Kiekie Shares How Her Mother’s Success Inspires Her
Popular content creator and actress Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, widely known as Kiekie, has shared how her mother’s incredible achievements have shaped her personal and professional journey.
In a recent appearance on the ‘What I Said’ podcast, Kiekie opened up about the profound inspiration she draws from her mother, a trailblazing businesswoman in Nigeria’s male-dominated oil industry. Reflecting on her mother’s career, Kiekie humbly stated that despite her own success, she feels she has yet to achieve half of what her mother has accomplished.
Kiekie, who hails from a supportive family, credited her mother’s strength of character and resilience in a male-dominated field as a significant source of inspiration. “My mum is a very big businesswoman in the oil space, which, like many other industries, is male-dominated,” Kiekie explained. “At some point, she was the secretary of the entire association, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria. People questioned why a woman would hold such a position.”
However, Kiekie revealed that witnessing her mother break barriers in the oil industry gave her the confidence to unapologetically embrace her own voice and aspirations. “If this being is bursting doors like this, I am not even loud enough. I haven’t even achieved half of what she has achieved industry-wise,” Kiekie said, reflecting on her mother’s groundbreaking role in the business world.
The actress also shared how her mother’s boldness has encouraged her to be more vocal and visible, despite people often criticizing her for being “too loud” or “always shouting.” Kiekie, known for her dynamic and lively personality, responded with humor and confidence, explaining that she believes she is not loud enough yet to be heard by everyone.
“One presenter met me on a red carpet and said, ‘Some people are of the opinion that you are too loud; you shout a lot.’ I told her she needed to be loud enough so I could learn her name,” Kiekie recalled, adding, “You have to be as loud as you can be. I am the one with the voice, I am the one with the dream, I am the one with the vision. I know what I want to achieve.”
Kiekie, who boasts over 10 million followers across various social media platforms, used her growing online presence as a measure of her own voice. “Across platforms, I have over 10 million followers, and when you compare that to the population of Nigeria (over 200 million people), do you see that my voice is not loud enough?”* she questioned, reinforcing her belief that one should never limit their visibility or impact.
Her words have resonated with many as a reminder of the importance of perseverance, visibility, and speaking up especially for women in industries where their presence may be underrepresented.
Kiekie’s openness about her journey and her mother’s influence provides a powerful message for those striving to break through boundaries and make their voices heard.
07/04/2025, 14:35:10
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