12 Stunning, Stylish, Super CEOs Who Took Over Their Worlds

They have succeeded in breaking the glass ceilings. These women who are making the waves in their various enterprises would shock you with their successes in the boardroom. Some are in their 20s, others in their 30s, some in their 40s and even 50s. From the fabric market to the cosmetics and skin range industry, they call the shots. What more? They are the smartest and toughest female entrepreneurs, investors, and CEOs making their mark in their various fields of endeavour today. They are women who are building multi- billion-naira brands, calling the shots in the financial markets.

1. Bola Shagaya: Her business spans oil, finance and photography. Currently, she is the Managing Director of Practoil Limited. The astute businesswoman, who is a Member of the Order of the Niger, (MON), hails from Ilorin, Kwara State. Hajia Bola Shagaya is a billionaire businesswoman, who owns one of the largest posh estates in Abuja and she continues to make news in the social circles on account of her rich collection of jewellery on one hand and her svelte looks on the other hand. At 60, she has fared well in the looks department. A fashion enthusiast, she is always impeccably and elegantly turned out in traditional iro and buba attire or the blouse on skirt. Not only does this Ilorin, Kwara State born businesswoman have an eye for good clothes and jewellery, she also has a thing for good cars.

2.

Chief Folake Okeowo: You just need to ask for Flaky Swarovski at the Ikota Shoping Mall, Lekki-Ajah and you would be faced with Chief Mrs Folake Ijelu Okeowo. The popular Iyalaje of Ojora Kingdom, she runs FlakySwarovski, a multi-million business empire that sells exotic jewellery of all kinds—zirconium, gold, sterling silver, diamonds and a host of other precious stones. In the same vein, her business spans household items, event-planning, and cockeries.

3. Jumoke Oyeneyin runs the fabric shop called Jummhy Exclusive Laces & Fabrics.

A power dresser and a lover of exotic jewellery, everything about her speaks just one word—panache. Even her husband, Otunba Noah Oyeneyin cannot be ignored among captains of industry.

4.Foluke Moradeke Kupoluyi:

She is the ever-looking radiant CEO of upscale fashion outfit, Radek Fashions with outlets on the high street of Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos and Omotola Plaza in new Alade Market. Radek Fashions has distinguished itself as the choice of savvy shoppers, especially Radek Maternity which caters for a lot of women who find it hard to buy affordable, comfortable, stylish clothes especially during pregnancy at affordable price. Trained as a Caterer, her foray into business, she said, started after her Higher National Diploma at the prestigious Yaba College of Technology, Lagos where she studied Hotel and Catering Management. Radeke, who just clocked 50 years old, attended Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Gusau, Zamfara State. She has grown the business from the boot of her car into three thriving outlets with interests in supply of gift items, procurements and designs of corporate uniforms for multinational companies and other firms with technical support of expatriates. Her experience in business reinforces her belief that women have the opportunity to succeed like their male counterparts if they are focused and not distracted by mundane things. She is married to the Chief Executive Officer of FLIPTV, Biodun Kupoluyi.

5. Shade Adesoye is the CEO, Jewellery Affairs. Located in the renowned Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos she, ranks as one of the topmost jewelers with exotic pieces. She is married to Otunba Balogun Adesoye. The beautiful businesswoman founded the renowned luxury jewellery business, known as Jewellery Affairs (a division of Farmit Ventures Nig. Ltd) in 2007. She also set up a Real Estate company called AZID Properties Nig Ltd.

6. Biola Ahmed: Beautiful and a power dresser too, she founded Hush’D, a skincare and beauty company, one of the leading cosmetics companies in Nigeria, Ghana, in the US, UK and other countries. Highly cerebral, she isn’t one to be pushed aside in the style department.

7. Aisha Akinpelumi: Beautiful, talented and a go-getter, her fashion outfit, Royal Rack Fashion, sits atop millions of naira worth of investment in ready-to-wear dresses. An haute couturier of note, her garment company has also delved into massive manufacture of indigenous facemasks as part of government’s efforts at curbing Coronavirus.

8. Bunmi Agbeni: She is the Chief Executive Officer of Bismid and not a few celebrities throng her outfit in Surulere, Lagos to buy her Nigerian-made beauty products. Bismid skincare range is highly acceptable in the Nigerian cosmetics market and she runs the multi-million naira company with utmost discretion.

9. Mariam Lawal: She is the beautiful, amiable and hardworking Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Reesh Cosmetics. Quite fashionable, the Lagos social establishment would always recognise the presence of the importer of high-end cosmetics and skincare products. Her one-stop beauty hub located on Broad Street, Balogun in Lagos Island, remains a go-to for many celebrities.

10. Jumoke Animashaun: Her Lekki Fabric shop, Elsie’s Fabrics is the home of H.O.H fabrics. With unique designs and colours, the Austrian manufactured fabrics is highly patronized by rich women for special occasions. H.O.H luxury collection includes guipure lace, appliquéd organza degrade, embroidered tulle, designer silk duchess and a beautiful range of sequined fabrics – tulle, chiffon, lace, jacquard, wool and trims.

Though a business she ventured into because of her passion for buying and selling. Beautiful Jumoke is one of the A-list new generation merchants of luxury fabrics. 11. Hon Habibat Lasisi: Her fabric outfit, Fabricbyhaloolas remains a go-to for high-end fabrics in Lagos. Though she is now based abroad, the brand which turned 20 years in 2020 is a major supplier of aso-ebi in London, Nigeria or US. Habibat Lasisi remains a stockist of exclusive fabrics from Switzerland, Korea and other fashion capitals. The intelligent merchant once contested for the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2015.

“My passion for fabric business came to play through my mother who is a big entrepreneur; I grew up watching her manage her businesses. She’s had a shop in Oshodi market and Aswani market years back selling Ankara before she went into Active politics; she’s presently the Assistant for women leader for Lagos state (Mushin). I started business selling 18 karats gold then I later ventured into sales of fabric. I opened my store in Ajao Estate, Isolo in the year 2000 selling casuals and fabrics for men,” she said in an interview with City People.

12.Temi George-Taylor: Not everyone would believe that such a highly cerebral mind runs Lush Jewels, a prominent jewellery outfit in Nigeria.

An oil and gas professional, she once worked as a management consultant for Accenture in the United Kingdom for about a decade. She would tell you that being a jewellery entrepreneur is a ‘side hustle.’ But her clientele boasts a host of celebrities in Nigeria and abroad. A graduate of Economics from the University Of York, Temi George-Taylor also bagged an Msc from the prestigious London School Of Economics & Political Science. On why she delved into jewellery business despite the intimidating resume, George-Taylor, who is the Creative Director, Lush Jewels revealed that, “I started around 2004 because of my deep love for all kinds of jewellery, particularly bold statement pieces. I started off as a retail business but rapidly evolved into jewellery designing and production. It’s a passion.”