Lifestyle

International Women’s Day: Women Who Lead, Inspire, and Lift Others

Published

7 months ago

5 March 2026

Ene Unazi

Photo: Instagram

With International Women’s Day approaching this Sunday, March 8, 2026, we turn the spotlight on women who lead, inspire, and lift others. In this feature, we highlight five Nigerian women who have not only built remarkable careers in entertainment, beauty, fashion, media, and finance, but who have also built influential careers and created opportunities for others. Their stories showcase their professional impact that empowers those around them.

Tiwa Savage

Tiwa Savage: Instagram

Tiwatope Omolara Savage, known as Tiwa Savage, is a singer, songwriter, and the first African female artist to sign with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in July 2016. A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, she signed with Mavin Records in 2012 and built one of the most recognised careers in Afrobeats.

She has spoken publicly throughout her career about the double standards female artists face: how their personal lives attract more attention than their work, and how they rarely receive the same professional respect as their male counterparts. For younger women in the industry, hearing someone at her level say it plainly has been widely noted.

In February 2026, she launched the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, a philanthropic initiative dedicated to developing the next generation of African music creatives including producers, songwriters, sound engineers, and music executives, not just performers. Her reasoning was direct: behind every successful artist is an entire ecosystem of professionals, and across Africa, access to structured training for those roles is scarce. The foundation was created to change that.

Stella Ndekile

Stella Ndekile: Instagram

Stella Ndekile trained and worked as a Medical Laboratory Scientist at UNILAG Medical Centre before co-founding Nuban Beauty in 2015 alongside Jane Ogu. The brand officially launched in 2017, built around a straightforward observation: international cosmetics brands were not formulating products for African skin tones or Nigeria’s climate, and Nigerian women had been compensating for that gap for years.

Their In My Skin Foundation became popular among customers because it addressed that gap directly, matching the skin of the women buying it in a way that imported products consistently failed to do. Stella built the brand’s e-commerce platform herself and ran it solely online for two years before a physical store opened.

In 2025, she introduced an AI-powered Skin Decoder at the Lagos Makeup Fair, a tool that analyses hydration, pigmentation, and skin texture to generate personalised skincare recommendations, making that technology accessible to consumers. She has also published Success Uncharted, a book about building a business without a conventional roadmap to see that it has been done before.

Mimi Yina

Mimi Yina: Instagram

Mimi Linda Yina, known as Medlin Boss, grew up in Gboko, Benue State, and studied Sociology at the University of Port Harcourt. She started her fashion business as a student, sourcing clothes on trips abroad for coursemates who liked what she wore. By graduation it had turned into a real business with paying customers.

Her first store in Port Harcourt attracted a clientele that grew steadily to include Funke Akindele, Yemi Alade, Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde, Ini Edo, and Nancy Isime. Her styling of Teddy A and Bam Bam’s traditional wedding outfits was covered widely across Nigerian entertainment and fashion media. In 2019, she relocated Medlin Couture to Lagos. By 2021, she was dressing the judges and host of The Voice Nigeria.

Beyond her client work, she runs outreach programmes for underprivileged women and children and has used her public profile to advocate for women’s rights. She has spoken about the responsibility that comes with visibility in the fashion industry.

Mo Abudu

Mo Abudu: Instagram

Mosunmola Abudu, known as Mo Abudu, launched her talk show Moments with Mo in 2006. In July 2013, she founded EbonyLife TV on DSTV as Africa’s first global black entertainment and lifestyle network, putting together the content slate, brand identity, and business model herself.

EbonyLife produced Fifty, The Governor, and Chief Daddy. In 2018, the company signed a co-production deal with Sony Pictures Television. In June 2020, it signed a multi-title deal with Netflix, making EbonyLife the first African company to do so. “Forbes has recognised her among Africa’s most influential media figures.

What she has built for others is just as significant. In partnership with the Lagos State Government, she established the EbonyLife Creative Academy, which offers free, practical training in filmmaking and media content production. It is open to working professionals and to complete beginners. She has mentored women in media throughout her career and pushed publicly for better funding access for African content creators.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Instagram

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was confirmed as Director-General of the World Trade Organization in February 2021 and took office on March 1, 2021, becoming the first woman and the first African to hold that position. The United States under the Trump administration had opposed her nomination. She gathered international support from WTO member countries until the incoming Biden administration reversed course and her confirmation went through.

