Linda Ifeoma Ikeji (born 19 September 1980) is a Nigerian blogger, writer, entrepreneur, and former model.[1][2] She is known for her blog and controversial online publications.[3]
Linda Ikeji | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Linda Ifeoma Ikeji 19 September 1980[1] |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Occupations | |
| Website | lindaikejisblog.com |
Early life and education
editIkeji was born and raised in a Catholic family in Nkwerre, Imo State, Southeast Nigeria. She is the second child. She began writing at the age of 10. She completed her secondary school education 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 held part-time jobs as a waitress, model, and writer.[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
editIkeji started blogging in 2006.[7] She became an active blogger in 2007 using a blogger sub-domain lindaikeji.blogspot.com and later obtained her domain, www.lindaikejisblog.com.[8] 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.[9][10]
Ikeji also opened a music platform known as LindaIkeji Music which was launched on 21 November 2016, but it became dormant three months after the Launch.[11] She introduced a social networking platform named Linda Ikeji Social, operating 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 ₦10,000,000 in Phase 1 of the project.[5]
In 2023, Ikeji made her debut into the Nigerian film production, by producing her first movie titled Dark October which centered on the Aluu Four lynching story.[12]
Recognition
editIn 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.[13] The name Linda Ikeji was the most searched item by users of Google in Nigeria.[14] Ikeji shares new year resolution for 2020.[15]
Ikeji was interviewed by BBC on their Focus on Africa programme.[16] The interview aired on 25 September 2012.[17]
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.[18] 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.[19][20]
Controversies
editIkeji 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.[21][22][23][24] She also made controversial publications about politician Doyin Okupe who described the publications as defamatory.[25]
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."[26]
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[27]
In 2018, the online editor for the Punch Newspaper, John Abayomi, threatened to file a lawsuit against Ikeji for untrue story about him being the owner of instablog9ja. He also claimed the publication puts his life and that of his family in danger.[28]
Personal life
editIkeji 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 nice as expected.[29]
Honours and awards
edit| Awards | Year | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria Blog Awards NBA | 2013 | Best Entertainment Blog[30] |
| Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards | 2013 | Website/blog of the year[31] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Darlinton Omeh (11 January 2015). "Linda Ikeji Biography And You Need To Know About Her". Constative. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ "Linda Ikeji Blog - Apps on Google Play". play.google.com. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ "Linda Ikeji, Blogger, Writer, Model, Nigeria Personality Profiles". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "Linda Ikeji". Naij. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "Profile Of Linda Ikeji, Queen of Bloggers". Newsday Nigeria. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ Folake Soetan (2 June 2013). "Blogging Home The Bacon: The Linda Ikeji Story". Ventures Africa. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Ibukun Taiwo (30 September 2015). "Linda Ikeji finally gets her own domain name". Techcabal. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "How Nigerian Female Mediaprenuers Are Taking Over The Tech Industry". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ "LindaIkejiMusic.com debuts!". Linda Ikeji's Blog. 21 November 2016.
- ^ "Linda Ikeji makes film production debut with dark October". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "You Want To Be A Blogger?". jessynaija.org. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "Google trends of 2014: Lindaikeji tops Nigeria search list". jessynaija.org. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "If I cancel you, you will stay cancelled - Linda Ikeji Says (Jessynaija)" Jessynaija.org, 23 January 2020.
- ^ "Linda Ikeji at BBC Africa! (PHOTOS)". Naij.com. Clement Ejiofor. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ "Nigerian blogger Linda Ikeji on gossip and news". BBC News. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ "Linda Ikeji Conferred with Honorary Doctorate Degree from Trinity International University in Georgia - BellaNaija". www.bellanaija.com. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
- ^ "Filmmaker, Egboro bags honorary doctorate degree in Atlanta". Retrieved 24 August 2018.
- ^ Correspondent, Special (23 August 2018). "Filmmaker Steve Egbo gets honorary doctorate degree - Goldmyne.TV". Goldmyne.TV. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Funke Akindele's Lawyers Write Linda Ikeji 'YOU WENT TOO FAR'". modernghana.com. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Actor RMD Warns Linda Ikeji to Stop Spreading Lies About Him". ireporterstv.co. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ "'U're Dying Slowly' – Tonto Dike Attacks Popular Blogger, Linda Ikeji, Over Fake News". NEWS.NAIJ.COM. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ "Defamation: Okupe's Lawyers Write Linda Ikeji; Demand Retraction And Published Apology Over False Story". NewsWireNGR. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ Onyinye Muomah (10 October 2014). "Google restores Linda Ikeji Blog". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Augoye, Jayne (14 December 2018). "Linda Ikeji apologises to fans for having a child out of wedlock". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
- ^ "John Abayomi denies ownership of Instablog9ja, threatens to sue Linda Ikeji". m.guardian.ng. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ Polycarp, Nwafor (14 December 2018). "My baby Daddy and I are not suitable–Linda Ikeji". Vanguard News Nigeria. vanguard. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ "2013 Nigerian Blog Awards winners!". Nigerian Blog Awards. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Here are the Nominees for Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards 2013 - Olori Supergal". Olori Supergal. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2018.