5 Nigerian women who moved their lives forward after the tragic loss of their loved ones

What happens after the loss of a spouse or loved one to their survivors? The life change that happens to these people once they find out their loved one has passed away is rather agonizing. No doubt it is life-changing, however life must necessarily continue.

People deal with loss in their own way. While some stay depressed indefinitely, others choose to reinvent their dreams after the grief. Here are five successful women whose strength to continue after the loss of a loved one should serve as an inspiration to us all.

Oke Maduewesi

Oke Maduewesi is the CEO of Zaron group of companies and a mother of two girls, Zara and Ona, from which she had coined the name of her beauty line ‘Zaron’.

She holds a degree in Economics, from Edo State University, Ekpoma and a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) from University of Leeds, United Kingdom. She worked as Senior Branch Manager in one of the most respected banks in Nigeria, Zenith Bank International however; she quit her paid job to get more managerial and leadership skills.

In 2006, a pregnant Oke lost her husband in the tragic Sosoliso plane crash and was left with a two year old child to take care of as well. However challenging, she fought her way through a very dark moment to do more accomplishing things with her life

In 2011, she created Zaron, an enterprise that now manufactures and distributes cosmetics and hair products which has been tailored to the specific needs of African women. Zaron keeps empowering Nigerian widows as way of giving back to the society.

Folakemi Falana

Scanning through pictures on my Instagram on June 6 last year is one day I would not forget in a hurry as her bio caught my eyes immediately. A widow before 30?

The loss of one’s spouse, and in this case, almost a year after marriage is heart breaking, however the strength she had gained to move on regardless is truly beyond words .

Folakemi lost her husband, late Juwon Majekodumi while they both were on a holiday in Dubai. This is a very challenging story but she decided to find her purpose again even after being widowed before 30. (Did someone get a wake up call?)

Folakemi Falana, daughter of renowned lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana is a lawyer as well and an entrepreneur. She is also the CEO of the Mobile Market, a platform for small businesses to get the word out about their brands, network with clients and sell their products.

Glowreeyah Braimah

Gospel Singer, Lawyer, Writer, Social change advocate, these are a few out of the many hats she wears. She is a lead vocalist in the Lagos Metropolitan Gospel choir of the House on the Rock church.

There is so much to admire about this young woman who has been through a lot but chose not to focus the sour taste when life handed her lemons.

Glowreeyah lost her mum in the fatal 2005 Belleview air crash some years ago which was quite an ordeal for her, however she was able to transform the loss from the pain of losing her mum into something positive as it birthed some of her hit songs later on.

She is a Lawyer with other certifications in Sustainable Development and has worked in the areas of Corporate Social Responsibility, Telecommunications, Legal/Regulatory and Oil/Gas sectors as well. She is also the founder a foundation that is aimed at promoting personal social responsibility in young persons and for young persons.

Tolu Odukoya-Ijogun

She is the first daughter of the late Pastor Bimbo Odukoya, who was renowned for her influence on young and married people through her popular Single And Married programme until she passed away in an ill-fated plane crash in December, 2005.

She is a pastor, as well as a singer at the Fountain of Life Church founded by her father, Taiwo Odukoya. She runs a blog titled ‘Real talk women only’ where she reaches out to young women and ladies.

Tolu Falode

She is a law graduate, author, relationship coach and founder of a youth ministry, whose passion is to help young men and women through relationship advice and counseling.

Tolu is the elder sister to the late Toba Falode, children of ace television presenter, Aisha Falode.

Her only sibling, late Toba was murdered in Dubai about a few years ago which prompted her to write a book ‘Gift of grace – A sibling’s bond’, highlighting how she found her faith in Christ as a result of the tragic occurrence.

She is a freelance writer, blogger and a Christian teacher.