#Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

sageglobalresponse · 7 months ago

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Checkout 8 women making Nigeria proud abroad and what they are doing for a living

As the globe celebrates the 2024 International Women’s Day under the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” we pay tribute to remarkable Nigerian women who are making remarkable strides beyond Nigeria’s borders, leaving enduring imprints on the global stage.

This year’s campaign theme, “Inspire Inclusion,” resonates deeply. Here are eight Nigerian women who are serving as sources of inspiration for women worldwide:

1. Adejoke Bakare

Adejoke Bakare, a Nigerian-born chef based in the United Kingdom, is the founder of Chishuru, a West African-themed restaurant located in London. Chishuru made history by becoming the UK’s first black female-owned restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star, a prestigious accolade reserved for establishments recognized for their exceptional culinary prowess.

Bakare’s West African cuisine has captivated diners from across Britain, garnering unprecedented acclaim for its innovative and diverse menu offerings. The culinary delights from Chishuru’s kitchen have also been featured in The Sunday Times Magazine, receiving a flawless review score.

Bakare’s culinary expertise has earned her recognition on platforms like Great British Chefs. Her restaurant, Chishuru, has been honored among the top 100 restaurants in the UK at the National Restaurant Awards, a notable achievement complementing her prestigious Michelin star.

2. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, aged 69, is a Nigerian-American economist renowned for her significant contributions to global finance. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first Nigerian woman to serve two terms as Finance Minister of Nigeria and has also held the position of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria. During her tenure, she led the Nigerian team that successfully negotiated the cancellation of 60% of Nigeria’s $18 billion external debt with the Paris Club.

With two tenures at the World Bank, Okonjo-Iweala managed an impressive $81 billion operational portfolio spanning Africa, South Asia, Europe, and Central Asia. She currently serves as the 7th Director-General of the World Trade Organization, making history as the first woman to hold this position.

Her tenure as Finance Minister garnered international acclaim for enhancing Nigeria’s financial stability and promoting fiscal transparency to combat corruption. Okonjo-Iweala has been recognized on numerous prestigious lists, including the 50 Greatest World Leaders, the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World, the Top 100 Global Thinkers, and the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the World.

3. Ndidi Nwuneli

Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli is a distinguished Nigerian entrepreneur and an authority on African agriculture, nutrition, philanthropy, and social innovation. With over 25 years of international development experience, she has been instrumental in driving impactful solutions within the global social innovation landscape, particularly focused on Africa.

Nwuneli is the visionary behind LEAP Africa and African Food Changemakers. Additionally, she co-founded Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition Ltd. and AACE Foods Processing & Distribution Ltd.

Notably, Nwuneli has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the ONE Campaign, a renowned global advocacy organization. In her new role, she will lead a diverse team of campaigners, advocates, and experts stationed across various international hubs including Abuja, Berlin, Brussels, Dakar, Johannesburg, London, New York, Ottawa, Paris, and Washington D.C. Their collective efforts will be directed towards campaigns aimed at supporting African nations through financial assistance, policy development, establishment of political structures, and mobilization of activists. The overarching goal is to eradicate extreme poverty and preventable diseases by the year 2030.

4. Abigail Marshall Katung

Abigail Wok Marshall Katung, aged 49, is a prominent Nigerian-British politician affiliated with the Labour and Co-operative Party. Notably, she holds the esteemed position of Lord Mayor of Leeds, a historic achievement as the first elected African in the Leeds City Council.

Katung gained recognition for her pivotal role in prosecuting state officials for the death of a black individual in 1971, a significant milestone in achieving justice. This led to the establishment of the David Oluwale Memorial Association (DOMA) in memory of David Oluwale, a Nigerian migrant to the UK who tragically drowned in the River Aire. Additionally, two British police officers were held accountable for his untimely demise.

In her political career, Katung has served two terms as the representative for the Little London and Woodhouse Ward, first in 2019 and then in 2023. Furthermore, in 2022, she co-chaired the Leeds City Council’s official ‘Food Champion’ initiative alongside Gareth Batty, the CEO of FareShare Yorkshire, demonstrating her commitment to community welfare and food security.

5. Zain Asher

Zain Ejiofor Asher is a British Nigerian news anchor renowned for her role at CNN International, stationed in New York City. She currently co-anchors the network’s primetime global news show, One World, where she conducts interviews with world leaders, newsmakers, and CEOs.

Asher has also been at the forefront of anchoring breaking news coverage during significant events such as the explosion in Beirut, the End SARS protests in Nigeria, and the passings of notable figures like Fidel Castro, Muhammad Ali, and George Michael.

In April 2022, she released her memoir titled Where The Children Take Us, published by HarperCollins. Inspired by her 2015 Tedx talk titled “Trust Your Struggle,” which has garnered 2.2 million views on YouTube as of 2022, the book delves into the story of Asher’s upbringing. It narrates how her mother, widowed and raising four children, persevered to fulfill her and her husband’s dream of relocating to England to provide their children with exceptional education and opportunities.

6. Simidele Adeagbo

Simidele Adeagbo, aged 42, is a Nigerian-born athlete who has made significant strides in bobsleigh and skeleton events. Notably, she represented Nigeria at the 2018 Winter Olympics. In 2022, she achieved a remarkable feat by winning the women’s mono bob event at the 2022 EuroCup held in Germany, thereby becoming the first athlete from Africa to claim victory in an international sliding competition.

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to winter sports and her efforts in promoting Olympic Values throughout her competitive career, Adeagbo was honored with the title of Olympian for Life in the same year. This accolade followed her establishment of the SimiSleighs Foundation, a non-profit advocacy group dedicated to supporting women and girls in sports.

Adeagbo further etched her name in history by becoming the first African athlete to compete in bobsleigh at the IBSF World Championships in the same year, marking a significant milestone in the event’s century-long existence.

7. Toyosi Ogunseye

Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye is a distinguished Nigerian journalist, notable for being the first female editor of Punch Newspaper in its 50-year history. Her exceptional career has been adorned with numerous accolades, including over 25 media awards. Notably, she clinched the health category of the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Awards in both 2011 and 2013.

Previously, Ogunseye held the esteemed position of head of language services, West Africa, at BBC World Service. Additionally, she was selected as a Mandela Washington Fellow in 2014, completing her Fellowship at the Presidential Precinct.

Presently, Ogunseye serves as the President & CEO of the United States Presidential Precinct. In this role, she actively contributes to the organization’s mission of delivering leadership programming that engages and inspires emerging leaders.

8. Wunmi Mosaku

Wunmi Mosaku, a Nigerian-born British actress, has attained significant milestones in her illustrious acting career. Her exceptional portrayal of Gloria Taylor in the TV drama Damilola, Our Loved Boy earned her the prestigious BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2016.

In 2020, Mosaku received widespread acclaim for her performance as Rial in the horror film His House, which earned her the British Independent Film Award (BIFA) for Best Performance by an Actress.

In 2021, Mosaku ventured into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with her role as Hunter B-15 in the television series Loki. Her accomplishments serve as an inspiration to aspiring actors and underscore the importance of diverse representation in the media landscape.

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