New York - March 13th, 2025 - Senator Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan, born on December 9, 1979, in Ilorin, Kwara State, is a Nigerian barrister, social entrepreneur, and politician. She is the first female senator from Kogi State, representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Early Life and Education
Natasha is the second of four children and the only daughter of Dr. Jimoh Abdul Akpoti, a Nigerian, and Ludmila Kravchenko, a Ukrainian. She spent her formative years in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State. She attended Christ the King Nursery and Primary School in Okene, Government Girls Unity Secondary School in Oboroke, and Federal Government College in Idoani, Ondo State, where she served as Head Girl. She earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Abuja in 2004 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2005. In 2012, she obtained a Master of Business Administration in Oil & Gas Management from the University of Dundee, Scotland.
Professional Career
After her legal training, Natasha worked as a legal counsel at Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from 2007 to 2010. In 2015, she founded the Builders Hub Impact Investment Program (BHIIP), a social enterprise focused on reviving Nigeria's indigenous industries to create jobs. She gained national attention in 2018 for presenting an investigative report to the National Assembly on corrupt activities at the Ajaokuta Steel Mill, highlighting the mismanagement of government funds.
Political Career
Natasha first contested for the Kogi Central Senatorial seat in 2019 under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and later ran in the 2019 Kogi State Gubernatorial Election. In February 2023, she contested the senatorial seat under the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and was initially declared the runner-up. However, she was declared the winner by the Kogi Election Tribunal, and her victory was reaffirmed by the Court of Appeal in October 2023. She was inaugurated as a senator on November 2, 2023, becoming the first female senator from Kogi State.
She has been invited to speak at one of the United Nations CSW69 events, where she will address the digital divide that women and girls face and share how her leadership can drive change and inspire other women leaders to do the same.
Senator Natasha has recently teamed up with local organizations in Georgia to strengthen international relations with senators and mayors worldwide. This collaboration aims to offer training and support for women leaders who are new to office or aspiring to hold official positions. A leadership training conference will be held in Nigeria and Georgia in the summer of 2025. In the meantime, several programs and virtual leadership training sessions have already begun.
Recent news.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been in the hot seat with the Nigerian Senate and will be for another six months following her allegations, a serious issue affecting women and girls in high-profile positions. In February 2025, she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of assault during an interview. However, the Senate's ethics committee dismissed her claims due to procedural errors. Undeterred, Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a lawsuit against Akpabio, seeking 100 billion naira in damages—a bold move that has garnered strong support from her admirers and advocates.
Legal experts, including Femi Falana, have criticized the Senate’s decision to suspend her, calling it “legislative recklessness” and urging for an immediate reversal. Falana pointed out that the suspension contradicts judicial precedents which deem such actions unconstitutional. In addition, there have been discussions about Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appearance, with some suggesting that her beauty might be a hindrance in the Senate. Former Minister Ogunlewe even commented that her attractiveness could be problematic for her within the institution.
Many women have long endured the idea that “her beauty is her pain,” but in Senator Natasha’s case, this is not the narrative. She has boldly shown women around the world the importance of speaking up and being heard—something she will continue to do at the United Nations this week. Our team eagerly anticipates sharing her empowering speech with girls and women everywhere.
Edited by Dr. Edna Frenchwood (MSLaw)
Legal PR for Leaders.
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