Table of contents
To culminate Women鈥檚 History Month, we鈥檙e acknowledging Nigerian women who have carried the culture, economy, standard and momentum on their backs from March 2025 until now.
Using the same rigorous methodology as the 91大神 Culture List, we鈥檝e curated 50 names that defined the zeitgeist. This isn鈥檛 a participation trophy; it鈥檚 a record of who owned the year. We鈥檙e giving them their flowers, but this time we’re not doing it alone.
We鈥檝e picked the 50 nominees who defined the year; now you decide who takes the crown for the 91大神 Women of the Year & Audience Choice Awards 2026.
, for each category listed out below and keep an eye out for the winners after they’re announced on the !
1) The Blueprint: Business & Entrepreneurship
These are the architects of the economy. The CEOs, founders, and corporate titans who are scaling pan-African businesses, securing major funding, or running the most influential consumer brands in the country.
Audrey Joe-Ezigbo
The veteran architect of Nigeria鈥檚 energy future. In October 2025, Audrey Joe-Ezigbo was honoured with the prestigious AWIEF Lifetime Achievement Award. This was for her three decades of leadership at Falcon Corporation. She now prepares to transition into her role as CEO. Her impact remains a cornerstone of the natural gas industry and a blueprint for female executive excellence in high-stakes sectors.
Ife Durosinmi-Etti
In 2025, Ife made global history as Herconomy became the first Nigerian fintech to win three Silver Lions at the Cannes Lions Festival. She won this for her groundbreaking Breastmilk Money initiative. Her 2025/2026 run has been defined by a masterclass in scaling. She transitioned her platform from a community of women into a high-impact fintech that turns domestic care into investable capital. She is a 2025 JCI TOYP honouree and lead partner for the 2026 Under 40 CEOs HerStage. Ife has bridged the gap between social advocacy and hard finance. This has created the definitive blueprint for how the next generation of African women can own their economic power.
Dr. Ola Brown
The primary catalyst for African venture capital. Through HealthCap Africa, Dr Brown spent 2025 scaling investments into high-impact fintech and healthtech startups. Her portfolio is now valued at over $700 million. Her 2025 book, Journey to Series A, has become the definitive manual for African founders navigating the current global funding winter.
Adeife Adeoye
The pioneer of the remote work revolution. In May 2025, Adeife transitioned RemoteWorkHER and Hercademy from digital communities into a physical powerhouse by opening their first headquarters in Lagos. Over the past year, she has scaled her ecosystem to support over 150,000 women, providing the infrastructure and technical training they need to compete in the global remote economy.
Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes
The trailblazer of gender-lens investing in Africa. In 2025, Adesuwa was named PE Person of the Year at the Private Equity Africa Awards in London and Under 40 CEO of the Year at the Peak Performer Awards. As the founder of Aruwa Capital, she has spent the last 12 months aggressively deploying capital into female-led businesses. This is effectively reshaping how institutional wealth is allocated across the continent.
2) The Essence: Wellness & Beauty
These are the women providing the building blocks for our peace and our glow. This award celebrates the mental health advocates who keep us grounded and the beauty experts who ensure our bodies thrive.
Amanda Iheme
In March 2025, her clinic, ND峄奃峄, was officially named “Most Compassionate Mental Health Support Service 鈥 Nigeria” by the MEA Business Awards. Throughout 2024 and 2025, Amanda has been recognised as a “Wellness Pioneer” by Marie Claire for fusing tradition with modern innovation. Her groundbreaking research through the 2024 G.A.S. Fellowship and her clinic鈥檚 hybrid virtual care model have expanded mental health access to over 10,000 patients. This has set the global standard for technology-based healthcare in Nigeria.
Subuola Oyeleye
In 2025, Subuola transformed The Beauty Hut Africa into a critical economic shock-absorber for the sector. By launching an innovative wholesale platform that stabilised retail prices for small beauty businesses amidst Nigeria鈥檚 2025 exchange rate fluctuations, she ensured the survival of thousands of female-led micro-enterprises while maintaining the country鈥檚 access to global skincare standards.
