Senator Natasha Akpoti remains a powerful voice for the oppressed
Senator Natasha Akpoti is a leading figure in the fight for the rights of women and marginalized communities in Nigeria. Born on December 9, 1979, in Ilorin, Kwara State, she is the daughter of a Nigerian father and a Ukrainian mother. She grew up in Ihima, Kogi State, and pursued law at the University of Abuja, graduating in 2005. She then completed a Master of Laws and an MBA in Oil and Gas Management at the University of Dundee in Scotland in 2012.
Before entering politics, Natasha Akpoti worked as a legal advisor at Brass LNG from 2007 to 2010. In 2015, she founded the Builders Hub Impact Investment Program (BHIIP), an initiative aimed at creating jobs by revitalizing Nigeria’s neglected local industries. She rose to prominence in 2018 by presenting a report to the Nigerian Parliament exposing corruption surrounding the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, highlighting the challenges facing the nation’s industries.
In 2023, she became the first woman elected as a senator in Kogi State, representing the Central Senatorial District under the banner of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Her election marked a significant advancement for women’s representation in a male-dominated political sphere.
However, her time in the Senate was marked by challenges. In March 2025, she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. These allegations were followed by her six-month suspension, ostensibly for disciplinary reasons unrelated to her accusations. This suspension sparked a wave of protests from women’s rights groups and the public, highlighting the institutional barriers facing women in politics in Nigeria.
Despite these challenges, Natasha Akpoti remains a powerful voice for the oppressed, committed to defending women’s rights and fighting corruption. Her courage and determination continue to inspire many Nigerians, especially women, to join the fight for equality and social justice.