She brought 25 years at the World Bank, two terms as Nigeria’s Finance Minister, and a term as Foreign Affairs Minister to that role. As Finance Minister, she published monthly government allocations that had previously been withheld from the public, and refused to approve expenditures she considered corrupt. Her mother was kidnapped in what was widely seen as an attempt to pressure her. She continued in her role regardless.

She has demonstrated, over four decades, that it is possible to hold senior positions in global institutions without softening your positions to make others comfortable. At 71, she continues to advocate for African debt restructuring and fairer trade terms for developing economies.

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Lifestyle

5 Beaches in Lagos for Your Next Staycation

Published

2 weeks ago

25 September 2026

Destiny Echobu

Photo: Instagram/@sunnyside.beach

A beach break does not always mean leaving Lagos. Residents looking for a change of scenery can find several coastal spots around Lekki, Ajah and Sangotedo for a day out or a weekend break. From Ziba Beach Resort’s overwater accommodation to Nautica’s mix of recreation and beachfront stays, and beach clubs such as KYMA and Kivu, these five locations offer different ways to enjoy a local getaway.

Ziba Beach Phase 3

Photo: zibabeachresorts.com

Ziba Beach Resort in Okun Ajah unveiled Phase 3 on September 11, 2026, with larger Grand Overwater Rooms, loft-style overwater accommodation and a dedicated wellness centre. The resort also has beach-facing rooms and suites, family rooms, a two-bedroom apartment and other overwater rooms for guests planning an overnight stay.

Facilities at the resort include a lagoon pool, adult and children’s pools, a games room, cinema, spa, gym, restaurant and bar. Ziba also lists activities such as beach picnics, beachside dining and dinners. Some packages have included quad biking, horse riding and massage treatments.

Nautica Beach Resort

Photo: nauticabeachresort.com

Nautica Beach Resort is located in Lekki and describes itself as an in-city leisure and lifestyle destination. It combines beach access with recreation, dining, entertainment, wellness and sports. Activities listed on its website include quad biking, paintball, volleyball, football, snooker and VR gaming.

For visitors who want to stay longer, Nautica offers beachfront accommodation, including private beach chalets and apartments. Its website says guests can buy beach access and pre-book activities through the Orbit Lifestyle App. The resort also hosts events and entertainment for visitors who want to spend more time at the location.

Sunny Side Beach

Photo: Instagram/@sunnyside.beach

Sunny Side Beach is located at Mopo Onijebu, off Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie Road in Sangotedo. Current listings describe it as a bar and grill, beach club and leisure spot. It is more suited to visitors looking for a beach outing with food and drinks than a conventional hotel-style stay.

The location’s current listings show afternoon-to-evening operating hours on its open days. This makes it an option for visitors who want to spend part of the day by the coast before heading home. For a Lagos staycation, it is better presented as a local beach outing, while claims about overnight accommodation should be avoided unless confirmed directly with the business.

KYMA Beach

Photo: kymabeach.com

KYMA Beach is located at Elegushi Private Beach in Ikate, Lekki. It operates as a beachfront club with private cabanas, dining and spaces for private events. Its signature restaurant, LYA, is open to both members and non-members by reservation, allowing visitors to combine a beach outing with a restaurant visit.

KYMA also accepts non-members through day passes, which provide access to the beach, restaurant and selected facilities. Its official website lists public access from Tuesday to Sunday, with Mondays closed. This makes it an option for people who want to spend the day at the beach without booking an overnight stay.

Kivu Beach

Photo: kivubeachclub.com

Kivu Beach is located at Oba Elegushi Beach in Lekki Phase I and is listed as a beach club and dining destination. Its location places it within one of Lagos’ coastal leisure areas, giving residents another option for a day by the water without travelling outside the city. Current listings describe Kivu as a casual dining restaurant serving international cuisine.

Kivu is better presented as a beach and dining option than an accommodation-focused resort. Visitors should confirm current access arrangements, opening times and charges with the venue before setting out, as these details can change.

