling Lagos’s waste problem.
Thus, she is an inspiring Nigerian social entrepreneur and her company WeCyclers – offers waste collection and recycling services to the Lagos informal settlements, where an estimated 66% of Lagosians live. As a part of the process, residents are offered an incentive for collecting their household waste which is picked up for free by Wecyclers using specially adapted bicycles. Her company’s recycling initiatives actively clean up the city and create jobs, thereby raising environmental awareness.
Importantly, this demonstrates that businesses can be both profitable and socially responsible.
> Ndidi Nwuneli, Founder, LEAP Africa – A Crusader for Agriculture
Ndidi Nwuneli is the Founder of LEAP Africa, which is a non-profit – committed to developing dynamic, innovative and principled African leaders and African Food Changemakers, which provides support for African entrepreneurs to start and scale resilient and sustainable agribusinesses. She is also the Co-founder of Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition Ltd. and AACE Foods Processing & Distribution Ltd.
Through her company, LEAP Africa, she is really revolutionizing Nigeria’s agriculture sector. By supporting smallholder farmers and agribusinesses, she is not only boosting the economy but also ensuring food security, a critical issue in Nigeria.
She serves on the boards of the Rockefeller Foundation, Stanbic IBTC Group, the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum, and the Bridgespan Group.
> Adenike Ogunlesi, Founder, Ruff ‘n’ Tumble
It’s a tale of redefining children’s fashion here. Adenike Ogunlesi is a Nigerian fashion entrepreneur, a leading designer, manufacturer & retailer of designer children’s clothing. She is a force to reckon with in the children’s fashion industry in West Africa. She is the proud Founder and Ceative Director of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, one of the best manufacturers of children’s clothing in Nigeria.
She took a simple idea – making clothes for her kids – and turned it into Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, a leading children’s clothing brand in Nigeria. Her entrepreneurial journey is indeed, a testament to the potential of the fashion industry to contribute to economic growth.
> Maya Horgan Famodu, Founder of Ingressive Capital
Maya Horgan Famodu is the Founder of Ingressive Capital, an organisation that aids companies expand into Africa. She has also established a non-profit setup for her firm – Ingressive for Good, which provides micro-scholarships, tech training and talent placement for African youth.
She advices on developing the entrepreneurship value – “Always lead with numbers and the tangible value you offer.” Ingressive Capital seeded some of Africa’s fastest-growing businesses, including Paystack (sold for $200M+ to Stripe); Mono (Series A led by Tiger and Y Combinator alum); Carry1st (Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz, Google, Riot Games & AET).
40% of the portfolio is female-founded and 50% are Y Combinator alumni.
> Florence Chikezie, Founder and CEO of ReDahilia International Limited
Florence Chikezie is a strategy consultant, coach, trainer, author & investor. She is an award-winning entrepreneur and she is the Founder/CEO of Nigeria’s fast rising enterprise – ReDahlia, a brand that houses ReDahlia Workspaces, Entrepreneurs.ng and The Business Clinic. ReDahilia International Limited is a trusted business that offers free investment informations for client spanned across the globe.
She strongly believes that the solution to the economic problems faced by Nigeria and other countries in the world lies in the confines of entrepreneurship.
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
