In the sun-drenched city of Ibadan in 1962, Offiong Ekanem Ejindu was born into a lineage steeped in history and ambition.
A great-granddaughter of King James Ekpo Bassey—the Efik monarch crowned during British colonial rule—she inherited both regal grace and a drive for excellence.
Her father, Professor Sylvester Joseph Una, a distinguished academic and politician, and her mother, Obonganwan Ekpa Una, schooled in England, instilled in her a reverence for education and a pioneering spirit.
Leaving Nigeria at a tender age, Fifi Ejindu immersed herself in the world of architecture at New York’s Pratt Institute, where she made history in 1983 as the first Black African woman to earn its Bachelor of Architecture degree.
Undeterred by boundaries, she furthered her studies with courses at MIT and a master’s in Urban Planning at Pratt before returning home—a symbol of global training returning with local purpose .
Back on Nigerian soil, Fifi founded the Starcrest Group in 1995—a real estate powerhouse that would grow to include Starcrest Investment Ltd., Starcrest Associates Ltd., and Starcrest Industries Ltd.
Under her leadership, the group diversified into oil and gas, building construction, project management, and real estate management, all delivered through the lens of her neo-traditional aesthetic—melding modern materials with timeless details like arches and round windows.
Starcrest’s reputation soared, notably for designing the Spanish Ambassador’s residence in Abuja.
Beyond architecture, Fifi leveraged Starcrest as a diplomatic and investment conduit—most memorably convening a high-level forum in the UAE in 2012 that brought Arab investors to Nigeria under the auspices of a presidential visit .
But entrepreneurship for Fifi Ejindu is not merely measured in profits—it pulses with deep community conviction.
She founded Building Support Systems, a company that speaks to her belief in infrastructure as a societal catalyst .
On her 50th birthday, she launched Hope Centres, a philanthropic venture aiming to equip Nigerian youths with vocational skills, offering them a path off the streets into meaningful lives.
Her creative and cultural spirit then reached London in 2013, where she launched the African Arts and Fashion Initiative at The Dorchester. It was not just an exhibition but a clarion call: Africa’s art, fashion, and her own ingenuity on the global stage, empowering young talent and amplifying cultural heritage.
Recognition followed. Fifi Ejindu has amassed an impressive array of awards: Lifetime Achievement from African Achievers Awards, African Child Nobel Prize in 2014, Diaspora Excellence (2015), African Female Economic Champion (2013), inclusion among Africa’s Top 20 Women of Influence, and induction into the Global Women Leaders Hall of Fame (African chapter), among others .
Her role extends into governance and heritage, with membership in the Nigerian National Heritage Council, and service on Akwa Ibom State’s technical committee for attracting foreign direct investment.
She also holds the title of Grand Patron in the Icons Club of Dubai, adding international prestige to her narrative .
Through her journey—from royal beginnings, architectural breakthroughs, and corporate empire building to philanthropy and cultural promotion—Fifi Ejindu has authored a narrative of transformation.
She epitomizes the modern African entrepreneur: globally educated yet locally rooted, commercially agile yet socially conscious.
Her investments are not just in buildings but in people, culture, and the future of young women rising across the continent.
Offiong Ekanem Ejindu’s story is not peripheral—it is central to understanding the vigor, elegance, and essential humanity of African entrepreneurship today.
