The HerStory Women
MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT
Betty Irabor
Founder, Genevieve lifestyle magazine & Intentional Living Network
Betty Irabor
Betty Irabor is a pioneering media entrepreneur, author, and mental health advocate with over 35 years of experience in publishing, communications, and wellness advocacy. She is best known as the founder of Genevieve Magazine, Nigeria’s leading lifestyle publication, which has shaped conversations on fashion, beauty, and women’s empowerment for over two decades.
Key Achievements
- Founded Genevieve Magazine, Nigeria’s leading lifestyle publication
- Prominent advocate for mental health awareness in Africa
Chinwendu “Chichi” Ofor-Nwoko
Founder & CEO, WHAT Media Group
Chinwendu “Chichi” Ofor-Nwoko
Chichi Nwoko is a visionary leader in the African media and entertainment industry, dedicated to elevating the continent’s creative landscape. As the founder and CEO of WHAT Media Group, she has over three decades of experience in film, television, and broadcasting, positioning herself as a key player in amplifying African stories globally.
Key Achievements
- Founder and CEO of WHAT Media Group
- Produced Nollywood films
- Created T33 Academy
Eloïne Barry
Founder & CEO, African Media Agency
Eloïne Barry
Eloïne Barry is the Founder & CEO of African Media Agency (AMA), an award-winning strategic communications firm with offices in New York, Abidjan, Durban, and a local presence in 28 African countries. AMA helps multinationals, NGOs, and international organizations connect with audiences across Africa through impactful storytelling and media engagement. The agency has successfully designed and executed pan-African communications campaigns for leading organizations such as the African Development Bank, IFC, BCEAO, The Gates Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, Western Union, and Merck.
Key Achievements
- Recognised as one of the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) and nominated African Woman of the Year in Media (2016-2017)
- Awarded the Grand Prix Excellence at ASCOM Abidjan (2019) and led AMA to an African SABRE Certificate of Excellence in 2021
Funke Akindele
Leading Nigerian Actress Film Producer and Director
Funke Akindele
Funke Akindele is Nigeria’s most commercially successful actress, film producer, and director. A graduate of the University of Lagos (LL.B) and Ogun State Polytechnic (Mass Communication), she launched her career in 1997 with the United Nations-sponsored sitcom I Need to Know. Since then, she has remained a dominant force in Nollywood, producing and starring in some of Nigeria’s highest-grossing films.
Key Achievements
- Nigeria’s most commercially successful actress and filmmaker, holding the top four highest-grossing Nollywood movies.
- Created and starred in Jenifa’s Diary, a cultural phenomenon with over 25 seasons.
- Venture into real estate with Jenifa’s Garden
Zain Verjee
Former CNN Anchor, CEO of ZVG & The Rundown
Zain Verjee
Zain Verjee is a media entrepreneur, communications strategist, and former CNN anchor with a career spanning global journalism, digital media, and strategic advisory. As Founder and CEO of theZVG, a boutique media firm, she specialises in developing innovative communication products for emerging markets.
Key Achievements
- Executive Producer for major global events, including Unstoppable Africa (Global Africa Business Initiative) and Qatar Economic Forum (Bloomberg Live)
- Strategic media advisor to organisations like Africa CDC, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Pfizer, and the UN Economic Commission for Africa
- Pioneer in blockchain storytelling, founding ZeeVeeNFT to explore Web3 innovations in media
- Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and frequent speaker at global platforms such as TED and Africa House
- Former CNN anchor and correspondent, with a distinguished career covering major international news stories