Following our 2025 Creative Exchange Program for Women in Africa, Oge Okonkwo won the $100 prize for her digital story entry, an accomplishment that led to her being named as Creative Ambassador at Lady Dynamique Network. In this capacity, she was instrumental in driving our Arts Campaign to End Violence Against Women which held in Lagos Nigeria.
Watch Oge's Winning Story here
Our team spoke with Oge to learn more about her journey, and what we discovered is inspiring: a story that encourages young girls to hold on to their inner beliefs and to embrace the freedom to pursue what they love.
Oge Okonkwo describes herself as a creative —a visual artist, a creative entrepreneur, and someone who has learned to give herself permission to explore her passions fully. But her journey hasn’t always been about creating for herself. For years, her creativity existed quietly in the background, in service of others. She spent much of her time helping bring other people’s visions to life, often setting aside her own artistic instincts.
“There was a period where I wasn’t creating for myself at all,” Oge recalls. Then, around 2021, something shifted. It began almost unintentionally, random sketches here and there, drawings that at the time seemed to make little sense. Looking back, she now sees those early sketches as the first glimpses of her own voice, subconsciously seeking expression. Over time, those sketches grew into larger drawings, then paintings, and eventually a broader exploration of creativity.
Since then, Oge has allowed herself to experiment freely, with painting, jewelry-making, writing, dancing, and even makeup. She approaches her many interests without judgment, refusing to see them as signs of inadequacy. On difficult days, she reminds herself that struggle is simply part of being human, not a personal failure.
For Oge, creativity isn’t always about productivity or public recognition. “If I feel drawn to something, there’s usually a reason,” she says. Some expressions of creativity exist purely for joy. Makeup, for instance, is something she loves and is often admired for. She even attended makeup school at one point, but chose not to pursue it professionally. The same goes for dance. What matters most, she says, is the freedom to create without pressure, the permission to let some things remain playful, personal, and hers alone.
“I try to be as experimental as possible; everything doesn’t have to become work,” Oge Okonkwo explains.
For Oge, creativity is both vocation and expression. Her jewelry brand, Aliensque.co, embodies a deeply personal ethos. The name “Aliensque” reflects a sense of otherness, a feeling of being slightly out of step with the fast, chaotic rhythms of the world. Through her work, she has carved a space for others who resonate with that experience.
Her approach to jewelry is unorthodox and imaginative. Beads, pendants, seashells, found objects, even discarded pool tiles; literally, anything that sparks curiosity or holds potential becomes part of her creations. At her first pop-up, that philosophy was quietly affirmed when a visitor sporting an alien tattoo approached her stand and said, “Your brand was made for me.” For Oge, it was a moment of confirmation that her path was meaningful and purposeful.
Yet, the journey has not been without its challenges. The uncertainties inherent in a creative career—fluctuating opportunities, financial instability, and the absence of visible role models have demanded that she cultivates independence, trust her intuition, and validate her own work. While this path can feel isolating, it has also been integral to shaping her unique vision.
“It can be lonely,” Oge Okonkwo admits. “When it feels like no one truly understands your vision.”
For Oge, what keeps her grounded is a profound sense of surrender. In December 2024, a pivotal moment arrived: a professional shift she had been anticipating—but hesitated to embrace—was thrust upon her. It felt as though the universe had made the decision for her. Since then, she has leaned fully into her creative calling, trusting her intuition and aligning her work with her purpose. “It felt like the universe pushed me,” she reflects. “Even though I was afraid, I surrendered.”
Part of this journey has been confronting how she is perceived. Oge’s style and presence often provoke strong reactions; people either admire it or react with discomfort. Early on, such reactions unsettled her, as strangers misjudged her intelligence, intuition, or strength based on appearance. Over time, however, she has reframed these perceptions, learning to prioritize self-acceptance and boundary-setting. Choosing herself, she discovered, has changed the way the world engages with her.
Oge is passionate about a principle she hopes others understand: kindness should never be mistaken for weakness. Women are frequently underestimated, yet she believes deeply in the power, intelligence, and agency women possess; the capacity to effect change creatively and socially. This conviction describes her commitment to advocacy, which she approaches through multiple avenues: social media, personal interactions, and grassroots action. For Oge, meaningful change begins locally, addressing everyday realities that are often marginalized but deeply intertwined with broader systemic inequalities.
As a participant in the Creative Exchange Program, Oge stood out not only for her creativity but also for her honesty, intentionality, and depth. Her story illustrates that creativity rarely emerges fully formed. It often begins quietly, through tentative sketches, experimental gestures, and the gradual cultivation of courage.
In a reflective moment, Oge shared a thought that encapsulates her journey: “Art is meant to serve as a mirror. If you create something and see yourself in it, you’re already on the right track.”
Perhaps this has always been Oge Okonkwo’s pursuit: to see herself, to find herself in every act of creation, and in doing so, to invite others to recognize themselves as well.