Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan was born on December 9, 1979,
in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria where she developed into a successful
barrister, entrepreneur and politician. Her professional life bridges law and
business with public service while focusing on social development and legal
fairness.
Early Life and Education
Natasha was born to a Nigerian father, Dr. Jimoh Abdul
Akpoti, from Obeiba-Ihima in Kogi State, and a Ukrainian mother, Ludmila
Kravchenko, from Rakitna in the Chernivtsi region of Ukraine. She is the second
of four children and the only daughter in her family. Natasha’s parents met in
the then Soviet Union where her father was a foreign medical student on
scholarship at the Bolomolets Medical University, Ukraine. Her upbringing in a
multicultural household provided her with a unique perspective on diverse
cultures and traditions.
Natasha attended Christ the King Nursery and Primary School
Okene, Kogi state to attain her Certificate of Primary education. Natasha’s
Junior Secondary education was at the Government Girls Unity Secondary School,
Oboroke, Kogi state where then she proceeded to Federal Government College
Idoani, Ondo state for her Senior Secondary Schooling. Her outstanding academic
achievements and personal accomplishments led to her being selected as Head
Girl. In 1997 Natasha received her Secondary School leaving Certificate and
Testimonial which praised her for being responsible along with being
hardworking while demonstrating diligence through the prefect role. Natasha
pursued higher education at the University of Abuja, where she earned a
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree between 2000 and 2004. She subsequently attended
the Nigerian Law School and was called to the bar on 8th November, 2005.
Professional Career
Natasha commenced her legal career as a counsel at Brass
NLG, where she worked from 2007 to 2010, gaining valuable experience in the
legal aspects of the oil and gas industry. In 2008, while employed as a legal
counsel at Brass LNG, an international gas liquefaction company, Natasha
obtained "International Gas Business Management Certificate program"
at the prominent International Human Resources Development Corporation (IHRDC)
in Boston, Massachusetts USA. The quest for knowledge drove Natasha to obtain
two professional industry certifications focusing on "Contracts Used in
International Petroleum Development" and "Monitoring and Regulation
of the Upstream Petroleum Sector (Exploration and Production)" offered by
the Center for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP), Scotland,
UK.
Natasha also participated in a high-level workshop organized
by the University of Aberdeen where Natasha scored the most accurate bargain
during a delegate-simulation. In 2011, she obtained a Master of Business
Administration (MBA) in Oil and Gas Management from the University of Dundee,
Scotland, in 2012. In 2015, she founded the Builders Hub Impact Investment
Program (BHIIP), an initiative aimed at promoting local content and
industrialization in Nigeria. Her advocacy for the revival of the Ajaokuta
Steel Mill brought her into the national spotlight, highlighting her dedication
to industrial development and economic empowerment.
Political Career
Natasha's foray into politics began with her candidacy for
the Kogi Central Senatorial District seat under the Social Democratic Party
(SDP) in 2018. Although she was not successful in that election, her
determination to serve her community remained steadfast.
In 2022, she secured the People's Democratic Party (PDP)
nomination for the same senatorial seat. Despite initial setbacks in the 2023
elections, the election tribunal declared her the winner on September 6, 2023,
a decision affirmed by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on October 31, 2023. She
was subsequently sworn in as a senator, representing Kogi Central in the 10th
Nigerian National Assembly.
Personal Life
Natasha is a mother of three children. At the age of 19,
shortly after the death of her father, Natasha Akpoti married and had her first
son, Daniel. However, this marriage ended in divorce. On March 5, 2022, she
married Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Alema of Warri Kingdom, in a ceremony held in
Ihima, Kogi State.
Natasha Akpoti’s Net worth
As both barrister and politician Natasha Hadiza
Akpoti-Uduaghan leads a career that has brought major achievements to
professional and political fields. The total worth of Natasha Hadiza
Akpoti-Uduaghan currently stands at $5 million based on 2023 estimates from her
career activities as a lawyer and business owner and government official.
Awards and Recognitions
Various prominent accolades have been bestowed upon Natasha
Akpoti-Uduaghan by different organizations because of her unwavering commitment
to public leadership roles. In December 2017, the Nigerian Society of Engineers
presented her this award for her work in championing Ajaokuta Steel Mill
revival. Also, the Leadership Newspaper recognized Natasha as its Politician of
the Year for 2023 marking her rise to prominence within Nigerian political
society.
In May 2024, she was shortlisted for the African Iconic
Women Recognition Awards, reflecting her influence and impact across the
continent. Just U Magazine revealed its intention to recognize Akpoti-Uduaghan
with this honor in November 2024 because of her humanitarian initiatives and
social impact. The leading Nigerian newspaper THISDAY presented their Senator
of the Year award to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan during January 2025. Her recognition
showcased outstanding leadership combined with devoted service that benefited
her constituents and the nation while demonstrating her dedication to
leadership positions across Nigeria and international realms.
Legacy and impact
Natasha dedicates her heart to acknowledging both the need
to innovate indigenous technology and develop inclusive resilient economies
while supporting Start-Ups. The partnership established by the Niger Delta
Development Commission (NDDC) Small, Medium Enterprise Development Agency
(SMEDAN) and Natasha's Builders Hub Impact Investment Program (BHiiP) created
Nigeria's first integrated technology development and business growth hub in
Uyo city which serves as the coastal and oil-producing region of Nigeria.
Controversies
In February 2025, Natasha accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual assault during an interview on Arise News. This allegation
led to her suspension from the Senate for six months on March 6, 2025, during
which her allowances and security were withdrawn. She has since filed a lawsuit
against the Senate President, seeking 100 billion naira in damages.
.
Conclusion
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan's journey reflects her resilience,
dedication, and unwavering commitment to justice and societal development. Her
diverse roles as a legal practitioner, entrepreneur, and politician underscore
her multifaceted contributions to Nigeria's progress.
