Dr Lydia Okodogbe is a renowned Interior designer and an accomplished businesswomen. She is the CEO of Eleo Design International and the Managing director of Eleo Design Centre, a first-of-its-kind one-stop group of luxury building product showrooms, representing top building design product brands around the world.
Lydia, the visionary founder of the international luxury lifestyle brand Van’court by Eleo, also sits at the helm of Van’Kourt Resources Limited, a company specialized in construction, real estate development and facility management and with an interest in the oil and gas sector. She is the driving force behind Nigeria’s first fully automated curtain and blind manufacturing factory and owns a product line in several lifestyle goods.
Her expertise in the design and construction industry is proven through her years of professional affiliations, certifications, and awards. In 2006, after a rigorous vetting process, she became the first Nigerian to qualify as an associate member of the British Interior Design Association. With a Master of Arts degree in Interior design from the University of Hertfordshire, UK, she is widely acknowledged for her continuous efforts towards taking the design and manufacturing of furnishing products in Nigeria to the next level. Her exceptional contributions were acknowledged in 2022 when she was recognized as one of the 50 outstanding CEOs in Nigeria.
Lydia graduated from the University of Benin with a bachelor’s degree in education. Her passion for style and creativity as a child led her on a journey from being a beauty and fashion Centre owner/manager to pursuing a professional career in interior design and decoration. She has held several positions in various organizations in the design industry, with experience spanning over 22 years. She has successfully carried out numerous projects that cut across the hospitality, commercial, and residential industries, both locally and internationally. She honed her expertise in interior decoration and design at the prestigious KLC School of Design in Chelsea, London.
A professionally trained perfumer, whose accolades further extend to two diplomas from the renowned Grasse Institute of Perfumery in France, one in Natural Fragrances and Cosmetics Formulation, another in Soap and Candles Formulation and Production. She is currently working on the launch of her home and body fragrance line set to be launched in France in few months. Beyond her specialization in the design, construction and manufacturing industry, Lydia Okodogbe is the proprietor of Healthy2Go, a hub for healthy and organic food for less cost in Lagos State, Nigeria.
She achieved this remarkable feat when she was recently appointed by a United Nations Agency as an ambassador and peace advocate.
She is a children’s rights activist and a strong advocate for women’s rights as well as the education of all youths. Her commitment to making a positive impact in society in this regard further extends to her role as the founder of Speak Out, a non-profit organization set up to speak out against all forms of bullying, abuse, addiction, and mental health. It also promotes attention to humanitarian needs around the world.
As a leading figure in her field, she continues to serve as a mentor and role model to numerous aspiring youths across various institutions and tirelessly strives to empower the next generation of women, positioning them for leadership roles in society.
Listed as one of the 20 most outstanding CEO’s in Nigeria by The Guardian newspaper in 2022 her drive for excellence in her career cannot be rivalled.
Her outstanding achievements led to her inclusion in Tell magazine’s list of the 20 most respected women professionals in Nigeria for the 2023 International Women’s Day special edition, through which she was celebrated for her commitment to excellence. She recently received a 2023 National Integrity Award as a role model for the girl child.
She was selected as one of Vanguard’s distinguished women of excellence in Nigeria to mark the International Women’s Day Celebration 2024.
Lydia’s commitment to making a positive impact in the society is a testament to her strong belief that nothing is unachievable if you put your mind and faith into it.