Nigeria’s beauty and personal care industry is thriving, reaching a value of $7.8 billion in 2023 and expected to reach $9.7 billion by the end of the year.
Despite the country’s heavy reliance on imports, with $1.1 billion spent annually on imports of beauty products, local entrepreneurs are finding success.
Even in the face of inflationary pressures and declining consumer purchasing power, demand for beauty products remains resilient due to increased awareness of skin care solutions and a growing urban population.
In particular, demand for organic, plant-based skin care products and clinical beauty solutions tailored to African skin is steadily increasing.
Nigerian consumers, especially women, are becoming more knowledgeable about skin care and are seeking products that not only meet their unique skin needs but also promote healthy, natural beauty.
In this context, several Nigerian beauty founders are emerging by offering locally sourced, organic products that counter the dominance of Western-centric imported brands.
These entrepreneurs are not only addressing the beauty needs of African consumers, but also tackling issues such as the skin bleaching epidemic.
Despite limited resources and lack of widespread investor interest, they offer high-quality products that resonate with the realities of African skin care.
In this article, we introduce you to some of the entrepreneurs/founders (in no particular order) who are shaping the future of beauty in Nigeria and across Africa.
Jump to section 9. Joycee Awosika – Founder, Oriki Group
Oriki Group founder Joycee Awosikathe is a dynamic Nigerian entrepreneur and power sector expert.
In 2014, she founded ORÍKÌ, an agricultural beauty and wellness brand focused on harnessing Africa’s rich natural resources to create farm-to-skin products. ORÍKÌ has grown to 10 wellness spas and seven subsidiaries, including a mobile app offering on-demand wellness services.
In 2021, Joysy expanded its brand with the launch of ORÍKÌ Training Institute (OTI). ORÍKÌ Training Institute (OTI) is a leading spa training institute dedicated to supporting wellness businesses and professionals across Africa through training, consulting and industry standardization.
Mr. Awosika’s career spans both entrepreneurship and power sector reform. She worked with the UK Department for International Development (DFID) on Nigeria’s power infrastructure and advised the Minister of Power. Previously, he began his career at Constellation Energy, a Fortune 100 company.
Mr. Awosika is a former curator of the World Economic Forum’s Abuja Global Shapers Hub, where he led initiatives on youth employment and entrepreneurship. She is a Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Fellow, has been named one of Nigeria’s 100 Most Inspirational Women, and has been recognized by global news organizations such as CNN and CNBC. Awosika earned a bachelor’s degree with a double major in business administration and economics from Goucher College from 2003 to 2007.
Jump to section 9. Joycee Awosika-Oriki Group Founder Follow us for the latest news and market information.