Priscilla Ojo
Crowned Top Beauty Influencer in Nairobi (Oct 2025), Priscilla successfully scaled her brand, PriscyLuxe, into an international powerhouse. Her 2025/2026 window was defined by a landmark international pop-up in Toronto and being named among the 100 Most Impactful Influencers of 2025, proving that African digital creators can command luxury retail markets on a global scale.
Joycee Awosika
In 2025, Joycee celebrated the OR脥K脤 Group’s 10th anniversary with a massive technical expansion. Beyond launching new luxury spa centres in Lagos, she pioneered the Unwind by OR脥K脤 tech platform, which scaled on-demand mobile wellness services nationwide and into international markets, making luxury wellness accessible through a digital-first approach.
Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri
Dr Gbonjubola Abiri is a consultant psychiatrist, mental health advocate and organisational wellness expert committed to improving emotional well-being across communities and workplaces. In 2025, she was appointed as the COO of the ASIDO Foundation in addition to her role as Director of Women鈥檚 Mental Health. Through her clinical work, public speaking, media engagements, and leadership, she has championed mental health awareness, reduced stigma, and promoted access to care in Nigeria.
She writes a weekly mental health column in Allure Vanguard, translating complex psychological issues into relatable everyday stories. Known affectionately as Aunty Ramo, she connects warmly with the public through media and community engagement, offering practical tools for resilience and emotional wellness. Her work continues to shape conversations around mental wellness, helping individuals and institutions prioritise healthier minds, stronger relationships, and more compassionate communities.
3) The Main Character: Film & TV
These are the women who owned our screens. This award celebrates the actresses, directors, and producers who drove the year’s biggest cultural conversations, global streaming hits, and cinematic moments.
Funke Akindele
Funke Akindele, the undisputed聽Box Office Queen, solidified her legendary status in late 2025 by shattering industry records with the release of聽. The film made history as the first Nollywood production to cross the聽鈧2 billion mark, eventually grossing over聽鈧2.7 billion, completing an unprecedented billion-naira hat-trick alongside her previous hits,聽A Tribe Called Judah听补苍诲听Everybody Loves Jenifa.聽Akindele continues to redefine African cinema, proving an unmatched ability to craft commercially dominant, culture-shifting stories that resonate with millions globally.
Bimbo Ademoye
The digital screen鈥檚 most unavoidable star. In 2025, she surpassed 1.25M YouTube subscribers, using her self-produced web series to bridge the gap between traditional Nollywood and the creator economy, while delivering standout performances in the year鈥檚 biggest streaming hits.
Wunmi Mosaku
Between March 2025 and 2026, Wunmi achieved a historic level of critical and commercial dominance for her role as Annie in Ryan Coogler鈥檚 Sinners. Her year was defined by a record-breaking sweep, starting with Outstanding Supporting Performance at the Gotham Awards (Dec 2025) and culminating in wins for Best Supporting Actress from the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) and the Seattle Film Critics Society. Her run reached its peak on February 22, 2026, when she made history as the first Black British actress to win the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress. Currently an Oscar nominee, her performance has been hailed as the decade’s definitive cinematic milestone.
Uzoamaka Power
The face of prestigious African cinema. In 2025, she delivered a masterclass as both director and lead actor in the critically acclaimed My Body, God鈥檚 Temple and featured prominently in the international festival favourite My Father鈥檚 Shadow.
Bolanle Austen-Peters
The architect of the modern African epic. In 2025, she directed the Netflix global hit House of Ga’a, redefining the scale and technical ambition of Nigerian historical dramas and solidifying her role as a powerhouse producer for the global stage.
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4) Music: The Headliner
These are the artists, producers, and label execs defining the global sound. Whether she鈥檚 on the mic or running the boardroom, she鈥檚 the reason the world is listening to us right now.
