Winners of the Seven Wonder Women Awards were on Monday, May 19, 2025 hosted at the headquarters of The Guardian Newspapers in Lagos. An Investing In Women series, the winners emerged following announcement of 49 finalists (seven finalists in each category) at the second edition of the Guardian Woman Festival held in March at the Federal of Palace Hotel, Lagos.

The winners include Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, under the Business of Academia and Learning; founder, Elin Group Dr. Elizabeth Jack-Rich (the Business of Philanthropy); Group Chief Legal Officer, Corporate and Commercial, BUA International, Oluseye Olufumilayo Alayande (the Business of Financing and Investment); Chief Digital Officer of MTN Communication Nigeria, Aisha Mumuni (the Business of Technology); Chief Executive Officer, Caring Africa, Blessing Oyeleye-Adesiyan (the Business of Care and Wellness); First Female Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein (the Business of Public Service) and Managing Director, Yellow Tamarind Productions, Isabella Adediji (the Business of Culture).

Chief Strategy Officer (Global), The Guardian Newspaper and convener, Guardian Woman Festival, Anita Athena Ibru, said the Seven Wonder Women Awards was launched in London seven years ago. “It truly is a serendipitous occasion, being in Lagos on this very special anniversary, and that we are able to host and welcome the latest cohort of winners to The Guardian’s headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria, my motherland.

“Over the past few years, Guardian Woman initiative has been approached from slightly different angles with Guardian Woman starting off as an insert in print while Investing In Women is a live media platform that hosts women’s events.

“Investing In Women and Guardian Woman, created by The Guardian Nigeria CEO, Toke Alex Ibru, have morphed into an enduring and symbiotic collaboration resulting in The Guardian Woman Festival, which launched last March,” she said.

The award recipients, who later proceeded to The Guardian Studios, where they interacted with Editor of Guardian Woman, Ijeoma Thomas-Odia, at The Guardian TV studio, expressed feelings of gratitude and elation for the recognition.
Winner of The Business of Public Service, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, who is the first female Accountant-General of the Federation in Nigeria said that the average number of men in higher positions in the public service is significantly higher with more women in lower levels.

She said while it is challenging for women to rise to top positions, if they take time to study what it takes to get there, go through the learning processes, do the hard work and surmount the hurdles, such women would be unstoppable.

Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, who is the first female Vice Chancellor University of Lagos said that with about 11 percent of the 279 Vice Chancellors in Nigeria being women, it shows that tertiary education in Nigeria is a tough terrain for the female gender.

Prof. Ogunsola encouraged more women to consider administrative leadership which involves managing people. She stated that it may however involve being ready to fall under scrutiny, criticism and being misunderstood, which a lot of women do not like. She admonished women to be more resilient with the long-term view and projection of their journey because the difficult stages in the growth phases will pass.

Despite her legal background, Mrs. Oluseye Olufumilayo Alayande, said “receiving this award, means I’m seen; that the effort I put in daily and the sacrifices are noticed by somebody out there. And I think as women, it is important for us to be seen because a lot of us are used to shrinking ourselves. It is nice to know that despite all, we are still noticed,” she said.

While recipient of the Business of Culture award, Isabella Adediji, expressed gratitude for being selected for the award. She said that considering how solitary and exhausting things could get in the life of an entrepreneur, having efforts noticed and celebrated makes the journey worth it.

“The nomination list was quite vast and I kept saying there’s no way I was going to win; some of my mentors were on the list – people I’ve looked up to. So, having won it, I’m truly humbled that not only have people recognised my work, but stepped forward to vote for me.