14 LADIES WHO DESERVE OUR LOVE
These ladies are paragons of beauty, wielders of power and they exert influence. There is no doubt that they are good at what they do. They also love their vocations and excel in ways that have stamped distinct spheres of influence on their personalities. Their presence radiate love and elegance and elicit admiration. Yet they are single. Are men intimidated by their pedegrees and acomplishments. In this season of love, Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha peep into the worlds of these ladies
Mo Abudu: Married to Her Work
Lately, everyone has been talking about the movie ‘Fifty’, a piece of work which has Mosunmola Abudu, better known as Mo Abudu, as executive director. Movie production is her latest venture and for those who know this proud Nigerian woman who has the enviable reputation of being the first woman to own a television network in Africa (a distinction she acquired when she established Ebonylife Television), the big move from television to movies was not a surprise. Mo is used to going all the way with whatever she chooses.
In a short space of time, Mo has packed in so much more than many are able to achieve in a lifetime. As a Human Resources professional, she moved quickly from paid employment to become her own boss. Switching to a show host, TV producer, media personality, entrepreneur and philanthropist, she exhibited no less a keen enthusiasm. Her move up the ladder of success is so fast that many are unable to catch up with her before she reaches the next rung.
Mo got married in her midtwenties to Tokunbo Abudu, a lawyer and the union produced two children.
Since the collapse of that relationship, Mo has not been romantically linked to any man. She frequently appears in public alone.
Now in her early 50s, she appears to have completely thrown herself into her work, conceptualizing and developing one project after another. The assumption in many quarters is that she is now married to her work and has become so busy that she hardly has time to engage in matters of the heart.
However, everyone longs to know if there is a man who can make Mo’s heart skip a beat.
Gbemi Saraki: Still Daddy’s Girl
While many may argue that Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki has not struggled for anything in life, relying largely on the stupendous wealth and goodwill of her father, she must be given the credit for having the verve to break out on her own. Nothing best demonstrates her inclination to call the shots as the willingness to leave her comfort zone for the slippery terrain of Nigerian politics.
Working mainly in the finance sector since her graduation from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, Gbemi as she is called by friends deliberately sought financial independence away from the family fortune.
Her venture into politics was akin to throwing her into rough waters where she would require more than the expertise of her father to navigate her way to safety. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1999 to represent Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency, Four years later, she became a senator, elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party to represent Central Senatorial District of Kwara State. She was reelected in 2007.
One apparent area that Gbemi is floundering is with her love life. The question on many lips is, ‘will Gbemi fall in love again?’ Once married to Segun Fowora, she has kept her distance from men, since the collapse of the marriage, preferring to shower all her love on her three children.
Stella Oduah: Maker of Men
Not a few people think, Stella Oduah, a senator from Anambra State dropped into the Nigerian political space from nowhere and created a huge sphere of influence. However, those who are close to the petroleum industry know that she is not a fresh face.
Returning from the United States of America in the 1980s with degrees in accounting and business administration, she got a job with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation. A very
ambitious woman, she quit after close to a decade to establish her own enterprise- Sea Petroleum and Gas Company Limited (SPG), an independent marketer of petroleum products.
Born into royalty, Stella is not used to half measures or tiny dots. She goes for the game. Therefore, she did not tiptoe into the political arena. Beginning as Director of Administration and Finance for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s political campaign, she introduced her own initiative, a person-to-person campaign strategy that did not go unnoticed.
Stella was believed to be instrumental to her former husband, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi’s appointment as Minister of Works. Many believe that politics put a strain on their marriage and led to its collapse. To demonstrate her immense influence in the Jonathan administration, her husband’s loss became her gain as she was appointed minister of Aviation.
Although she suffered a hiccup in her political career after she was removed from the cabinet over bullet-proof car purchase saga, she bounced back as her a senator.
What is not known, however, is whether Stella’s heart yearns for love with the same passion as it yearns for power.
Bianca Ojukwu: Truncated Love Song
A love song was truncated the day the Biafran warlord Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu went on a final exile to the great beyond in 2011. His death left a big void in the heart of his wife, Bianca. Since his exit, the former beauty queen has vowed never to get herself involved with matters of the heart. Her resolve revolves round her ideology of the concept of marriage, one which surpasses that of procreation. The former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain believes that she has paid her dues by spending 23 years of life with a man who equally loved and adored her. Their marriage made a spectacle in the media in the 1990s due to the gaping age difference. Yet Bianca would have no man love her the way her late husband did. Having thrown her admirers off balance by her resolute decision to remain widowed, the pressure to see her remarry has not dwindled a bit. Greatly revered by her late husband’s followers, Bianca still commands beauty that will make a man’s blood run hot. How long will her resolve wade off the pressure from men?
Funke Adedoyin: As Tough as They Come
Marriage is not one of the strong points of the princess and daughter of the foremost industrialist Samuel Adedoyin. A trained pharmacist, the House of Representatives member from Kwara hardly broaches the subject of marriage and when asked about her worrisome marital status, she simply gives an automated response that she is in a good relationship but hardly discloses the lucky guy. To be sure, Funke is blessed with good looks and an intellectual mind. She has served the country twice as a minister during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. Although, hardly romantically linked with any man, Funke has a son for the ex-husband of Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Segun Fowora. She was one time speculated to have an affair with a younger guy but the affair never saw the light of the day. For now, all her passion is directed to her political ambition and of course her son.
Yemi Adamolekun: Stings Like a Bee
Young, vibrant, and intelligent, Yemi has what it takes to make any man happy. The Nigerian born social media activist is known for her active contributions towards galvanising Nigerian youths to take a leadership role. Having been instilled with self- believe at an early age by her parents, the young lady portrays a true sense of leadership in her career with her advocacy platform Enoughis-Enough which allows youths to speak their minds about the leadership of the country.
