Modupe Ozolua

Modupe Ozolua (b. October 10, 1973) is a Lebanese-Nigerian-American philanthropist and entrepreneur. She was the CEO of Body Enhancement Ltd and is the founding president of Empower 54 Project Initiatives (Empower 54) formerly known as Body Enhancement Annual Reconstructive Surgery (BEARS) Foundation.

Early life and education


Princess Ozolua is the youngest of four children born to Prince Julius I. Ozolua, an educationist, and Princess Olua Mary S. Ozolua (née Otaru), an entrepreneur from Ososo, Akoko-Edo LGA, Edo State. Her name "Modupe" means "I give thanks" in Yoruba.

She holds the traditional title "The Oyimizé of Ososo Kingdom" meaning "The One We Choose" from her mother's tribe.

Ozolua studied business management in Southwestern College, graduated with honors, was inducted into the Alpha Pi Epsilon, chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and recognized as an outstanding student by the Southwestern Dean's Honorary List and the National Dean's List (1994 - 1995). Princess Modupe Ozolua further studied at DeVry University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Technical Business Management and graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors.

Career


Ozolua returned to Nigeria in 2001 and started Body Enhancement Ltd, a cosmetic surgery company and aesthetic laser treatments in Nigeria. The company became a pioneer in its sector, despite operating in a conservative country. Through the company, Ozolua educated the public about the safety of plastic surgery, breaking prevalent myths of the time.

In 2003, she founded Empower 54, formerly known as Body Enhancement Foundation, or Body Enhancement Annual Reconstructive Surgery (BEARS), an international humanitarian organization dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance such as medical missions, hunger eradication, education, female empowerment, and refugee programs to underprivileged Africans. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a patron of Empower 54 since the creation of the organization in 2003.

All humanitarian aid rendered through Empower 54 is free to the beneficiaries. Empower 54's "Rise Above Terror" initiative has been active in rehabilitating women and children survivors of the Boko Haram terrorist group in Nigeria, through self-employment and education for the children at the IDP camps. Ozolua leads Empower 54 to enter communities attacked by Boko Haram in remote parts of North-East Nigeria and help survivors of insurgency attacks.

During one of the foundation's missions, she discovered the extremely malnourished children rescued from Boko Haram's captivity and facilitated the collaboration between Empower 54 and the Borno State Government in evacuating them to Maiduguri for urgent CMAM treatment. 1,500 children were evacuated from Bama, along with their families.

Princess Ozolua writes articles focused on politics, charity and lifestyle which are published in Nigerian national newspapers and magazines.

Personal life
Princess Ozolua married at 21 and divorced at the age of 23. She has a son.

Some awards

 * The United States of America President's Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy. The award certificate was personally signed by President Joe Biden (2023)
 * The Office of the President of the United States of America Letter of Commendation for Philanthropy. The letter was personally signed by President Joe Biden and came with a pin (2023)
 * "Princess Modupe Ozolua's Day" Official Proclamation from the City of Houston, Texas USA (2019). In recognition of Princess Ozolua’s contributions to humanitarian, Mayor Turner issued an official Proclamation declaring Ozolua's birthday October 10th 2019 (10/10/2019) the Princess Modupé Ozolua’s day in Houston, Texas, USA.
 * City of Atlanta, Georgia (USA) Official Proclamation for service to humanity was issued to Ozolua and Empower 54 by the City Council of the City of Atlanta, Georgia, USA in 2006
 * Letter of Commendation by the City of Houston, Texas. In 2019, Mayor Sylvester Turner issued a letter commending Princess Ozolua’s humanitarian activities.
 * Letter of Commendation by Governor Nathan Deal of the State of Georgia (USA) was issued recognizing Princess Ozolua’s contribution to humanity in 2016
 * “One Of 50 African Women Who Shape The African Continent” recognition of Princess Ozolua’s impact across Africa was made by Elle Magazine (South Africa) in 2016. The Elle Magazine campaign was titled “The Incredibles” #TheIncredibles
 * “One Of Africa’s Leading Female Entrepreneurs” recognition by Elle Magazine (South Africa) in 2015 acknowledged Ozolua’s leadership and entrepreneurship footprints in the African marketplace
 * ”One of the Leading Ladies Of Africa (Nigeria) 2022
 * ”One of Africa’s 100 Most Inspiring women in Nigeria (2022)
 * Award of Excellence Obafemi Awolowo University, Moremi Hall Executive Council, Ile-ife
 * Beautician of the Year : 5th City People Award for Excellence
 * Excellence in Enterprise Award : Dr Kwame Nkrumah International Award, Ghana
 * Female Achiever of the Year, (2001) : City People Award, Nigeria
 * Humanitarian Service Award : Rotaract Club of Nigeria (Rotary International)
 * Merit Award : Lagos State Aids Control Agency Governor's Office (LSACA), Outstanding Nigerian Woman, Nigerian Women's Award, 5th Annual Ceremony
 * SheRose Awards (2018) : SheRose, Ireland

