She has always had a flair for business. Growing up, she was mentored by her mother – now a retired teacher, who ventured into the Bakery and Hair Salon businesses, alongside her teaching career. StellaRita helped her mother take care of business whenever she was away.
Her first startup was a door to door mobile Cosmetic business in Mary Kay. Afterward, she launched LaRita Beauty Spa in 2009, a salon and spa beauty business, which she ran for 8 years and shut down in 2018.
While running the Spa business, she started a franchise Chinese restaurant in Abuja, Nigeria. The Franchise Marcopolo Chinese Restaurant was in operation for 3 years. After the end of the 3 years contract, she put an end to the franchise contract and continued solely as Marcoriano Chinese restaurant. The restaurant has achieved a milestone of 14 years in business and overcoming challenges.
Amb. Dr.Hc StellaRita Awelle Nwachukwu Asogwa
FIBM,FIISD,FCIAP,JP
StellaRita Awelle Asogwa, is a businesswoman in the beauty, fashion, and food industry.StellaRita graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. She received her master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) in 2015 from the Business School Netherlands (BSN) and has been awarded honorary postgraduate doctoral degrees (Ph.D (h.c)) from Janus University, California and Prowess University, Delaware, USA. She also acquired a certificate in Entrepreneurial Management from Pan African University. All of these helped beef her intellectual capacity and skills in business.
She started a clothing brand, Zarita kouture in 2012, which has focused on making beautiful Ready-to-wear pieces and Made to Measure custom pieces and designs for men, women and children. There is the Zarita Uniforms section which produces all types of uniforms for different sectors of the economy. In 2015, she added an academy, Zarita Fashion Academy where small group certified trainings on pattern cutting and fashion illustration are being taught.
StellaRita is an entrepreneur of diverse interest. Despite the many challenges her businesses faced, she always figures out a way to keep up with and stay ahead of the market. Through her fashion brand she has participated in a number of local and international fashion shows and events which includes; The Africa Fashion Week London, Montage Africa Fashion show, Fashion Finest London Fashion Week, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria and Africa Fashion Reception, Paris. StellaRita also organised her own fashion show in 2014 themed the Zarita Fashion Show which graced different selection of local designers on the runway.
StellaRita is a recipient of numerous local and international awards and accolades. A few to note includes; The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment Award of Colours of Nigeria Fashion Promoter of the year, Achievers Category S.H.E Awards UAE, Leadtimes Magazine Business Woman of the year, The Award for The Best Chinese Restaurant in Abuja; The Corporate Women of Excellence award for the Business Personality of the year.
The prestigious Global Leader of Integrity award for Courage in Character, Patriotism and Humanitarian Leadership; Gold Leadership award in Corporate management and Governance; Global Leader of Integrity Ambassador; The recipient of The Ikenga Award for Excellence on Entrepreneurship amongst many other awards.
StellaRita has been named as one of the 20 most outstanding women in Nigeria by the Leadership Newspaper. She has also been named as one of the distinguished women of substance in Nigeria by the Guardian Newspaper. However, her impact on her family stands above all to her as her greatest achievement is being the best mother to her children.
StellaRita is a member of the She Trades in the Commonwealth. She is a World Peace Programme WPP Ambassador. She is a patron of APPMEN and an Ambassador of the Nigerian Leadership We Want project. She is a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Elite Women Network International and Crustos Consult Ltd.
She is a member of Creative Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria. She is a conferred Fellow in the Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria (FIBM). She is also a conferred Fellow of the International Institute of Strategy and Development (FIISD). She is a Patron of the Association of Private Media Establishments . StellaRita has been conferred with the Chieftaincy title of kpakpando Oma Ndigbo and is the Vice President of the Igbo Community of Abuja, ICA, Maitama branch. StellaRita has been honoured with Chapter 13 of the book titled “Growing up Africa” by Gift Chidima Nnamoko which is a book showcasing the entrepreneurial journeys of a few select entrepreneurs in Africa.
