As the world continues to celebrate the achievements and resilience of women across industries, Nigeria Magazine has unveiled the winners for the 2026 International Women’s Day Awards, continuing a tradition that has grown into a powerful platform for recognising women who are shaping society across leadership, business, education, technology, humanitarian work and the creative industries.
The announcement of the 2026 winners follows three successful editions of the awards in 2023, 2024 and 2025, which honoured a remarkable list of influential women and leaders from Nigeria and across the diaspora. The awards have increasingly become a celebration of excellence, diversity, and global impact, spotlighting individuals who are redefining leadership and championing positive change.
This year’s theme, “Empowering to Give & Gain,” reflects the idea that leadership is not only about personal success but about creating opportunities for others and building sustainable communities.
Notably, one of the distinguished winners from the 2023 awards, Denise Odaro, was recently appointed Head of Sustainable Finance and Transition for Europe and the Americas at HSBC, a development that further highlights the calibre of individuals recognised by the Nigeria Magazine Awards.
Celebrating Excellence: The 2023 Winners
The 2023 Nigeria Magazine International Women’s Day Awards marked a landmark moment for the platform, bringing together leaders from business, diplomacy, academia, arts, and philanthropy. The honourees represented a wide spectrum of expertise and influence, reflecting the global reach of Nigerian and diaspora leadership.
Among the standout awardees was Natalie Campbell MBE, the Chancellor of the University of Westminster and Co-CEO of Belu Water. Known for her work in social entrepreneurship and sustainability, Campbell has long been a champion of ethical business and community impact.
Another notable honouree was Esohe Denise Odaro, then Head of ESG and Sustainability at PAI Partners. Her leadership in environmental, social, and governance strategy positioned her as one of the leading voices in sustainable finance. Since receiving the award, Odaro’s career has continued to rise, culminating in her recent appointment as Head of Sustainable Finance and Transition for Europe and the Americas at HSBC, one of the world’s largest financial institutions.
The 2023 awards also celebrated leaders in technology and innovation. Dr Christina Yan Zhang, CEO and founder of The Metaverse Institute, was recognised for her groundbreaking work exploring emerging technologies and their impact on global economies and society.
In the field of education and academia, Professor Stella Chinyere Emeka, Vice Chancellor of the University of Delta, Agbor, was honoured for her contributions to higher education leadership.
Similarly, Professor Iwa Salami, an associate professor and director at the University of East London’s Centre of FinTech, was recognised for her work at the intersection of finance, regulation and technology.
Cultural and artistic excellence also featured prominently among the winners. Renowned Nigerian batik artist Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, founder of the Nike Art Gallery, was celebrated for her decades-long contribution to preserving and promoting African art and culture globally.
Public service and diplomacy were represented by distinguished figures such as Hajia Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory at the time, and Catriona Laing CB, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria.
The 2023 list also recognised entrepreneurs, humanitarians and social advocates, including Amanda Obidike, founder of STEM Makers of Africa, and Mutiat Dosunmu, founder of the Smooth & Smack Foundation.
Collectively, the 2023 winners represented a powerful blend of leadership, innovation and service, setting a high benchmark for subsequent editions of the awards.
Expanding Global Influence: The 2024 Winners
Building on the momentum of the inaugural recognition, the 2024 Nigeria Magazine Awards expanded its reach even further, celebrating an even broader network of influential leaders across sectors and continents.
Among the honourees was Morenike Ajayi MBE, founder and CEO of Career Nuggets, whose work in mentoring and professional development has helped empower thousands of professionals globally.
Entrepreneurship and business leadership were strongly represented by figures such as Toks Aruoture, founder of the internationally recognised Baby Cot Shop, and Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, founder and managing partner of Aruwa Capital Management, one of Africa’s leading female-led investment firms.
The financial sector also featured prominently, with Natalie Mordi-Hillaert, Head of ESG Capital Markets for EMEA at Bank of America, recognised for her leadership in sustainable finance.
In healthcare and public service, the awards honoured Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and Bernadette Thompson OBE, Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at King’s College NHS Foundation Trust.
The creative and cultural sectors were represented by Osaru Obaseki, a multimedia visual artist and cultural heritage researcher, and Sherry Davis, a musician, filmmaker and curator whose work bridges art, storytelling and social commentary.
Education and development leadership were also celebrated, including Dr Ejiro Otive-Igbuzor, Managing Director and CEO of Emerald International Development Services, known for her work in governance, policy development and gender empowerment.
The awards further recognised political and administrative leadership, including Mrs Olubusola Abidakun, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Establishments and Training, and Oritseemiya Ayesan, Executive Vice President at NNPC Ltd.
The 2024 cohort reflected a powerful network of women and leaders who are transforming institutions and industries across Africa and the global diaspora.
