Women’s March: Celebrating Natasha’s empathy for humanity

Inspired by her father’s lessons which instilled a sense of empathy in her while she was a child, Natasha Akpoti has done, and is doing, a lot to help the needy.

Recognizing the impetus political power could add to her humanitarian services, she aspired to represent the people of Kogi Central at the Senate.

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But, as she was in court to challenge the results of that election, the women of Kogi felt she should aspire for the seat of governor; and she heeded their calls by contesting the governorship election of 2019.

In continuation of our series on Nigerian women who deserve recognition in the Women’s History Month, here are a few things that about Natasha Akpoti:

• She is the founder of Builders Hub Impact Investment Programme and CEO of LegendArkGroup.
• She is a social entrepreneur, a corporate lawyer, and a passionate human rights activist.
• She is a foremost advocate for the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company; her advocacy led to the creation of a $1 billion lifeline funding for the revival of the company.
• Over 1,000 children across Nigeria benefit from her educational scholarship programmes.
• She started the Women & Youth Empowerment Programme for 5,000 women for the growth and development of small and medium enterprises in rural communities.
• In collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), she organised “Grassroot Soccer Talent Hunt” from which five players were selected across Kogi State to join the Nigerian National Team.
• She received the African Woman of Worth Award presented by the Vice-President of Liberia, Mrs Jewel Taylor, in 2018; she was also honoured as the Torch Bearer of the Nigerian Project by the Nigerian Project Support Group.
• In 2017 she bagged Africa’s Patriotic Amazon Award by the League of African Development Students (LEADS) and “The Golden Voice of the People” by the Nigeria Goodwill Ambassadors.
• She sought to represent Kogi Central District in the Senate on the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP).
• She heeded the calls of Kogi women under the auspices of Women Supporting Women to challenge Governor Yahaya Bello in the gubernatorial election of 2019.