Think Women’s 40 Outstanding Global Women 2025 | Dr Ama Onyerinma, Allied Empowerment

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She is also a sustainability entrepreneur, thought leader, educationist, and co-founder and Vice-chair of Africa Sustainable Trade, where she spearheads sustainable trade and innovation with a dedicated focus on economic sustainability, social responsibility and environmental stewardship. She is the former and first female Chair of the British Business Group-Nigeria, where she advocated for equitable business practices and legacy.“I consider myself a global citizen, shaped by my rich heritage and the ability to live, work, and experience multiple cultures across continents,” she says. “My journey began in Islington, London in the UK, but my early years saw us moving between Canada and, for a brief period, Nigeria. This diverse educational and cultural exposure—spanning the UK, Canada, Nigeria, and later the USA—has profoundly influenced my perspective. Today, my work takes me across these three continents, and at present, I am based in Nigeria.”Dr Ama’s aims are to reshape the global sustainability narrative and champion viable exchanges of trade, investment, and development resources, aiming to create long-term economic and social impact. Her book, Successes Don’t Fail, delves into the complexities of human resilience and adaptability. It examines how individuals and organisations can navigate change effectively to remain relevant, visible and prosperous in a dynamic world.“The greatest influences in my life have been my family—particularly my parents and the remarkable women I refer to as my “multitude of mothers,” she explains. “I was blessed with the guidance of extraordinary godmothers. One of them was the first and only female Surveyor General of Nigeria and the first female surveyor in Nigeria, Africa and the Commonwealth. Another is the second female Chief Justice of Lagos State, whilst the other, a school nurse taught me the value of health, well-being and integrity.“Witnessing their professional journeys was a gift. My own mother, who started as a nurse and became a successful entrepreneur, demonstrated fortitude, resilience and adaptability. And my father, whom I deeply respect, was a true male ally—raised by a strong woman, he ensured that my sisters and I had access to the best opportunities, empowering us to thrive and forge our own paths.”Dr Ama credits her multicultural upbringing and exposure to different ways of thinking as a key driver for her decision to place diversity and inclusion at the heart of both her life and her work, and why sustainability is one of her key concepts and goals.“I was raised by individuals who had a vision, who did not see limitations, and who thought outside the box,” she said. “I am really an amalgamation of all of this, plus the fact that I grew up across multiple continents, and that's why I hold diversity and inclusion as pivotal for my life experience, but most importantly for my work around sustainability.“My career began in anthropology—a fitting choice given my diverse background,” she says. “I later transitioned into education before immersing myself in sustainability over a decade ago. This shift was driven by my understanding that the core principles: people, the environment, the economy, and society are all interconnected.”

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