Honouring Leadership Across Sectors: The 2025 Winners
The 2025 edition of the Nigeria Magazine Awards further demonstrated the platform’s commitment to recognising excellence across a wide spectrum of sectors, from business and technology to healthcare, aviation and law.
In the business category, notable honourees included Owen Omogiafo, President and Managing Director of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp), whose leadership has driven the transformation of one of Nigeria’s leading conglomerates.
Leadership and professional excellence were also recognised in the work of Dr Zina Anzire, leadership coach and author known as “The Reinvention Queen,” and Adese Okojie, a leading voice in human resources and workplace development.
Education and innovation featured prominently in the 2025 awards. Stephanie (S.I) Ohumu, Chief Analytics Officer at Point Sigma and founder of You and AI Consulting, was honoured for her work in artificial intelligence and data analytics. Paulette Watson MBE, founder of Academy Achievers, was also recognised for her dedication to education and youth empowerment.
Healthcare and humanitarian work formed another key category of recognition. The awards paid tribute to the legacy of Late Dr Dora Akunyili, former Director-General of NAFDAC and Nigeria’s former Minister of Information, whose contributions to public health and governance remain historic.
Other honourees included Dr Kilike Gardner, a digital NHS GP advocating for modern healthcare solutions, and Mrs Maria Olukoya, founder of the Ashford Black and Minority Ethnic Association, known for her work in mental health advocacy.
In aviation and legal leadership, the awards recognised Mrs Alice Onyema, Vice Chairman of Air Peace, alongside Ms Oluwatoyin Olajide and Mrs Ejiro Eghagha, senior executives at the airline. The legal profession was represented by Nneka Akudolu KC, a respected criminal law practitioner in the United Kingdom.
The 2025 awards once again highlighted the global reach of Nigerian excellence and diaspora leadership.
Spotlight on the Future: The 2026 Winners
With the announcement of the 2026 winners, Nigeria Magazine continues its mission to celebrate women and leaders who are breaking barriers and building lasting impact.
This year’s nominees reflect a wide range of expertise and achievements across business, academia, arts, public service, media and social entrepreneurship.
Among the nominees is Dr Blossom Maduafokwa, Executive Director at Tecno Oil Services Ltd, recognised for her leadership in corporate management and strategic development.
Advocacy and communications leadership are represented by Esther Ijewere, a Canadian-based media and communications specialist known for championing women’s and children’s rights.
Legal and policy advocacy is represented by Akpo Patricia Uyeh, a communications strategist and lawyer who advocates for youth and women’s empowerment.
The list also includes distinguished public figures such as Senator Daisy Danjuma, a renowned Nigerian politician, lawyer and philanthropist with decades of contributions to governance and humanitarian initiatives.
Academic leadership is represented by Professor Eunice Omezie, Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, while global academic influence is reflected in the nomination of Professor Rita Orji, a Nigerian-Canadian computer scientist and director of the Persuasive Computing Lab at Dalhousie University.
The creative sector also features strongly, with AdaSnoop (Anthonias Ezego) representing the music industry as a London-based Afrobeats and urban pop artist.
Entrepreneurship and corporate leadership are represented by figures such as Joy Ojakovo FCA, Managing Director and CEO of Progress Trust CPFA Limited at Nigerian Breweries, and Lilian Arigbodi, CEO of LilianCollins Spa.
Other nominees include educators, journalists, authors, social entrepreneurs and community leaders who are making meaningful contributions in their respective fields.
Together, the 2026 nominees embody the spirit of the awards’ theme, “Empowering to Give & Gain,” demonstrating how leadership and influence can be used to uplift others and build stronger societies.
A Growing Legacy of Global Impact
From its early editions to the present day, the Nigeria Magazine International Women’s Day Awards has evolved into an important platform celebrating leadership, innovation and social impact.
The recognition of individuals such as Denise Odaro, whose career has since advanced to a major global leadership role at HSBC, highlights how the awards often identify leaders whose influence continues to grow on the world stage.
Across the four collages — representing 2023 winners, 2024 winners, 2025 winners and the 2026 winners — a clear pattern emerges: a powerful network of leaders dedicated to excellence, innovation and service.
From technology pioneers and academics to entrepreneurs, policymakers, artists and humanitarian advocates, the awards continue to celebrate individuals whose work transcends borders and inspires future generations.
As the world looks ahead to the 2027 Nigeria Magazine Awards, the platform remains committed to recognising the women and leaders who are not only achieving success but also creating opportunities for others.
Through its annual recognition of excellence, Nigeria Magazine continues to shine a spotlight on those who are shaping the future — proving that empowerment, leadership and impact know no boundaries.