Some nominations

 * Honorary Consul, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). President Felix Tsehisekedi nominated Princess Ozolua as the DRC's Honorary Consul to Lagos, Nigeria (2020)
 * Young Manager of the Year, ThisDay Newspaper Awards, Nigeria (2005)

Some projects

 * Bi-Annual distribution of Albendazole, deworming medication and pre-natal vitamins to over 620,000 children and women in Nigeria and DRC during each mission (2018 - present)
 * Distribution of Albendazole, deworming medication and pre-natal vitamins to over 10,000 children and women in Edo State, Nigeria (2018)
 * Collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the Borno State government, initiated, facilitated and led the evacuation of 1,800 severely malnourished IDP children from Boko Haram’s stronghold in Bama, Borno State (2016)
 * Niger Delta and Kano State: Bringing Hope to Nigerian Children Suffering From Birth Defects (2003)
 * Edo State, Nigeria: Reconstructive surgery of victims of contaminated kerosene explosions (2004)
 * Niger Delta, Nigeria: Reconstructive Surgery for underprivileged children (2004)
 * Niger Delta, Nigeria: Reconstructive surgery for underprivileged children (2005)
 * Kwara State, Nigeria: Free National Medical Mission (2006)
 * Tabora, Tanzania: Medical Mission (2007)
 * Free medical missions in Ethiopia, Mali, Niger Republic and Zambia (2010 to present)
 * Adamawa State: Establishment of school at IDP camp (February 2015)
 * Gombe State: Rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Gombe State, North East Nigeria ( February 2015)
 * Adamawa and Borno States: E54's RISE caps pilot scheme (April 2015)
 * Adamawa, Gombe and Borno States: Inspection of communities destroyed by Boko Haram (May/June 2015)
 * Government Junior Secondary School (GJSS) renovation of schools destroyed by Boko Haram in Uba, Adamawa State (July 2015)
 * Malkoi Camp & NYSC Camp, Adamawa State, Nigeria (September 2015)
 * Rise Above Terror..What Happens Next? Abuja, Nigeria (9 October 2015)
 * Empower 54 Annual African Art Gala, Atlanta, Georgia (30 April 2016)
 * Building of classrooms for IDP children, Bakasi IDP camp, Maiduguri (June 2016)
 * Donation of 40-foot containers of medication and nutritional meals to IDPs, Borno State, Nigeria (January 2017)
 * Establishment of small-scale Ready-To-Use-Therapeutic-Food (RUTF) production facility in Abuja, Nigeria (March 2017)
 * Donation of paint and computers to schools in Mai-Ndombe Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (May 2017)
 * Provision of Vitamin A and Albendazole medication for 620,000 children in Mai-Ndombe Province (September 2017)
 * Provision of Vitamin A and Albendazole medication for 5 million children in the oil-producing states of the Niger Delta, Nigeria (February 2018)

Political
To improve the regulatory framework of CSOs in Nigeria, Princess Ozolua assumed the leadership position of Senior Special Assistant on NGOs and People with Disabilities (PWD) in the Office of the Deputy President of the 9th Senate, National Assembly (Nigeria) from 2019 to 2023. In that role she was Chairperson, SOP on clearing charitable items into the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2020 - 2023). She initiated the project and oversaw implementation of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Working Group's review, simplification, recommendations and harmonization of laws and policies relating to the clearing processes of charitable items into Nigeria. As Chair of the SOPWG, she was responsible for strategic inter-government negotiations and all stakeholders' support towards the creation of a new national SOP. The SOPWG consisted of 130 members including National Assembly committee Chairs and Clerks; government ministries, agencies, security agencies, United Nations bodies, development partners, INGOs, CSOs, port service providers, diplomatic Corps and consultants.

CO-Chairperson, Technical Committee on the creation of an NGO National Database in Nigeria (2020 - Present). She initiated this project and oversaw the creation of the Nigerian government’s first-ever national database of NGOs operating in Nigeria with capacity for real-time interface with all regulating MDAs online platforms for ease of verification, national mapping, communication and dissemination of information and changes in laws and policies regarding CSO engagement in the country.

Ozolua successfully facilitated the partnership with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, negotiated inter-government and donors’ participation, and is also a strategic member of the Steering Committee members which consist of government ministries, government agencies, United Nations bodies, development partners, INGOs and CSOs. She also got development partners to sponsor the creation of the Nigeria Government's first national NGO database which now domiciled with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

Government and CSO Multi-Stakeholders’ Forum Initiated project and oversee the creation of Nigeria’s first government and Civil Society multi-stakeholders’ forum domiciled at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning with focus of enabling seamless communication and review of policies regarding civil society legal frameworks in the country. Members of the forum consist of National Assembly legislators, government ministries, agencies, security agencies, United Nations bodies, development partners, INGOs and CSOs. Improved collaboration between Nigeria National Assembly and CSOs Ozolua successfully facilitated relationships between the 9th Assembly Senate and House of Representatives Committee Chairpersons and CSOs which enabled opportunities for alliances on amendment of laws regulating the CSO sector.