Award-Winning Nigerian Product Developer, Oby Jemedafe, Speaks on Her Global Beauty Innovation journey

In the world of beauty and innovation, one Nigerian name continues to shine brightly; Oby Jemedafe. The award-winning Beauty Product Development Executive has carved a niche for herself globally, launching over 200 high-performance and culturally resonant products across skincare, haircare, and color cosmetics. From Lagos to Los Angeles, Jemedafe’s work has not only garnered over 30 prestigious industry awards—including Allure Best of Beauty, WWD Beauty Inc, and Oprah award; but has also transformed the beauty landscape by centering inclusivity and cultural authenticity.

“My journey into the beauty industry was inspired by a deep desire to create space for underrepresented voices in beauty and to build products that reflected real people, not just market trends,” she said in an exclusive interview. “It isn’t just about beauty, it was about building something meaningful and ensuring that others could see themselves represented in the process.

” Jemedafe’s leadership in global beauty brands like UOMA Beauty, Youthforia, and Beyoncé’s newly launched brand Cécred has cemented her as a force to reckon with. At Youthforia, she oversaw the innovation pipeline and led clean beauty formulation strategy. Her work with Cécred contributed to the brand’s award-winning debut collection.

A former media entrepreneur in Nigeria, she transitioned to the beauty industry with a vision rooted in purpose. She is especially proud of her work on the UOMA Beauty “Say What?!” Foundation; the first-ever product in beauty history to be customized to different skin tone needs using the Fitzpatrick scale. “The products I have created have had a huge impact culturally as they have served a lot of underserved groups in beauty,” she said. “This has resulted in boosting the confidence of a lot of young girls who have typically struggled to find representation in beauty. They feel seen and valued.”

Jemedafe holds a Certificate of Specialization in Leadership and Management from Harvard Business School and is currently pursuing her Executive MBA at the California Institute of Advanced Management. When asked about her leadership style, she stated: “I have a transformational leadership style. I focus on people and it is my goal to see them become everything they can become.

” Innovation remains the core of her strategy. “I spend a lot of time studying technology and its advancement. I am constantly thinking of ways of incorporating technology into the products I make,” she explained. “I believe in making the products of the future and not replicating things that have already been done.” Her advice to young entrepreneurs is clear and powerful: “Have a clear goal and be ready to give it the work required. Strive for excellence—your value should be good enough to serve the highest levels of society.” Looking ahead, Jemedafe envisions launching her own global brand and mentoring the next generation of beauty innovators. “I see myself launching my own global brand and mentoring younger people who want to strive for excellence,” she concluded. In a world where beauty often lacks diversity, Oby Jemedafe is not just creating products—she’s making history.