Ayra Starr
The undisputed Sabi Girl of the year. Despite the lack of a full-length album in 2025, Ayra Starr maintained an iron grip on the global charts through sheer single power. Her year was defined by a historic double win at the 2025 MOBO Awards and taking home Best International Act at the 2025 BET Awards. Between March 2025 and March 2026, she delivered a relentless run of back-to-back hits including the Rema-assisted Who鈥檚 Dat Girl (45M+ plays), the summer anthem Hot Body (31M+ plays), and the viral December 2025 smash On A Low. Entering 2026 with a Grammy nomination for Gimme Dat (ft. Wizkid), she remains Nigeria鈥檚 most high-velocity cultural exporter.
Tems
A year of global ascension and firsts. In 2025, Tems released her long-awaited, critically acclaimed debut studio album Born in the Wild, which became the highest-charting album by a Nigerian female artist in US history. She swept the 2025 Grammy Awards, winning Best African Music Performance for Love Me JeJe, and made history in early 2026 as the first Nigerian woman to secure a #1 single on the UK Official Charts with the Dave collaboration, Raindance.
Aniko
As the founder of Group Therapy, Aniko transformed underground electronic music into a mainstream cultural bridge. In April 2025, she led the landmark Group Therapy x Boiler Room showcase in Lagos, which validated the Nigerian electronic scene on a global stage. Throughout 2025, she successfully scaled the brand to London and Accra, while her KlubAniko residency redefined the technical and inclusive standards of Nigerian nightlife.
Director Pink
In 2025, Director Pink won Music Video of the Year at the 17th Headies for her work on Egwu, cementing her status as the industry鈥檚 most sought-after director. Beyond her lens, her impact was defined by the 2025 expansion of the PinkLine Academy, a filmmaking initiative that has provided technical training and access to equipment to hundreds of aspiring female directors across West Africa.
Qing Madi
In January 2026, Qing Madi was crowned Most Promising Artiste of the Year at AFRIMA, a milestone that capped a 12-month run of absolute sonic dominance. Her debut album, I Am The Blueprint (January 2025), repositioned her from a viral sensation into a sophisticated global powerhouse, blending Afro-Soul and R&B with a vocal maturity far beyond her years. As Spotify鈥檚 EQUAL Africa Artist, her 2025/2026 run has established her as the primary architect of the next era of Afropop, proving she is a headliner in every sense of the word.
5) The Gamechanger: Tech & STEM
These are the innovators building the future. This award celebrates the founders, engineers, and researchers solving real-world problems through code, hardware, and scalable digital infrastructure.
Adora Nwodo
Adora Nwodo has solidified her status as a premier engineering leader and a vital bridge-builder for the next generation of African tech talent. By 2025, she transitioned into a Software Engineering Manager role at a global platform, overseeing complex cloud and platform engineering teams. Her literary impact also reached new heights with the 2025 release of her AZ-204 Study Guide via O’Reilly Media, marking her seventh book in a bibliography that began with her 2021 bestseller, Cloud Engineering for Beginners.
Through her social enterprise, , she spent the last year scaling programs that provide simulated work experience to thousands of aspiring engineers. In January 2025, she launched a landmark Simulated Work Experience Bootcamp to equip developers and designers with real-world project experience. These efforts, combined with her ongoing laptop sharing initiatives, have earned her global recognition, including the for Excellence in Software Development
Oluremi Martins
The pioneer of beauty-manufacturing tech. As the founder of Regirl and Texture Science Labs, Oluremi spent 2025 re-engineering the supply chain for Afro-textured hair. By utilising tech-enabled manufacturing and standardised lab processes, she has successfully scaled Made-in-Nigeria beauty solutions to over 70 countries, proving that African hardware and manufacturing can meet global luxury standards.
Adeola Ayoola
The architect of digital health infrastructure. In early 2026, Adeola was named a Top 10 Global Finalist for the Aurora Tech Award for her work with Famasi Africa. Over the last year, she scaled Remi, a proprietary AI agent that manages patient triage and predicts medication stock-outs, ensuring that over 20,000 patients across 10 Nigerian states never miss a life-saving refill.
