Five powerful women in Nigeria

Today is International Women's Day (IWD) across the world. On this day, women are celebrated for their extraordinary activities rendered to both their families and their country.

To celebrate this event, mynigeria.com takes a look at the five most powerful women in Nigeria. Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Genevieve Nnaji, Aisha Yesufu, Chimamanda Adichie, DJ Switch.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

She made history on February 15, 2021, when the General Council agreed by consensus to select Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria as the organization’s seventh Director-General.

She became the first woman and African to hold the position as the DG of the WTO. Her appointment was widely received by many.

Genevieve Nnaji

She is an award-winning Nigerian actress, director and producer. She was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian government for her contributions to Nollywood.

Her directorial debut movie, Lionheart, is the first Netflix Original from Nigeria, and first Nigerian submission for the Oscars.

Aisha Yesufu

Is a Nigerian socio-political activist, and co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls Movement, an advocacy group that brings attention to the abduction of over 200 girls, from a secondary school in Chibok, Nigeria, on 14 April 2014, by the terrorist group Boko Haram.

Yesufu was among the women protestors at Nigeria's National Assembly, in the nation's capital, Abuja, on 30 April 2014.

Yesufu has also been at the forefront of the End SARS movement, which draws attention to the excesses of a controversial police unit in the Nigeria Police Force, called the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

She is a Nigerian writer whose works range from novels to short stories to nonfiction. In 2008, she was awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant. Adichie is a feminist and has been known to champion feminism and an advocate for the girl child.

DJ Switch

Obianuju Catherine Udeh, professionally known as DJ Switch, is a Nigerian DJ, songwriter and musician who emerged as the winner of the first edition of The Glo X Factor in 2013 at the age of 29.

On October 20, 2020, DJ switch live streamed the aftermath of the alleged Lekki Massacre.

In the video, they attempted to remove a bullet from the leg of a man who was shot, tying a Nigerian flag around his leg.

The live coverage shook the nation as several personalities across the world sent words of commiseration to the country as a result of the massacre.