Linda Ikeji

Linda Ifeoma Ikeji (born 19 September 1980) is a Nigerian blogger, writer, entrepreneur and former model.[1] She is known for her blog.[2]

Linda Ikeji
Born
Linda Ifeoma Ikeji

(1980-09-19) 19 September 1980[1]
Nkwerre, Imo, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
OccupationBlogger, entrepreneur and writer
Websitelindaikejisblog.com

Early life and education

Ikeji was born and raised in a Catholic family from Nkwerre, Imo State, Nigeria. She is the second child. She began writing at the age of 10. She finished secondary school at the age of 17 and at 18, enrolled at the University of Lagos, where she studied English language. To assist her family and support herself through school, she had part-time jobs as a waitress, model and writer.[3][4] Ikeji graduated from the University in 2004. In 2006, she started blogging as a hobby. At that time, the internet was not as prominent in Nigeria and she had to make her posts at a cybercafé.[5][6]

Professional career

Ikeji started blogging in 2006.[7][8] She became an active blogger in 2007[2] using a blogger sub-domain lindaikeji.blogspot.com and later obtained her domain www.lindaikejisblog.com.[9]

On 22 August 2016, on her blog, she announced the creation her online TV network, Linda Ikeji TV alongside other brands she was establishing.[10] Linda Ikeji TV airs a variety of programmes ranging from talk shows, reality shows, TV series to Movies.[11] The Network both produces some of its programmes and also buys TV contents.[12] She also ventured into online radio broadcasting. The station is operated from the Linda Ikeji Media Office. Some of its programmes are broadcast live on Linda Ikeji TV.[10]

Ikeji also opened a music platform known as LindaIkejiMusic which was launched on 21 November 2016, but it became dormant three months after the Launch.[13] She launched a social networking platform named Linda Ikeji Social on the domain name LindaIkejiSocial.com. Ikeji runs a non-profit project themed "I'd rather be self-made; No thanks". In her interview with HipTV, she revealed that through the project, she assists young girls aged 16–25 who have great business ideas and are willing to venture into entrepreneurship. She gave out the sum of NGN10,000,000 in Phase 1 of the project.[5]

Recognition

In August 2012, Forbes Africa dedicated itself to celebrating African women that month's issue. In that issue, Forbes profiled Africa's 20 Most Prominent Women and the issue featured profiles on two young Nigerian women: Linda Ikeji, as well as Chibundu Onuzo.[14] The name Linda Ikeji was the most searched item by users of Google in Nigeria[15] Ikeji shares new year resolution for 2020.[16]

In 2016, she moved to her Multi-million Naira mansion home,[17] a feat celebrated by many, especially the female gender in Nigeria.

Ikeji was interviewed by BBC on their Focus on Africa programme.[18] The interview aired on 25 September 2012.[19]

On 8 August 2018, Linda Ikeji was among eminent personalities drawn from different countries across multiple disciplines who were conferred with Honorary Doctorate Degree from Trinity International University in Georgia for her outstanding job in Business and Media in Africa.[20][21] Others conferred includes Steve Egboro, Nigerian filmmaker and event manager, Chairman Daily Times Newspaper, Dr. Fidelis Anosike, Dr. Obeahon Ohiwerei, GMD/ CEO of Keystone Bank Limited, renowned lawyer Mike Ozekhome and few others.[22][23]

Controversies

Ikeji has dealt with controversial posts which include the #SaveMayowa Campaign and also about celebrities such as Funke Akindele, Richard Mofe Damijo, Djimon Honsou, Wizkid and Tonto Dikeh.[24][25][26][27][28] She also made controversial publications about politician Doyin Okupe who described the publications as defamatory.[29]

Ikeji's blog was shut down on 8 October 2014 but restored on 10 October 2014 around midnight by Google for undisclosed reasons. Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google's West Africa spokesperson, said: "We take violations of policies very seriously as such activities diminish the experience for our users. When we are notified of the existence of content that may violate our Terms of Service, we act quickly to review it and determine whether it actually violates our policies. If we determine that it does, we remove it immediately."[30]

Linda Ikeji revealing that she was pregnant was quite controversial as several ladies who looked up to her were disappointed at the fact that she preached celibacy and went ahead to get pregnant[31]

Personal life

Ikeji says she and her son's father Sholaye Jeremi are not suitable partners. She took to her blog to detail reasons why her relationship with her son's father, whom she met in December 2015, didn't work out as expected.[32]