Oluwatosin Olaseinde
The leading voice for digital financial inclusion. In November 2025, Oluwatosin was appointed to the World Economic Forum鈥檚 Global Future Council on Financial Education, a historic win for African representation. Through Money Africa and Ladda, she has utilised ed-tech to equip over 200,000 women with the digital tools and literacy needed to navigate Nigeria鈥檚 2025 economic shifts.
Yanmo Omorogbe
As the Co-Founder and COO of Bamboo, Yanmo led the platform’s 2025 expansion into Nigerian Stocks and Fixed-Income assets, effectively democratizing investment for over 100,000 active users. Her work in 2025, partnering with regulators to enable T+0 settlements, has removed the traditional friction for first-time female investors across the continent.
You’ll Love: The 91大神 Culture List 2025
6) The Force: Advocacy & Social Impact
These are the activists and policy-shapers holding power accountable. This award celebrates the women who aren’t just voices, but movements fighting for justice, systemic change, and the protection of the vulnerable.
Dorothy Njemanze
Dorothy Njemanze is a powerhouse Nigerian activist and filmmaker who has become a primary shield for women鈥檚 rights within the National Assembly. Throughout 2025, she was a in the high-stakes advocacy that successfully prevented the repeal of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP). Beyond her legislative defence, she spent the year scaling her foundation鈥檚 impact, launching a designed to dismantle structural barriers facing female leaders across Nigeria鈥檚 security, political, and economic sectors.
Her momentum has continued into 2026, with her serving as a panellist at the International Women’s Day event hosted by the Federal Ministry of Justice to address systemic barriers in justice pathways. Following critical radio advocacy on the Ozoro Festival, she is now focused on a significant shelter crisis. As of early 2026, the Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF) is actively to secure a new crisis and transitional shelter, a move essential to preventing the closure of their current facility and ensuring survivors maintain access to a safe haven.
Maryam Bukar Hassan
In July 2025, Maryam Bukar Hassan (Alhanislam) was appointed the under the . Utilising her , she has spent the last year on the frontlines of digital and grassroots advocacy, championing the leadership of women and youth in peace processes across Northern Nigeria and on the world鈥檚 most prestigious diplomatic stages, including the .
Her impact reached a historic peak in February 2026, when she became the during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. As a Flag Bearer of Peace, she continues to bridge the gap between grassroots activism and global diplomacy, proving that necessary to change the world.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has emerged as a and a bold voice for industrial transparency within the 10th National Assembly. In early 2026, she was named the 2025 Plenary Person of the Year for her relentless pursuit of mining-sector reforms and her advocacy for for Nigerian content creators. Her leadership style centres on high-impact, gender-inclusive governance that demands structural change and economic equity.
Between March 2025 and March 2026, she solidified her reputation as the Queen of Legacy Projects by delivering historic infrastructure and digital learning milestones across Kogi Central. This period saw the distribution of to public schools and the commissioning of across five local government areas. Additionally, her empowered over 100 constituents with electric vehicles, proving that transparent, community-focused representation can effectively drive sustainable local development.
Oby Ezekwesili
The global gold standard for integrity. In December 2025, Dr Ezekwesili was honoured in Doha, Qatar, as a joint winner of the International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award (Lifetime Achievement). As the leader of the SPPG, she spent the “Her” window training a new vanguard of over 1,000 ethical leaders, ensuring that the fight for civic accountability remains a sustainable, institutional movement across the continent.
Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi
The architect of future-focused female leadership. In 2025, Khadijah represented Nigeria at the Global Women Leaders Summit at Georgetown University, where she was instrumental in launching the Women Changemakers Initiative. Over the past 12 months, she has utilised this global mentorship and knowledge-exchange platform to accelerate gender inclusion in public policy, bridging the gap between grassroots advocacy and international political leadership.
7) The Storyteller: Media & Literature
These are the journalists, authors, and podcasters who documented our lives this year. This award celebrates the women who controlled the narrative, gave us the words we didn’t know we needed, and redefined the commercial scale of African storytelling.
