Nkiru Balonwu’s biography: age, details, profession, accolades, net worth, and life narrative.
Nkiru Balonwu is an entrepreneur and advocate based in Lagos. Nkiru is widely recognized for her strong conviction that women are the key to addressing Africa’s challenges. She is the founder and leader of African Women on Board, an autonomous, African women-led non-profit organization committed to promoting narratives that uplift the lives of women and girls of African ancestry. Moreover, she is the founder and managing partner of RDF Strategies, a consultancy that provides guidance on strategic communication and stakeholder involvement. In 2016, Balonwu was recognized as one of “Nigeria’s 100 Most Inspiring Women” by YNaija during her time as CEO of Spinlet. In October 2019, Balonwu received the 2020 Powerlist International Award from Powerlist UK.
Nkiru Balonwu: profile overview
| First Name | Nkiru |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nkiru Balonwu |
| Complete Family Name | Nkiru Balonwu |
| Date of Birth | |
| Birth Date | |
| Place of Birth | Nigeria |
| Nationality / Country | Nigerian |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Known For | Entrepreneur |
| Profession | Entrepreneur |
Nkiru Balonwu: Personal Life and Background
Balonwu is the offspring of two attorneys with a history in social reform and justice.
Nkiru Balonwu: Education
Balonwu earned her bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Manchester. She completed her master’s degree at University College London (UCL), and possesses a Doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley.
Nkiru Balonwu: Career
Balonwu has engaged in multiple fields including law, technology, and communications.
She served as a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos.
In 2014, Balonwu took on the role of CEO of Spinlet, the pioneering music streaming and digital distribution platform in Sub-Saharan Africa. During her leadership, Spinlet became Nigeria’s first International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) Manager.
In 2017, Balonwu established African Women on Board, which launched internationally at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice, New York, on 26 September 2019 during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), aiming “to amplify the voices of African women and transform their representation”.
Nkiru Balonwu: Leadership and Appointments
In 2018, Balonwu was designated as a consultant by Nigeria’s foremost opposition party to involve women during the 2019 Presidential campaign of former Vice President and opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar.
Balonwu’s consultancy RDF was tasked with developing the concept for Lagos to the World (L2W), a global initiative in 2018 by the Lagos State government to attract foreign investment to the state.
Nkiru Balonwu: Awards and Accomplishments
On 25 October 2019, Balonwu was honored with the Powerlist 2020 International award. The Powerlist Black Excellence Awards highlights 100 of the UK’s most impactful black individuals. Balonwu received the International Award, “which goes to an individual situated outside of the UK, recognized for distinguishing themselves as a change-maker, innovator, source of inspiration, and person of significant influence” in acknowledgment of her initiatives with African Women on Board.
In March 2016, the media outlet YNaija, in collaboration with Leading Ladies Africa, ranked Balonwu among the 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria, an annual publication that showcases “women who are intentionally impacting their world and local communities through the power and strength of their ideas and accomplishments.” Balonwu received this accolade for her work at Spinlet in “Transforming the manner in which music content is shared and distributed”.
In 2010, Balonwu was awarded the Founder Region Fellowship, a philanthropic entity dedicated to “enhancing the lives of women and girls locally and globally by providing fellowships to women poised to make a significant difference in the world.” Balonwu earned the award under a Law and Social Science focus and a legal dissertation analyzing the opportunities that the African film industry, “Nollywood” provides to women as a catalyst for economic growth.
Nkiru Balonwu: Public Speaking and Media Commentary
Balonwu has appeared on numerous platforms discussing subjects ranging from gender equality, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
On the podcast a16z, initiated by VC fund Andreessen Horowitz, with prior guest speakers including NBA player Andre Iguodala and Oprah Winfrey, Balonwu discussed technology in Africa. Harvard Business School’s Dynamic Women in Business Conference in 2018 featured Nkiru Balonwu as a participant on the ‘women on boards’ panel.
On Radio France Internationale (RFI), a French public radio service with 35.6 million global listeners, Balonwu addressed how to enhance engagement with African women.
She is acknowledged as a mentor at the Founder Institute, the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator.
Nkiru Balonwu: Published Works
Balonwu has authored articles for various media platforms including Sahara Reporters, TechCabal, and Al Jazeera English.
- “Making African Women’s Voices Standard”; January 2018, Business Day
- “Men as Partners: Advocating for Change and Workplace Equality in Africa”; March 2018
- “Women in Stem: Time to Reassess Our Approach?”; May 2018
- “Brexit, Macron’s Visit: Opportunities and New Alliances for Nigeria”; July 2018
- “MTN Vs. the Government: Is Ineffective Communication Hurting Nigeria’s Economy?”; October 2018
- “Google CEO Establishes New Standard for Modern Corporate Communications: Lessons for African Leaders”; February 2019
- “Violence Against Women – Beyond #Metoo, We Need #Youtoo to Stand with Women”; July 2019
- “Why not #MeToo? How Prejudices Hinder African Women’s Advancement”; October 2019
Nkiru Balonwu: Board and Advisory Council Roles
Balonwu is a member of several organizational boards.
Nkiru Balonwu Net Worth
Her net worth has seen substantial growth in 2021-2022. Nkiru’s revenue primarily comes from her successful role as a Nigerian entrepreneur. Here we are revising the estimated net worth of Nkiru Balonwu, including salary, income, and assets.
| Nkiru Balonwu Net Worth in 2021 | $1 Million – $5 Million |
