From the world of pharmacology labs in Europe to the bustling corridors of fashion, wellness, and women’s empowerment in Africa, Dr. Tewa Onasanya has charted a path that defies convention.
A trained Pharmacologist turned Publisher, Philanthropist, Author, and Mindset Stylist, Tewa embodies the boundless spirit of reinvention and purposeful living.
Her journey is one of vision, courage, and an unrelenting commitment to empower women to embrace their full potential.
Born with an eye for opportunity and an instinct for impact, Tewa studied Pharmacology at the University of Portsmouth in the UK, graduating among the top of her class in 2000.
Her career began in some of the world’s most respected pharmaceutical companies, including GSK, Roche, Organon, and Arzo Nobel, where she worked as a Clinical Data Manager.
For nearly a decade, she contributed to medical research and drug development, yet beneath the clinical precision of pharmacology, a different dream simmered—the desire to create a platform that celebrated women of color.
In 2003, while still balancing her corporate career, Tewa launched the pilot edition of Exquisite Magazine, a fashion, wellness, and lifestyle magazine dedicated to women of color who were often overlooked in mainstream media.
With strategic marketing that included adverts in key London underground stations and features on Ben TV, the magazine quickly gained visibility.
By 2004, her pioneering efforts caught the attention of the BBC, which interviewed her about the rise of the “ethnic pound” in Britain’s beauty industry.
The success of the publication led her to expand its reach, and in 2007, she relocated to Nigeria, where Exquisite Magazine established itself as one of the nation’s most influential women’s publications.
But Exquisite Magazine was always more than glossy pages. Under Tewa’s leadership, it evolved into a movement.
In 2010, she leveraged the platform to raise awareness about cervical cancer, a disease that, according to WHO, claims the life of one Nigerian woman every hour. What began as a fashion party fundraiser transformed into the Exquisite Magazine Annual Cancer Walk (EMAC) in 2012, later expanding into campaigns like SMEARIT™ to promote cervical cancer prevention and free screenings.
Through these initiatives, thousands of women across Nigeria have accessed life-saving health information and medical checks.
In 2009, Tewa deepened her impact by launching the Exquisite Lady of the Year (ELOY) Awards, Nigeria’s first and only female-focused awards ceremony.
Created to recognize, celebrate, and empower women of excellence across industries, the ELOY Awards quickly became the most sought-after recognition platform for women.
In 2018, it expanded into the ELOY Awards Foundation, which drives sustainable empowerment for women through mentorship, training, access to finance, grants, and the Sustainable Empowerment Program (SEP). Nearly 200 women entrepreneurs have graduated from the program, with several receiving direct financial grants to scale their businesses.
Her work has not gone unnoticed.
Over the years, Tewa has been featured on CNN, BBC, New York Times, Punch, Guardian, Vanguard, ThisDay, and other major international and Nigerian platforms. She has earned numerous accolades for her contribution to media, philanthropy, and women’s empowerment, cementing her place as a thought leader and trailblazer.
Beyond her role as a publisher and philanthropist, Tewa also wears the mantle of Mindset Stylist.
Inspired by a transformative book she read in 2012, she began exploring how shifts in mindset could unlock personal freedom and success. Through daily inspirational posts on Instagram under hashtags like #emotivatewithtewa and #mindsetshiftwithtewa, she has built a community committed to intentional living.
Her bestselling book, Rule Your Mind: How to Style Your Mind to Live the Life You Desire Intentionally, along with six other published works, reflect her philosophy that true empowerment begins with the renewal of the mind.
Today, with over 22 years of diverse professional experience, Tewa continues to inspire as a Distinguished Fellow and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Leadership and Performance Management from the Institute of Leadership, Manpower & Management Development.
She is also a certified Law of Attraction practitioner, holding additional qualifications in mindfulness and fashion journalism.
Married and a mother, Tewa remains committed to her core mission: to inspire, motivate, and empower people—especially women—to live as the best version of themselves. As she often says, “I love to inspire and motivate people to be the best they can be and best version of themselves. With my wealth of experience, I want to share my knowledge to empower other people.”
Through Exquisite Magazine, the ELOY Foundation, and her mindset coaching, Dr. Tewa Onasanya is not just building platforms; she is shaping legacies—proving that passion, when fused with purpose, has the power to change lives.