FK & Jola (ISWIS)
In 2025, FK Abudu and Jola Ayeye transformed I Said What I Said into a global touring phenomenon, selling out The Bounce Live Tour across London, New York, and Toronto. By launching the Sub-Standard Newsletter and celebrating their 8th anniversary with a landmark karaoke residency, the duo spent the last year proving that African podcasting can achieve the commercial and cultural scale of mainstream entertainment.
Eloghosa Osunde
Eloghosa Osunde is an essential cultural critic and author whose distinct storytelling style bridges the gap between literature and visual art. With her 2025 release, Necessary Fiction, she has continued to influence global literary circles, proving that order is not a priority in her quest to precisely capture the overlapping realisms of the African experience.
Chinasa Anukam
In 2025, Chinasa’s hit interview series, Is This Seat Taken?, achieved new heights of cultural relevance during its fifth season. By bridging the gap between high-end talk show production and raw, digital-first authenticity, she has spent the past year redefining the celebrity interview format, making it the most coveted seat in the Nigerian entertainment space.
Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu
Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu is a leading bridge between grassroots reporting and ethical leadership. As the , she spent 2025 investigating the human cost of conflict, earning recognition as a and a runner-up for Best SGBV Reporting at the CJID Excellence in Journalism Awards. Her work continues to provide a vital platform for , utilising deeply human narratives to bring national and global attention to systemic failures and the resilience of women in the Sahel.
Tobi Ayeni (MissTechy)
The definitive storyteller of the digital age. In 2025, Tobi Ayeni received the Lord鈥檚 Achievers Award for Content Creation and represented Africa at the UNESCO-UNEVOC Global Forum. By breaking down complex technologies into accessible, stylish, and bite-sized content, she has spent the last 12 months ensuring that the average Nigerian woman is not just a consumer of technology but an empowered participant in the digital future.
8) The MVP: Sports
These are the record-breakers and history-makers. This award celebrates the athletes who represented the continent on the global stage and left everything on the field, court, or track.
Favour Ofili
The fastest woman over 150m in history. In May 2025, at the Adidas Atlanta City Games, Favour Ofili delivered a performance for the ages, shattering the world record with a time of 15.85s. By becoming the first woman in history to run the distance in under 16 seconds, she has solidified her status as the new face of global sprinting and a primary contender for every podium in the 2026 season.
Rena Wakama
The tactical mastermind behind Africa’s basketball dynasty. In August 2025, Rena Wakama led D鈥橳igress to a historic fifth consecutive AfroBasket title in Abidjan, defeating Mali 78鈥64. As the first female head coach to win the tournament, her leadership not only secured Nigeria鈥檚 seventh overall title but also earned her the Best Coach honours and a guaranteed spot for the team on the 2026 global stage.
Rasheedat Ajibade
The heartbeat of the Super Falcons. In November 2025, Rasheedat was named to the final three-woman shortlist for the CAF Women鈥檚 Player of the Year. Throughout 2025, her elite leadership and clinical versatility were pivotal to Nigeria鈥檚 record-extending continental triumph, during which she was also named the WAFCON 2025 Best Player.
Chiamaka Nnadozie
The undisputed best goalkeeper in the world. In September 2025, Chiamaka was ranked 4th for the Women’s Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d鈥橭r awards in Paris鈥攖he highest ever ranking for an African keeper. Her last year was defined by leading the Super Falcons to their 10th WAFCON title in July 2025, where she was officially crowned the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper.
Tobi Amusan
The resilient queen of the hurdles. After a challenging start to the year, Tobi Amusan roared back to the global podium in September 2025, clinching the Silver Medal in the 100m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Ending the year as the 3rd-ranked hurdler in the world, her 2025/2026 run is a blueprint for elite endurance and world-class recovery.
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9) The Muse: Fashion & Style
These are the visual storytellers and aesthetic icons. This award celebrates the designers, models, and muses who translated our culture into couture and made the world look at us with awe.
