Funmi Babinton Ashaye emerges LAFE awards winner

Lagos prominent Insurance guru, Funmi Babinton Ashaye, has emerged winner of Lagos Female Entrepreneur (LAFE) 2021 awards.

She defeated eleven other women entrepreneurs, including Linda Ikeji, Tara Fela-Durotoye, Ola Orekunrin, Bilikiss Adebiyi, Kofo Akinkugbe, Deola Sagoe and Adenike Ogunlesi, among others, who were nominated for the awards.

The award according to the organisers is put in place to promote and celebrate females, who founded and have recorded success in their businesses.

It was indeed an evening of fun and razzmatazz at the prestigious Bespoke Event centre, Lekki-Epe Expressway, as eminent Nigerians, including the renowned pharmacist and owner of Emzor Paracetamol, Mrs Stella Okoli, fashion icon, Opral Benson and Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, who was ably represented by Oloye Ashabi Morunranti, the Asoju Asa Ile Oodua, Onirisa who stormed the event to be part of the history.

Speaking with the founder of Ikeanmba Africa Magazine, and Convener of the Lagos Female Entrepreneur Award, Mr. Ayobanna Ikeanumba, he was excited about the direction of the Publication. He said, “women deserve so much more than what they are getting now. Looking at various global statistics, African women are the least appreciated.

“These amazons have triumphed where some failed. They have provided a large chunk of employment to all shades of people in Lagos State and across the country.”

Speaking further, he said the selected few women have redefined entrepreneurship in Nigeria, in general and Lagos in particular and have become household names in their various businesses, adding that female entrepreneurs have become success story worthy of emulation, the reason why the magazine chose to celebrate them.

Lagos State First Lady, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who was ably represented by one of her aides, in her remarks commended Ikeaumba Africa Magazine for going beyond its primary responsibility of news reportage to encourage and celebrate female entrepreneurs, who have performed excellently well, thereby helping to motivate others to give their best in the overall interest of the womenfolk and the nation at large.

Sanwo-Olu in her comment further appreciated the magazine for her nomination for the recognition of her contributions towards playing up advocacy for women and children in Lagos State and Nigeria.

The winner of the debut edition of the LAFE awards, Mrs. Funmi Babington-Ashaye, who was excited about the honour, appreciated the organisers for choosing to celebrate the resilience and achievements of women in various fields of human endeavours in Nigeria, adding that the award is an encouragement for her to forge ahead and do more with her entrepreneurship spirit.