For Lagos residents, a staycation can be as simple as choosing a coastal spot for a day or booking a resort for a longer break. Ziba and Nautica have accommodation options for visitors planning to stay overnight, while Sunny Side, KYMA and Kivu are more suited to beach outings, dining and leisure. The choice depends on whether the plan is a weekend away, a few activities, a meal by the beach or some time by the water.

Lifestyle

Ugo Ugochukwu Makes History With 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship Win

Published

3 weeks ago

15 September 2026

Laju Odogwu

Photo: Instagram/@fiaf3

Ugo Ugochukwu has won the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Drivers’ Championship, becoming the first American driver to claim the title in the current FIA Formula 3 Championship.

The 19-year-old secured the championship on Sunday, September 13, at the Madring circuit in Madrid. Driving for Campos Racing, Ugochukwu finished second in the second Feature Race behind MP Motorsport’s Tuukka Taponen. Freddie Slater, his main title rival, finished eighth for Trident.

Photo: Instagram/@fiaf3

The result put Ugochukwu on 159 points for the season, 14 points ahead of Slater, who finished second with 145. Taponen’s victory also moved him into third place in the final Drivers’ Championship standings with 109 points.

Ugochukwu’s title came in his second FIA Formula 3 season. He won the opening Feature Race in Melbourne, Australia, before taking another victory in the Silverstone Sprint Race. He also finished on the podium in Catalonia, at the Red Bull Ring, in Hungary and in Madrid.

Ugochukwu arrived in Madrid 15 points behind Slater. After the weekend’s earlier races, the pair were level on 141 points going into the final Feature Race. Ugochukwu started the race from second on the grid, while Slater started eighth. Ugochukwu held second to the finish, while Slater remained eighth, giving Ugochukwu enough points to take the championship.

Photo: Instagram/@fiaf3

Ugochukwu is the son of Nigerian fashion model Oluchi Onweagba. Born in New York, he moved from karting into single-seater racing in 2022, competing in British F4. He won the Euro 4 Championship in 2023 and the Macau Grand Prix in 2024.

He joined the FIA Formula 3 grid with PREMA Racing in 2025, finishing 16th in the championship and recording two podiums. He switched to Campos Racing for 2026 and began the year by winning the Formula Regional Oceania trophy.

He now joins former FIA Formula 3 champions including Oscar Piastri and Gabriel Bortoleto, who have gone on to compete in Formula One.

Lifestyle

Angélique Kidjo Makes History With Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Published

2 months ago

19 August 2026

Destiny Echobu

Photo: Getty images

Angélique Kidjo has become the first African musician and first Black African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, marking a significant moment for the Beninese singer whose career has taken African music to audiences around the world.

The five-time Grammy Award winner received the honour on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, during a ceremony in Los Angeles. Her star, the 2,854th on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was placed in the Recording category at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard.

Photo: Getty images

Kidjo was among the names selected for the Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2026. The selection was announced in July 2025, with the Beninese singer included alongside several prominent figures from music, film, television and other areas of entertainment.

x.com/@MadamAfrika

The ceremony brought together several notable figures, including Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold and actor Djimon Hounsou were also reported to be among those who attended the occasion.

For Kidjo, the recognition is tied closely to where she comes from and the music she has carried across borders throughout her career. During her speech, she reflected on Africa’s contribution to music and the influence of the continent’s culture on sounds heard around the world.

“We Africans don’t know what we’ve given to the world. Without us, there’s no music possible on this planet,” she said during the ceremony.

The 66-year-old singer has spent more than four decades in music, building a career that extends beyond recording and live performances. She has released numerous albums, worked with international artists and used her public platform to support social and humanitarian causes. Her collaborations have included musicians such as Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, John Legend, Bono, Yo-Yo Ma and Burna Boy.

Photo: Getty images

Her Grammy history is another major part of that career. Kidjo has won five Grammy Awards, adding to a list of international honours that have established her as one of the most recognised African musicians working on the global stage.

The Hollywood recognition also came with a special declaration. August 18 was officially recognised as Angélique Kidjo Day in Hollywood, adding another distinction to the occasion.

The significance of the star goes beyond the name engraved on the famous boulevard. Kidjo’s achievement places a Beninese musician at a landmark that has long been associated with some of the biggest names in international entertainment. For African music, it is another visible acknowledgement of the artists who have carried sounds, languages and traditions from the continent into wider global audiences.