Honours and awards
AwardsYearCategory
Nigeria Blog Awards NBA2013Best Entertainment Blog[33]
Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards 2013 Website/blog of the year[34]

See also

References
  1. Darlinton Omeh (11 January 2015). "Linda Ikeji Biography And You Need To Know About Her". Constative. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  2. Darlinton Omeh. "Linda Ikeji Awards (Her Bragging Rights)". wealthresult.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. "Linda Ikeji". Naij. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  4. Darlinton Omeh. "Linda Ikeji – All You Need To Know About the Entrepreneur Blogger". Wealth Result. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  5. "What You Didn't Know about Linda Ikeji – Africa's Biggest Blogger". TheNews. Wale Adeniyi. 15 October 2015. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  6. Editor, News (6 September 2016). "Profile Of Linda Ikeji, Queen of Bloggers". Newsday Nigeria. Retrieved 27 May 2020.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  7. Katumu Adasi (2 June 2019). "Linda Ikeji Blog: What you need to know about the Nigeria popular blog and the owner". Gist Flare. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  8. Folake Soetan (2 June 2013). "Blogging Home The Bacon: The Linda Ikeji Story". Ventures Africa. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  9. Ibukun Taiwo (30 September 2015). "Linda Ikeji finally gets her own domain name". Techcabal. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  10. Korede, Mike. "Linda Ikeji TV, Linda Ikeji Radio, Music, Linda Ikeji TV, Linda Ikeji Radio, Music, Studio and Lis Coming Soon Studio and Lis Coming Soon". Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  11. "Linda Ikeji TV Home menu". Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  12. Ikeji, Linda (5 September 2017). "Linda Ikeji TV now buying TV Content". Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  13. "LindaIkejiMusic.com debuts!". Linda Ikeji's Blog. 21 November 2016.
  14. "You Want To Be A Blogger?". jessynaija.org. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  15. "Google trends of 2014: Lindaikeji tops Nigeria search list". jessynaija.org. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  16. If I cancel you, you will stay cancelled - Linda Ikeji Says (Jessynaija) " Jessynaija.org, 23 January 2020.
  17. Tunde G. Jimoh (Tundegold) " Tundegold.com, 19 November 2015.
  18. "Linda Ikeji at BBC Africa! (PHOTOS)". Naij.com. Clement Ejiofor. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  19. "Nigerian blogger Linda Ikeji on gossip and news". BBC News. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  20. "Trinity International University of Ambassadors". web.facebook.com. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  21. "Linda Ikeji Conferred with Honorary Doctorate Degree from Trinity International University in Georgia - BellaNaija". www.bellanaija.com. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  22. "Filmmaker, Egboro bags honorary doctorate degree in Atlanta". Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  23. Correspondent, Special (23 August 2018). "Filmmaker Steve Egbo gets honorary doctorate degree - Goldmyne.TV". Goldmyne.TV. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  24. "Funke Akindele's Lawyers Write Linda Ikeji 'YOU WENT TOO FAR'". modernghana.com. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  25. Osaremen Ehi James (6 July 2012). "RMD Fights Linda Ikeji? Tells Her To Get A Life". NigeriaFilms. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  26. "Actor RMD Warns Linda Ikeji to Stop Spreading Lies About Him". ireporterstv.co. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  27. "Wahala! You Dey Find! Tonto Dikeh Calls Linda Ikeji A Failed Model; Oouch – Gistmania". gistmania.com. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  28. "'U're Dying Slowly' – Tonto Dike Attacks Popular Blogger, Linda Ikeji, Over Fake News". NEWS.NAIJ.COM. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  29. "Defamation: Okupe's Lawyers Write Linda Ikeji; Demand Retraction And Published Apology Over False Story". NewsWireNGR. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  30. Onyinye Muomah (10 October 2014). "Google restores Linda Ikeji Blog". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  31. Augoye, Jayne (14 December 2018). "Linda Ikeji apologises to fans for having a child out of wedlock". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  32. Polycarp, Nwafor (14 December 2018). "My baby Daddy and I are not suitable–Linda Ikeji". Vanguard News Nigeria. vanguard. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  33. "2013 Nigerian Blog Awards winners!". Nigerian Blog Awards. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  34. "Here are the Nominees for Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards 2013 - Olori Supergal". Olori Supergal. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
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