African Women Making Their Mark Across Film Hospitality and Creativity 

Across entertainment, beauty, hospitality, photography and aviation technology, African women continue to turn talent and ambition into meaningful professional achievements. This week, Women of the Week celebrates five women whose journeys reflect the evolving possibilities of African creativity, entrepreneurship and leadership.

Bolaji Ogunmola – Actress Producer and Filmmaker 

Bolaji Ogunmola is a Nigerian actress, filmmaker and producer who has steadily established herself as a creative force in Nollywood. She began her professional acting journey in 2013, around the time she trained at the Royal Arts Academy in Lagos. She also studied Plant Biology at the University of Ilorin and Business Management and Entrepreneurship at the National Open University of Nigeria, combining creative training with business knowledge that would later support her work behind the camera.

Ogunmola gained wider recognition through productions including Sobi’s Mystic, Tough Love, Progressive Tailors Club, A Simple Lie and Ajosepo. Her portrayal of multiple characters in Sobi’s Mystic demonstrated her versatility, while her performance in Ajosepo further strengthened her visibility in Nigerian cinema. She won Revelation of the Year, Female, at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards. Beyond acting, Ogunmola has developed her own production platform, creating opportunities to develop and distribute stories for cinema and digital audiences. Her work as a producer reflects a growing commitment to shaping the stories she tells rather than waiting solely for roles created by others. In recent years, projects including Gingerrr and Blood Sisters have further expanded her screen and production portfolio.

Beauty Etsanyi Tukura – Reality Tv Star and Beauty pageant title holder  

Beauty Etsanyi Tukura, widely known as Beauty Tukura, is a Nigerian entrepreneur, lawyer, reality television personality and beauty pageant titleholder. She rose to national prominence in 2019 after winning the 43rd edition of the Miss Nigeria pageant, representing Taraba State. Before claiming the national title, she had already built experience in pageantry, having held the Most Beautiful Girl Taraba title from 2015 to 2017. Her Miss Nigeria victory placed her among the prominent young Nigerian women using pageantry as a platform for public engagement and personal development.

Tukura later broadened her audience through her appearance on Big Brother Naija Season 7 in 2022. Although her time in the house was brief, the experience expanded her visibility and contributed to the growth of her personal brand. Her background in law and entrepreneurship distinguishes her public profile from entertainment alone, while her fashion, beauty and lifestyle presence has helped her maintain a connection with audiences beyond reality television. Her journey illustrates how contemporary pageant titleholders increasingly navigate several professional identities, balancing public visibility with business ambitions and personal branding.

Tricia Olumide – Founder, Ziba beach Resort 

Tricia Olumide, also known as TriciaBiz, is a Nigerian entrepreneur, author and business growth expert who has expanded her work from marketing and enterprise development into luxury hospitality. She is the founder of Business Lab Academy Africa, a digital learning platform focused on helping entrepreneurs strengthen their business models, marketing strategies and revenue systems. Her work in entrepreneurship education has reached business owners across multiple African markets, while her professional background includes experience working with major brands such as Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline, Nokia and Coca-Cola.

Olumide is also the founder and Managing Director of Ziba Beach Resort in Okun-Ajah, Lagos. Launched in 2023, Ziba introduced an overwater resort concept to Nigeria’s hospitality market, offering an alternative to travelling abroad for distinctive leisure experiences. In September 2026, the resort unveiled its third development phase, adding larger overwater rooms, loft-style accommodation and a dedicated wellness centre. The expansion reflects Olumide’s ambition to develop a Nigerian hospitality destination capable of attracting both domestic and international guests. Her transition from business consulting and entrepreneurship education into resort development demonstrates how commercial expertise can be applied across industries to build new experiences and create value within the local economy.

Idara Adiakpan – SA/Chief Photographer to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State

Idara Adiakpan is a Nigerian photographer and creative entrepreneur serving as Special Assistant and Chief Photographer to Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno. A graduate of Theatre Arts, she has built a professional identity around visual storytelling, using photography to document public life, preserve moments and communicate the activities and development priorities of the state government. Her position places her at the intersection of public communication, government and the creative industry, where images play an important role in how institutions and communities are represented.

Beyond her official responsibilities, Adiakpan is the founder and convener of the Visual Conference, an initiative designed to support photographers and other creative professionals through training, exhibitions, mentorship, networking and awards. The event provides a platform for emerging photographers to develop their skills and connect with established practitioners. Its 2025 edition brought together creative professionals in Uyo and received public support from the Akwa Ibom State Government. Through this initiative, Adiakpan is extending her contribution beyond documenting public events to helping develop the next generation of visual storytellers in the state. Her work demonstrates how creative professionals can use their experience and visibility to strengthen the industries that shaped their careers.

Miss Chanel Scott – CEO Flybird RPAS

Miss Chanel Scott is a business and technology leader working at the intersection of aviation, unmanned aircraft systems and industrial innovation. She serves as Chief Executive Officer of Flybird RPAS Limited, the remotely piloted aircraft systems division of Flybird Group. In 2026, she announced her appointment to lead the division as it develops drone services for sectors including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, security and environmental monitoring. Her role places her within an emerging area of African technology where aerial data and unmanned systems can improve operational efficiency, safety and decision-making.

Under Scott’s leadership, Flybird RPAS has been communicating a vision that extends beyond the popular use of drones for photography. Its work focuses on applications such as pipeline surveillance, infrastructure inspection, agricultural assessment and monitoring operations in environments where conventional methods can be expensive or expose workers to risk. Scott has also used her professional platform to discuss the commercial potential of drone technology, the importance of regulatory compliance and the need for stronger local capabilities in Africa’s aviation ecosystem. Her leadership reflects the expanding role of women in technology-driven sectors traditionally associated with engineering and aviation, while highlighting the opportunities for African businesses to build specialised services around emerging technologies.

Why SHE Matters

These five women demonstrate how African women are building influence across creative, commercial and technical fields. Their work creates opportunities, expands industries and shows how individual ambition can contribute to broader cultural and economic progress.