The term “power couple” may sound too contemporary and corny, but it has always existed across centuries and industries as a fixed dynamic: two romantically involved people who are extremely successful in their respective careers, command a level of influence, complement each other, and are of great value to society.

In a society like Nigeria, where patriarchal quirks are still very much commonplace and marital success is sometimes viewed as a male-engineered affair, a growing number of power couples across various industries are challenging that narrative.

Below, BSide spotlights a few across five sectors

Business and Entrepreneurship: Tony and Awele Elumelu

Arguably the most influential in this space is the Elumelu duo. The African business leaders are known for a far-reaching impact on the continent’s development through their multinational ventures spanning the finance, healthcare, and insurance industries.

Tony is the chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) and also chairs the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Transcorp, and Heirs Holdings. On the other hand, Dr. Awele is the founder of Avon Medical, while also holding key roles at the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Heirs Holdings, and Heirs Insurance Brokers.

To sum up their overflowing portfolio: Tony powers economic transformation through strategic investments and entrepreneurial development, while Awele leads efforts to expand healthcare access across the continent.. Though they aren’t often seen as a single brand, their combined footprints and influence as a couple are unmatched on the continent at large.

Entertainment: Simi and Adekunle Kosoko

Together since 2014 and married since 2019, both award-winning musicians Simi and Adekunle Gold have carved distinct and harmonious careers in Nigeria’s music industry. Simi, known for her soulful vocals and heartfelt lyrics, rose to fame with hits like “Jamb Question,” while Adekunle Gold’s early singles like “Sade” and “Orente” shot him to fame and subsequently earned him a career-lifting deal with YBNL.

As individual acts, Simi and Adekunle are as big as they can get in the country. And as a couple, they complement each other effortlessly, balancing their careers, fame and family with a rare kind of grace. Their collaborative projects, public respect for each other’s artistry, and mutual career support have made them a model partnership in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Tech: Jason and Mary Njoku

Jason and Mary Njoku are one of the most recognisable names in Nigeria’s tech and digital distribution space. Jason was among the early pioneers of the online distribution of Nollywood films globally, founding iROKOtv as far back as 2011.

On her part, Mary is a Nollywood actress, content creator, and founder of ROK Studios—a film production company she established in 2013 and grew into one of the continent’s biggest, before it was acquired by French TV giant Canal+ in 2019, in what was reported to be the biggest tech media acquisition in Sub-Saharan Africa at the time.

Aside from that, the Njokus are also notable investors who have backed a number of startups in Nigeria. Their growing portfolio and influence place them among the most prominent tech media couples in the country.

Sports: Quadri and Ganiyat Aruna

Currently, the table tennis scene in Nigeria owes a lot to the sheer influence of the Aruna dynasty. Aruna Quadri, arguably Africa’s best table tennis player over the last decade, has been a consistent representative for Nigeria on the global map with top performances at international championships—including the Olympics, where he set an African record by reaching the quarterfinals in 2016.

Also the first African to break into the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) global top 15 in 2021 and later the top 10 in 2022, Aruna forms one half of a sporting power duo with his wife Ganiyat, a former national player and now co-architect of the family’s ongoing dominance in the sport. Ganiyat represented Lagos during her active years and currently serves as the Aruna family coach, particularly for the kids: Mariam, Aruna Junior, and Amira Quadri — all of whom announced themselves to the tennis scene by winning medals at the VIX João Monteiro Table Tennis Tournament in Portugal earlier this year.

More than Aruna and Ganiyat’s differing careers in scale and visibility, the continuity of their legacy through their kids places the family at the heart of Nigeria’s tennis scene. The Arunas are also committed to discovering and honing the next generation of table tennis talent nationwide through the Aruna Sports Club and Academy, which they’ve been running since 2019.

Finance: Walter and Winifred Akpani

The Akpanis are arguably Nigeria’s most prominent couple in the finance sector. Walter is the Managing Director and CEO of Providus Bank, formerly United Mortgage Bank, where he has built a reputation for visionary leadership and innovation in financial services. His decades of experience in banking and strategic management have positioned him as a key figure in Nigeria’s evolving corporate finance space.

Winifred, on the other hand, is the founder and CEO of Northwest Petroleum, a now multinational energy company she started nearly thirty years ago. With a background as a chartered accountant, she has steered the company’s growth from a modest downstream player into a notable name in the oil and gas industry.