Fifi Ejindu

PRINCESS FIFI EJINDU
Chairperson
Starcrest Group – Nigeria

Princess Fifi Ekanem Ejindu is a Nigerian Architect, businesswoman and philanthropist.  She is the first black African woman to graduate with a B.Arch from the prestigious Pratt Institute School of Architecture.  She also has a Masters Degree in Urban Planning. Princess Fifi attended the Senior Staff Primary School at the university campus of the University of Ibadan and later attended secondary school at Queens College, Yaba, Lagos.

Princess Fifi is Chairperson of Starcrest Group of Companies involved in the sectors of building construction, project management, real estate, oil and gas.  Starcrest Investments has initiated investment forums in the U.A.E to attract foreign investors to Nigeria.  The most successful one was on 11 June 2012 where Princess Fifi Ejindu invited the former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to lead a powerful Nigerian delegation to an investment forum with 50 of the most influential businessmen in the U.A.E.  A number of these businessmen have invested in various sectors of the Nigerian economy in partnership with Starcrest Investments Ltd.  She is an Honourary Patron Member of the Prestigious Icons Club of Dubai.   Starcrest Associates, a subsidiary of Starcrest Group, predominantly works in the design and construction of residential villas and estates, offering services of architects, urban planners, engineers and interior designers, and are also involved in project management from inception to completion.

Princess Fifi is also the founder of African Arts and Fashion Initiative which launched in August 2013, at The Dorchester Hotel, London.  The aim of the initiative is to promote Africa as on the rise, showcasing its rich cultural heritage and talent globally, thereby creating opportunities to empower the youth of Africa.  The emphasis is on driving an African Arts and Style Renaissance to mobilize, sensitize and most importantly empower the young talented designers and artists in Africa.  They also organize exhibitions and forums to showcase and promote African Arts and Antiques, African Fashion and all things made in Africa.  AAFI print & publish journals and other materials on African Arts and Style. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the African Achievers Awards at the African Arts and Fashion Banquet which was held at The Dorchester on Sunday, 4 August 2013. The Africa Fashion Week London Life Patron was given the award for her contribution towards the promotion of African Arts and Fashion across the globe.

Well known for her passion and concern about the development of infrastructure in Nigeria, Princess Fifi describes her style of architecture as Neo-traditional which she defines as building new projects with new materials, but with traditional and old style details and features. She also defines most of her projects, as bringing back the Renaissance period.

In 2013, she was awarded the African Achievers African Arts and Fashion Lifetime Achievement award. She is a proud winner of The Nigerian Golden Book Professional Icon Award, 2015.Princess Fifi has been ranked as one of the female pioneers in the fields of Architecture and Business on an appearance on CNN’s African Voices; and she is also a member of the Nigerian National Heritage Council.

Ejindu is the great granddaughter of King James Ekpo Bassey of Cobham Town in Calabar, Nigeria. Her father, Prof. Sylvester Joseph Una, is from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. She is addressed by the style and title of H.H Obonganwan King James

Princess Fifi Ejindu has definitely shown that she has continuously touched lives within and outside Nigeria with her activities. A good evidence of this is that accolades, awards and honors keep flowing towards her. One of such awards was the African Achievers Award which was recently held in London. She was presented with the award for creativity and enterprise. She shared the award stage with such notable figures as Hon. Thohozanihupen, Deputy prime minister of Zimbabwe and Governor of Lagos State. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). In 2003, Fifi, a member of the Soroptimist Club of Abuja was the recipient of the African International Achievers Merit Award for excellence. A year later, she won the Patriotic Women of Integrity International award and was recently awarded honorary patron membership of the elite Dubai Icons Club.

Fifi is the President associated social services, concerned with poverty eradication and bridging the gap for sustainable development and economic empowerment. As a strategist, she has been involved in several projects and social programs aimed towards the transformation of corporate institutions and public sector growth. Her excellent management skills provides her the ability to lead, build and inspire teams to foster team work by being a good team player herself. This she can champion because of her strong interpersonal skills as the CHAIRMAN, STARCREST GROUP OF COMPANIES.

In a society like Nigeria, where chieftaincy title and traditional bestowment remain relatively the preserve of men, Fifi is known by the style and title of Her Royal Highness Obongawan King James. A title hitherto held by her late mother. She has continuously impacted society and now that she has unveiled the Initiative for Social Change, there is no doubt that her impact on society will hit an all time high.