Veekee James
The undisputed director of the 2025 red carpet. Veekee James achieved a historic milestone at the 2025 AMVCAs, where her custom-sculpted couture dominated every Best Dressed conversation. Her year was defined by a relentless series of viral trends and the launch of high-impact bridal and evening wear collections that solidified her status as Nigeria鈥檚 most influential contemporary couturier.
Kanyinsola Onalaja
The global face of Nigerian craftsmanship. In October 2025, Kanyinsola opened Lagos Fashion Week with her “Marked” (SS26) collection. Throughout the year, her signature beadwork and 3D textures moved from the runway to the world stage, dressing international icons and securing her brand鈥檚 place in the most prestigious global luxury stockists.
Renike Olusanya
In 2025, Renike (Morenike Olusanya) achieved a historic milestone as a JCI Ten Outstanding Young Person honouree for her cultural achievements. Her year was defined by a massive dual impact: while her visual storytelling reimagined the identity of the modern African woman through global collaborations with brands like Dark & Lovely and Hulu, she simultaneously scaled her fashion brand, Bawsty, into a reference point for size-inclusive luxury. By fusing her technical artistic skill with business acumen, she has spent the last 12 months proving that the modern muse is also a visionary founder, redefining fit and representation for fuller-busted women across the continent.
Lisa Folawiyo
In 2025, Lisa Folawiyo was celebrated as the Marie Claire Power Issue cover star, a recognition of her twenty-year legacy in redefining Ankara through intricate hand-beading. Over the last 12 months, she has expanded her global retail footprint and continued to serve as the industry’s north star for sophisticated, culturally-rooted design.
Naomi Gbinije
The definitive supermodel of the era. 2025 marked Naomi’s official transition from a seasoned pro to a global muse. As the primary face of Andrea Iyamah and the standout star of Lagos Fashion Week 2025, she has spent the last 12 months setting the professional standard for African modelling on the world stage.
10) The Breakout
These are the women who weren’t on the mainstream radar 12 months ago but have since become unavoidable, brilliant, and the ones to watch. This award celebrates those who made the most significant entrance into the cultural consciousness this year.
Political Baby
The definitive Baddie Scholar of the year. In 2025, she transitioned from a niche creator into a powerhouse video essayist, garnering over 10 million views for her sharp, high-production deep dives into the intersection of Nigerian pop culture and politics. Her work has redefined digital commentary, making complex sociopolitical analysis both viral and aspirational for a new generation of thinkers.
Bagetti
The historic first lady of Jonzing World. In 2025, Bagetti evolved from a highly anticipated signee into a formidable chart presence, successfully carrying the mantle as the first female artist from the label that launched Rema and Ruger. With the viral success of her debut EP New Dawn and the standout anthem Hard Girl, her 2025/2026 run, highlighted by global radio play on SiriusXM and high-energy live showcases, has established her as the new blueprint for female Afropop dominance.
Esther Okoronkwo
The Super Falcons鈥 most lethal new weapon. In July 2025, Esther emerged as the breakout MVP of the Women鈥檚 Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), scoring decisive goals in the quarter-finals and the final to secure Nigeria鈥檚 10th continental title. Her composure and big-game temperament earned her the Fans鈥 Player of the Tournament award, marking the most explosive debut year for a Nigerian striker in a decade.
Uzoamaka Power
Returning to the list for a second time and earning a double nomination, 2025 marked the official coronation of Uzoamaka鈥檚 Power era. Transitioning from an indie darling to a global force, she earned Best Lead Actress nominations at the 2025 AMVCAs, featured in the Cannes-winning My Father鈥檚 Shadow, and made her landmark directorial debut with Siraam. Her evolution from a one-to-watch actress into a dominant writer-director is the definitive level-up of the year.
Salma Philips
In 2025, Salma Phillips executed the industry’s most significant pivot, co-founding the Arewa Tech Fest and launching the $50 Million Arewa Tech Fund to catalyse innovation in Northern Nigeria. By bridging her media legacy with deep-tech advocacy, she has spent the last year as a UNESCO Ambassador and the primary driver of a movement designed to put Northern women at the forefront of the global digital economy.
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