Joke Silva is a veteran Nollywood actress, entrepreneur, and television personality. She has starred in numerous films and television series in both the English and Yoruba languages. Having honed her skills at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts, she also holds a degree in English from the University of Lagos.
Silva has been featured in many award-winning films which include: “The Secret Laughter of Women,” “Phone Swap,” “The Amazing Grace,” “White Waters,” “Potato Pothato,” “The Setup,” and “Namaste Wahala,” among others. Her career in the film industry has spanned over three decades and she is highly respected for the memorable roles she plays on stage and screen.
Joke co-founded Lufodo Group with her husband Olu Jacobs, which specialises in productions of exceptional drama content and operating an Academy of Performing Arts. Renowned for its outstanding productions within and beyond Nigeria, Lufodo has been a nurturing ground for many well-respected artistes in the Nigerian entertainment sphere.
She is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including EMOTAN and SOLIDRA awards. In 2014, she was honoured with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), one of Nigeria’s national honours. In October 2012, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) appointed Silva goodwill ambassador against trafficking in persons (TIP).
Beyond her acting career, Joke is a philanthropist and a strong advocate for women emancipation and empowerment. She actively contributes to their education, training, and advancement using all forms of creative media.
Comfort Booth is a lawyer with 23 years at the Bar and a partner with Asia Ahmed & Co. She’s a proud Josite from the University of Jos and an alumnus of The London School of Economics and Political Science. She is also a professional host, master of ceremonies and moderator under the moniker, MCCB. She has a column, Diary of a Stupid Woman in Levogue Magazine from the stable of LEADERSHIP newspapers. She also recently featured as a cast member of ‘The Real Housewives of Abuja’ and has a film under her belt, ‘Love, Lust And Other Things.’ She is currently the host of The Talking Booth, a show with the tagline, Real Life. Real Issues. Real People. In her spare time, she can be found restaurant-hopping as a true foodie, reading, gardening or riding a motor bike.
Tara Fela-Durotoye is a lawyer and beauty entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of House of Tara International. She has emerged as a trailblazer in the field of bridal makeup in Nigeria and has risen to a respected height in the makeup industry. At the age of 20, while still an undergraduate at Lagos State University, Tara established the House of Tara International in 1998. The beauty entrepreneur pioneered the first bridal directory, set up makeup studios of international standards, and established the first makeup school in Nigeria in 1999. She is also the developer of the Tara Orekelewa Beauty line, Inspired Perfume, and H.I.P Beauty lines.
As a game changer in business, Tara Fela-Durotoye invested her time in elevating House of Tara into a globally recognised African brand, boasting 24 makeup studios and over 15,000 beauty representatives across the country. The company has expanded its reach beyond Nigeria. She is a prominent figure in the Nigerian female entrepreneurship community, having created an impactful business that has empowered numerous beauty entrepreneurs through the Tara Beauty Entrepreneur initiative.
She has received numerous national and international awards in recognition of her contributions to the industry and her active role in entrepreneurship and empowerment: Most Outstanding Business Woman of the Year 2018 by the African Economy Builders Awards Abidjan, African Makeup Icon by Ghana Makeup Awards as well as the Leadership Award for Entrepreneurship by Harvard Business School Association of Nigeria, and in 2019 the award of excellence for Social Impact and Job Creation, a National Recognition by the Vice President of Nigeria.
In 2013 she was on Forbes list of 20 young power women in Africa and, more recently, in 2020 top 50 Africa most powerful women.
Funke Akindele is a filmmaker, actress, scriptwriter, and producer. She is popularly known as Jenifa, a character she played in the movie entitled “Jenifa”. Funke stands out as one of the actresses who have excelled in both the English and Yoruba genres of Nollywood. Funke Akindele’s journey to stardom started after she was featured in a popular TV series entitled “I Need to Know”. It was a United Nations Population Fund-sponsored sitcom programme that aired from 1998-2002. She got her breakthrough when she played the lead role in a comedy-drama movie entitled “Jenifa.” Throughout her career, Funke has been recognised with numerous awards, including Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and the Nigeria Entertainment Award (NEA) for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She is also a three-time winner of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) 2014, 2017, and 2020 respectively. She is the producer and director of the three highest-grossing Nollywood movies of all time, “A Tribe Called Judah,” “Battle on Buka Street,” and “Omo Ghetto: The Saga”.
Funke Akindele is not only renowned for her acting prowess but she is also a philanthropist who founded Jenifa’s Foundation – a non-governmental organization dedicated to contributing to societal well-being through charitable initiatives.
Onyeka Onwenu, popularly known as Elegant Stallion, is a legendary singer, songwriter, actress, human rights activist, journalist, and politician. Onyeka Onwenu’s career started as a journalist and presenter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in the 1980s.She gained international recognition for her impactful BBC/NTA documentary, “Nigeria, A Squandering of Riches.” She later ventured into music and theatre. Her debut album, “For the Love of You,” released in 1981, marked the beginning of a successful musical journey with songs that continue to resonate.
In 2013, she assumed the position of director-general of the National Centre for Women Development in Nigeria, championing gender equality and women empowerment.
She was also engaged in politics as a member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) advocating against military rule in Nigeria. Onwenu’s illustrious career includes notable acting roles in films such as “Nightmare”, “Half of a Yellow Sun”, “Lion Heart”, and “Widow’s Cot”.
She has been recognized with numerous awards, including Best Actress at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in 2011, a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nigerian Music Awards (NMA) in 2017, and Best Supporting Actress at the Africa Movie Awards (AMAA) in 2018.
Nkiru Chime is the acting managing director/chief executive officer at the Infrastructure Bank Plc. Nkiru is a seasoned leader in the financial services sector, recognised for her visionary approach and passion for driving positive change. Beginning her career at KPMG, Nkiru swiftly rose to the position of manager, Audit and Business Advisory, where she honed her expertise in financial management and risk assessment.
Her journey continued with key roles such as Head of Financial Control at ASO Savings and Loans Plc, chief financial officer at Abuja Leasing Company, and CFO and ED Finance at VBank, VFD Tech, and Norrenberger Financial Group, where she consistently delivered strategic initiatives that propel growth and operational excellence. In addition to her corporate achievements, Nkiru is actively involved in industry initiatives, having served as a director at Transkredit Finance Company Limited, where she chairs the Audit Committee.
