In a world where media has the power to shape narratives and influence change, few people embody that mission as passionately as Ngunan Adamu. A BBC-trained journalist, broadcaster, entrepreneur, trainer, and advocate for women’s empowerment, Ngunan has spent more than two decades helping people find their voices and tell their stories.
Born in Nigeria and based in Liverpool, United Kingdom, Ngunan’s journey is one of resilience, innovation, and a commitment to creating opportunities for others. Through her organizations, iWoman Academy and iWoman Media, she has empowered thousands of women across different backgrounds, helping them build confidence, develop digital skills, and unlock new opportunities.
A Passion for Stories and Representation
Ngunan’s love for journalism began with a fascination for people and their stories. After studying Journalism at Liverpool John Moores University, she joined the BBC in 2005 and built an impressive career spanning television, radio, and international media training.
Over the years, she has trained journalists across Africa and Asia, working in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, Bangladesh, and India. Her work has touched the lives of thousands of media professionals, helping strengthen journalism and storytelling across continents.
For Ngunan, journalism is about more than reporting the news.
“Everybody has a story. There’s not one person on this earth that doesn’t have a story.”
That belief has guided her career and inspired her efforts to amplify underrepresented voices, particularly those of women and people of African and Caribbean heritage.
Turning Challenges Into Opportunity
Like many women in the media industry, Ngunan faced barriers throughout her career. Despite her skills and experience, she often found herself overlooked for opportunities and navigating environments where diversity and inclusion were lacking.
Rather than allowing those obstacles to define her future, she chose to create her own opportunities.
In 2016, after a decade at the BBC and while raising her son as a single parent, she launched her own ventures. Her motivation stemmed from a desire not only to develop herself professionally but also to create meaningful impact for other women facing similar challenges.
Building iWoman Academy and iWoman Media
Today, Ngunan leads two successful organizations with distinct but complementary missions.
iWoman Academy is a community-focused organization that supports women through digital skills training, confidence building, communication development, and personal growth. The academy works with women from diverse backgrounds, including refugees, asylum seekers, women on low incomes, and those seeking to rebuild their confidence and careers.
iWoman Media, on the other hand, focuses on commercial media projects, event hosting, communications, and creative collaborations.
By separating the two organizations, Ngunan created a sustainable model where commercial success can help support community impact. It is a model she believes more African entrepreneurs should consider.
Empowering Women Beyond Media
One of the most remarkable aspects of Ngunan’s work is that her goal was never simply to train women for careers in media.
Instead, she uses media as a tool for confidence, communication, and transformation.
The results have been extraordinary.
Women who participated in her programs have gone on to:
- Launch successful businesses.
- Secure employment in major organizations, including the BBC.
- Return to education.
- Volunteer within their communities.
- Rebuild their lives after displacement and migration.
For Ngunan, every success story reinforces the importance of investing in women and creating environments where they can thrive.
Redefining Inclusion
Ngunan believes that meaningful inclusion goes beyond recruitment targets and diversity statements.
According to her, organizations should focus on creating environments where people feel safe, valued, heard, and able to grow.
Hiring diverse talent is only the first step. Retaining, developing, and promoting that talent is what truly demonstrates inclusion.
She also emphasizes that women are not a monolith. Their experiences, backgrounds, responsibilities, and aspirations vary widely, and employers must take the time to listen and understand what women need to succeed.
The Importance of Allies and Investment
One of Ngunan’s most powerful observations is that women do not necessarily lack confidence. What many lack are allies, sponsors, and access to opportunities.
She argues that women, particularly Black women, are often over-advised and underfunded.
While mentorship is valuable, she believes investment, sponsorship, and access to decision-makers are equally important if women are to break through barriers and achieve lasting success.
Her message is clear: women need both support and resources.
A Vision for Global Impact
Looking ahead, Ngunan’s vision is ambitious.
She wants iWoman Academy to become an international platform that serves women across Africa and beyond. She hopes to influence policies affecting women, expand access to training and opportunities, and build stronger systems of support for female entrepreneurs and leaders.
She also dreams of launching an online radio station that amplifies women’s voices and stories on a global scale.
Lessons for the Next Generation
When asked what advice she would give her younger self, Ngunan’s answer was simple yet profound:
“Never doubt yourself. Trust your abilities, trust your knowledge, and continue to back yourself.”
It is advice that reflects her own journey—from a young journalism student in Liverpool to a respected broadcaster, entrepreneur, and advocate whose work continues to inspire women around the world.
Through iWoman Academy and iWoman Media, Ngunan Adamu is proving that when women are given the tools, confidence, and opportunities to succeed, they do far more than transform their own lives they transform communities, industries, and future generations.
This article is based on an interview conducted by Just4WomenAfrica with