With the wheel of family fortune spinning in her favour and a profile which is increasingly becoming a nightmare to Nigerian politicians, Adamolekun is yet to understand the principles of love. Although surrounded by male counterparts who share in her vision, it is hard to link her romantically with any of them. She is single and leading an army of young leaders with her singular platform.
Ayo Obe: Global Citizen and
champion of our rights
Always on top of burning issues about the economy, particularly bordering on rights of women and children, legal practitioner, Ayo Obe demonstrates an uncommon zest. The 61 year-old woman has an enviable career as a writer and leader in several arms of government in different administrations. Armed with a subtle beauty and outspokenness, the dual citizen of Nigeria and Britain is quite unlucky when it comes to the dealings of the heart. Not even her board room intelligence or legal prowess has enticed her again to the institution of marriage, after a previous failed union. Obe however takes solace in her only daughter from that obvious unlucky affair.
Saratu Umar: This Lady is Not for Turning
The northern beauty queen has not made a good ride of her political opportunties. Her sojourn in the corridors of power has yielded undesirable fruits. Twice she has found herself in top positions at key organisations of the economy, on both occasions she had running battles with staff. First, it was at the Nigerian Export and Import Bank, NEXIM where her colleagues and subordinates daily lamented about her behaviour. The Jonathan Goodluck administration saw her occupying another lofty position as the Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC. Unfortunately, again, she was unceremoniously shown the
way out before the end of the ex- President’s tenure. For this beautiful lady, it appears she cannot seem to find love everywhere she turns, whether at home or at work.
Udy Umondak: What’s Love Got to do with It?
UduakAbasi Umondak, better known as, Udy was the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State. Her claim to fame, however, is a combination of factors. One, she had a glittering role in ‘ Mirror in the Sun’, a famous soap on Nigerian television. She also owned the upscale fashion house, Colours.
Years ago, Udy returned to television with a faith- based talk show, ‘His Word Made Flesh’ which was rested after a five year run. Currently, she has a new self- styled information and education packed show, ‘The Udy Factor’.
The funky grandmother who still looks stunning in her late 50s has become very passionate about her Christian faith, but she confessed that this has not dissuaded the stream of men trying to court her. So far, she has not given anyone a green light, insisting God would tell her when the right man comes along.
Deola Sagoe: Soft Interior, Steel Exterior
Daughter of the outstanding Nigerian businessman, Chief Ade Ojo, Deola Sagoe, a fashion designer, has taken the world by storm. Through her work, she helped to open the door for the increasing acceptance of Nigerian fashion designers on many international platforms.
Although she is skilled in cutting fabrics and stitching them together to produce colourful designs, Deola could not hold together torn fabric of the relationship with her former husband, Kofi Sagoe. They had to go their separate ways with their three daughters as evidence of a once happy union which went sour.
Chances are that Deola may be willing to make loads of sacrifice to stitch the heart of any man who is mutually drawn to hers, so that both hearts can beat together as one again.
Arunma Oteh: Conquering the World
Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank and former Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Arunma Oteh, earned a first class honours degree in Computer Science from the University of Nigeria in Nsukka. She also obtained a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
For all disposition to industry and scholarship, Abia State- born Arunma has not been able to rake in a brilliant result in the romantic relationship department.
Is there a man out there who can match her first class brain and is willing to take her on a course in Romantic Relationship, beginning with Love 101?
Aisha Abubakar: Strong Pedegree, Stronger Resolve
Daughter of the influential top Nigerian civil servant, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, Aisha Abubakar who now serves the Muhammadu Buhari administration as Minister of State in the Ministry of Trade was one of those who had a very challenging crossing the ministerial screening hurdle on account of a couple of petitions against her nomination, but she surmounted them all in the end.
However, Mother luck is yet to visit her with similar good fortune when it comes to having a male shoulder she can lean on since she separated from her husband whom she had three children for.
Another Valentine Day is here, but with a new responsibility on her shoulders as a minister of the federal republic, all Aisha probably has on her mind now are matters of the state only.
Amina Mohammed: In the Corridors of Global Power
One of Nigeria’s few women of influence whose reputation for excellence goes across the globe, Amina J. Mohammed, Minister of Environment is very highly respected. Starting as Founder and CEO of the Centre for Development Policy Solutions, while also serving as an Adjunct Professor for the Master’s in Development Practice program at Columbia University, she worked her to serve as the Special Adviser to UN Secretary- General Ban KiMoon.
Her services and knowledge are so much in demand that succeeding Nigerian presidents have never stopped to consider her gender, state or ethnic group, giving the privilege to serve the nation consistently.
If Amina, who at a time was referred to as Amina Zubair, has a man in her life, she has been very discrete and the man has been satisfied with staying in the background and not stepping into the public space at all with her.
The understanding by many is that Amina is likely to be swept off her feet in love with a non- Nigerian given the background of her interaction with the international community. Everyone is eagerly waiting to see which country flag will fly beside Nigeria’s at Amina’s wedding.
Hajia Bola Shagaya: Takes No Prisoners
When her husband, Alhaji Ganiyu Shagaya din’t play any conspicous role at their son’s recent wedding, not a few tongues started wagging expressing concern that Hajia Bola Shagaya’s marriage which is blessed with four children may be over after all.
The Kwara State- born influential businesswoman who is very connected to the high and the mighty has neither refuted nor confirmed these insinuations, which is further fuelled by the fact that she frequently appears in public alone these days.
Another season of love is around, and this diamond loving fashion enthusiast and highly influential businesswoman who always find her way into the hearts of Nigeria’s first ladies, may find favour with cupid.