Renowned Nigerian fashion entrepreneur, international talent development advocate, and founder of Africa’s Next Super Model, Joan Isioma Okorodudu, has been confirmed as one of the distinguished speakers at the BusinessDay Opportunity Africa Kenya Trade and Investment Conference, scheduled to take place on November 20, 2026, at the Mövenpick Hotel & Residences in Nairobi, Kenya.
Okorodudu, who is the founder and chief executive officer of ISIS Models International, will join an influential gathering of African business leaders, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs and industry stakeholders to explore emerging trade, investment and economic opportunities across the continent.
Her inclusion among the conference speakers represents another significant recognition of her contributions to Africa’s creative economy, particularly her pioneering work in developing African modelling talents, promoting the continent’s fashion industry and connecting young African professionals to opportunities in international markets.
Organised by BusinessDay, the Opportunity Africa Kenya Conference is designed to facilitate conversations around Africa’s investment potential, strengthen cross-border commercial relationships and encourage greater collaboration among businesses and institutions seeking to unlock the continent’s economic opportunities.
The conference will feature prominent personalities, including Nigeria’s High Commissioner-designate to Kenya, Ambassador Danlami Ibrahim; Caesar Mwangi, executive Dean of Strathmore Business School, Kenya; Wambui Mbarire, CEO of the Retail Trade Association of Kenya (RETRAK); Adedapo Oluwaseyi Adelegan, former president and chairman of Council of the Nigerian-British Chambers of Commerce; Kelvin Chaizor, a business consultant and leader in the power and energy sector; and Stan Agacho, founder of Onamu.
Okorodudu’s participation is particularly significant as Africa increasingly recognises the creative industries as important contributors to economic diversification, youth employment, international trade and investment.
For several decades, Okorodudu has remained one of the continent’s most consistent advocates for the development of African modelling talents, creating platforms that enable young people to access international fashion opportunities while challenging longstanding barriers to African representation in the global fashion industry.
Through ISIS Models International, she has built an international modelling enterprise that identifies, nurtures and promotes African talents, connecting emerging models with professional opportunities and fashion markets beyond the continent.
Her flagship initiative, Africa’s Next Super Model, has also evolved into a platform for discovering promising young talents, celebrating African beauty and positioning the continent as an important source of creative excellence.
Beyond modelling and fashion, Okorodudu’s work reflects the broader economic potential of Africa’s creative industries, particularly their capacity to generate employment, attract investment, support entrepreneurship and promote the continent’s cultural identity internationally.
Her participation in the Nairobi conference is expected to bring a creative-industry perspective to discussions traditionally dominated by finance, infrastructure, manufacturing and conventional trade sectors.
The conference also comes at a significant moment for Okorodudu, whose Africa’s Next Super Model 2026 Grand Finale is scheduled to take place in Nairobi on November 21, just one day after the BusinessDay conference.
The grand finale, themed “Love & Legacy,” will mark the fifth anniversary of Africa’s Next Super Model and celebrate the platform’s continuing commitment to identifying and developing the next generation of African modelling talents.
The event is scheduled to hold at Broadwalk Mall, Ojijo Road, Nairobi, bringing together emerging models, fashion professionals, industry stakeholders and supporters of African creative talent.
The coincidence of the two major events in Nairobi further highlights the growing relationship between Africa’s creative industries and the wider investment community, particularly as fashion, entertainment and talent development increasingly attract international commercial interest.
For Okorodudu, whose career has been dedicated to expanding opportunities for African youths, the BusinessDay conference offers another platform to advance the conversation about Africa’s enormous human capital and the need to transform creative talent into sustainable economic value.
Her inclusion also underscores the importance of recognising entrepreneurs who have developed businesses and international networks within industries that historically received limited attention in mainstream economic policy discussions.
As African economies seek new sources of growth, the creative sector is increasingly emerging as a promising frontier for investment, innovation, job creation and international market expansion.
The BusinessDay Opportunity Africa Kenya Trade and Investment Conference will take place on Friday, November 20, 2026, at the Mövenpick Hotel & Residences, Nairobi, bringing together stakeholders committed to strengthening Africa’s commercial partnerships and unlocking investment opportunities across the continent.
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