Health Update: The New Definition of Power and Success – What Experts Say

Dr Olasimbo Davidson is a management consultant, researcher and author. The mother of Grammy Award-winning singer, Tems, she co-founded EdenOceans, a lifestyle and wellness club, with the mother of another award-winning artiste, Ayra Starr. She tells TOFARATI IGE about the club, her daughter and other issues

As one of the founders of EdenOceans, how did your personal life experiences shape your vision for an integrated wellness club of this scale and ambition?

Over the years, I have personally seen African women with great potential and talent end up badly in life, and it appears that the volume of negative life experiences is on the rise. Recently, I conducted a random survey of over 50 young Nigerian women, and 80 per cent had experienced more than three serious adverse events, either as adults or as children. This is a very concerning situation that is largely flying under the radar.

Holistic wellness—the intentional integration of physical, emotional and other elements of health, according to the World Health Organisation—serves as the foundational engine for sustained excellence and great leadership. This physiological stability translates directly into personal effectiveness, as a regulated nervous system fosters a growth mindset that views challenges as opportunities rather than threats.

We have leveraged insights and recommendations from over 10 years of research, and we understand what it takes to reposition women for success, social impact and global leadership.

What gaps in the global luxury and wellness space are you determined to fill?

The most significant gap is the lack of wellness and lifestyle programmes that are culturally aligned with African populations. This is one of the reasons many parts of Africa lag behind the Western world in terms of quality of life, and effective lifestyle strategies. Also, very few African nations have achieved all the health-related Sustainable Development Goals, as far as I know.

Furthermore, wellness is not really a luxury at all.

High-achieving professionals often neglect rest and inner balance. How do you redefine success beyond wealth and status?

Many wealthy people will soon discover that money may not bring back good health when the stakes are down. Therefore, success should never be determined solely by how much someone owns.

Throughout history, many African women have reshaped the continent through grassroots activism, intellectual leadership and courageous resistance, often operating without personal wealth. Their legacies are built on social impact rather than material accumulation.

We recognise the powerful voices of iconic African women such as Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Hajia Gambo Sawaba, Miriam Makeba, Wangari Maathai, Yaa Asantewaa and Leymah Gbowee, who achieved extraordinary feats in their lifetimes without enormous personal wealth. Their social impact remains unforgettable, and that is our focus. We encourage women to achieve high levels of wellness, so they can go on to do even greater things.

Why is it important for you to integrate wellness, travel and style into your operations?

These are all elements of wellness. Wellness itself is a broad umbrella that includes social, emotional and even financial wellbeing. Travel is particularly important because we want women to understand that a frequent change of environment can improve overall health and longevity. This could involve regional travel and not necessarily international trips.

By removing a woman from her daily routine, travel can reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 30 per cent and trigger physiological changes that have long-lasting effects on health. An annual vacation is no longer sufficient. Quarterly escapes and getaways can help keep more women alive and well.

Lastly, “style” is a key component of “lifestyle”, and paying attention to it boosts confidence and mental wellbeing.

What values guide the club’s leadership and membership curation?

The word “premium” refers to the quality of our products, and does not imply selection by income. Rather, we are always delighted to invite women with vision and purpose, especially those who are keen to get more out of life or who need direction and support to achieve their dreams.

We welcome creatives and businesswomen who refuse to be “average,” who value a strong community of like-minded women to help overcome life’s hurdles, and who are eager to give back while also being open to support and collaboration in implementing impactful initiatives for other women.

Your clientele includes celebrities, executives and creatives. What have you learnt about human vulnerability from people the world often sees as “having it all”?

In reality, nobody truly “has it all.” It is erroneous to assume that celebrities, executives and creatives do not face challenges, because we all live in the same imperfect world. Many are battling similar life issues. They are humans too, and most have sacrificed a great deal to get to where they are today.

You are the mother of Grammy Award-winning singer, Tems. How did motherhood influence your own ambitions and worldview?

Growing up as the daughter of a former High Commissioner who served Nigeria in several countries, I was determined to give my children the best. This was not easy, but I strove to excel in everything I did. I became a serial entrepreneur largely because of this drive.

I also did not want to dictate what my children should study in college, because I was forced into studying medicine by my father. From that experience, I learnt that children must be allowed to pursue whatever vision they choose, whether at undergraduate or postgraduate level. That is why we also support emerging music artistes and other creatives.

Not every young person has to study law, accounting, medicine or computer science.

Looking ahead, what legacy do you hope to leave behind?

We want to be the movement that impacts women across Nigeria and Africa. Our goal is to be known for rebuilding and transforming the lives of African women and for raising leaders who can confidently take their place in any boardroom or on the global stage.

We cannot do this alone. Sadly, many organisations in this space see no reason to collaborate, but meaningful change requires collective effort. We all need to work together on different sections of the same pipeline if we truly want to achieve more in less time.