Nigerian business leader and philanthropist, Dr Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs, has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Best of Africa Awards in London, recognising more than four decades of contributions to enterprise, humanitarian service and community development.
The award was presented at the Best of Africa Awards Dinner held at The Peninsula Hotel, London, where distinguished personalities from Africa and the diaspora gathered to celebrate leadership, achievement and philanthropy under the theme, Unity.
Dr Lulu-Briggs, Executive Chairman of Moni Pulo Limited and Chairman and Founder of the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, received the honour for a career that has combined corporate leadership with sustained efforts to improve the welfare of underserved and vulnerable populations.
Her recognition comes against the backdrop of a professional journey spanning banking, technology, manufacturing, energy and other sectors, alongside more than two decades of organised humanitarian interventions through the foundation she established in honour of her late husband, High Chief Dr O. B. Lulu-Briggs.
Established in 2011, the Best of Africa Awards celebrates Africans whose professional accomplishments have translated into meaningful contributions to society. Previous honourees include international football stars Mohamed Salah and Yaya Touré, Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah, singer Angélique Kidjo, fashion designer Ozwald Boateng, former footballer Eniola Aluko and basketball player Luol Deng.
The 2026 ceremony brought together figures from business, entertainment, sports and philanthropy, highlighting individuals whose influence extends beyond personal achievement to broader social and community development.
From banking to indigenous energy leadership
Dr Lulu-Briggs began her professional career in 1981 at the Central Bank of Nigeria, where she was among the pioneer staff of the Computer Services Department. She subsequently became Head of Computer Operations, taking on significant technical and managerial responsibilities at a time when women remained underrepresented in senior positions in the field.
She later expanded her experience into commercial banking, technology, land and marine leasing, haulage, hospitality, manufacturing and energy, building a career characterised by enterprise development, institutional leadership and business diversification.
Her contributions to Nigeria's energy industry have been particularly significant through Moni Pulo Limited, one of the country's pioneering indigenous oil and gas exploration and production companies.
After serving as Executive Vice Chairman from 2005, with responsibilities that included government relations, regulatory compliance and sustainability, she assumed the position of Executive Chairman, providing strategic direction for the company's operations and long-term growth.
One of the company's key priorities under her leadership is an initiative to commercialise approximately one trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves. The proposed development has potential implications for domestic energy supply, industrial expansion and the broader Nigerian energy market.
Her professional trajectory underscores the role of indigenous businesses in national economic development and demonstrates the capacity of Nigerian women to lead complex organisations in traditionally male-dominated industries.
A legacy rooted in humanitarian service
Beyond the corporate environment, Dr Lulu-Briggs' humanitarian work through the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation has remained a defining feature of her public service.
Established in September 2001 in honour of her late husband, the foundation initially focused on improving the welfare of neglected older persons. Its activities have since expanded to cover healthcare, elder care, education, social welfare and community development.
In September 2026, the organisation marked its 25th anniversary, celebrating a quarter-century of interventions across the Niger Delta and other communities in Nigeria.
According to the foundation's anniversary records, its programmes have reached an estimated 2.12 million people, with cumulative expenditure exceeding ₦3.52 billion.
These figures reflect the scale of an organisation whose activities have evolved from targeted charitable assistance into sustained programmes addressing healthcare needs, social exclusion, poverty and the welfare of vulnerable groups.
Healthcare remains one of the foundation's principal areas of intervention. Through its Free Medical Mission programme, it has provided medical services to more than 178,000 beneficiaries, covering consultations, surgical procedures, dental treatment, eye care and other essential health services.
The organisation has also distributed more than 34,000 corrective eyeglasses, helping beneficiaries with visual impairments gain better access to vision care.
A major milestone in its anniversary activities was the 50th Free Medical Mission, held in September 2026 at Rivers State University in Port Harcourt. The exercise brought together medical professionals and volunteers to provide free healthcare to underserved populations as part of the foundation's silver jubilee celebrations.
Advancing dignity and care for older persons
The foundation's commitment to elderly welfare is reflected in its Care for Life programme, established in 2001 to support older persons who may have limited access to family or community assistance.
The programme has enrolled 781 elderly beneficiaries, providing food, healthcare assistance, companionship and other essential services. It has also supplied more than 191,000 weekday meals to help address the nutritional and welfare needs of older people.
For Dr Lulu-Briggs, the focus on elder care has extended beyond material support to public awareness, advocacy and efforts to improve society's understanding of ageing.
In September 2026, the foundation, in partnership with Peace Haven Foundation, convened the Dignity of Ageing Conference in Port Harcourt. The gathering brought together experts and stakeholders to examine brain health, dementia, caregiving and the challenges associated with ageing in contemporary African societies.
The conference represented a further expansion of the foundation's work into public education and advocacy, highlighting the need for stronger support systems for older people and those responsible for their care.
Promoting social justice and protecting vulnerable women
Under Dr Lulu-Briggs' leadership, the foundation has also broadened its activities to address social justice, mediation and the protection of vulnerable women.
Its initiatives include a dedicated mediation facility and legal assistance for women confronting abuse, dispossession and other forms of injustice.
These interventions reflect a wider approach to philanthropy that seeks to address not only immediate hardship but also the underlying barriers that prevent vulnerable people from accessing their rights, security and opportunities.
By combining healthcare delivery and social welfare with legal support and mediation, the foundation has sought to provide practical assistance while also confronting issues of exclusion and unequal access to justice.
Following the death of her husband, Dr Lulu-Briggs assumed greater responsibility for preserving and expanding the charitable legacy associated with his name.
Over the years, she has strengthened the foundation's institutional structure, broadened its programmes and sustained its humanitarian activities despite changing economic and social conditions.
The organisation's development illustrates a deliberate effort to build continuity into philanthropy, ensuring that interventions extend beyond isolated acts of charity to programmes with defined objectives and measurable outcomes.
Recognition of African achievement
The Lifetime Achievement Award places Dr Lulu-Briggs among a distinguished group of Africans recognised for professional excellence and contributions to society.
The 2026 Best of Africa Awards honoured individuals whose achievements span public service, business, sports, entertainment, philanthropy and social advocacy, reflecting the diversity of African influence across sectors and generations.
Among the other recipients was Baroness June Sarpong, who received the Unity Award in recognition of her legacy of excellence and contributions. The award was presented by Kingsley Pungong.
For Dr Lulu-Briggs, the London recognition marks a significant moment in a career that has bridged corporate leadership and humanitarian service. Her work in business and philanthropy highlights the potential for enterprise to coexist with social responsibility, while the foundation's programmes continue to address practical needs across communities in Nigeria.
As the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation moves beyond its 25th anniversary, its record of healthcare delivery, elder care, education and social justice remains central to the legacy she has continued to build.