LagosMums - Mum of the Month with Beverly Agbakoba-Onyejianya

For our LagosMums Mum of the Month, we are excited to spotlight Beverly Agbakoba Onyejianya, a woman who embodies purpose, depth, and authenticity in every season of life. A lawyer by training and a “lawyerpreneur” by practice, Beverly is a career mum who has successfully built impact-driven businesses across the sports and education sectors, including Lagos Tigers Sports Academy and the Business of Sports Institute, Africa.

In this candid and refreshing conversation, Beverly opens up about the realities of motherhood, raising outspoken and curious children in today’s world, and why she believes balance is a myth. She shares the lessons motherhood has taught her about problem-solving, identity, and self-care, the importance of community and support, and how living an integrated life has helped her navigate career, family, faith, and personal growth. From busting motherhood myths to offering honest advice for mums, Beverly’s story will resonate with many and inspire thoughtful reflection.

Please tell us about yourself. Can you share more about all the hats you wear?

My name is Beverley Agbakoba Onyejianya. I am a career mom, lawyerpreneur, which means I am a lawyer, but I am also a business owner; I founded a sports academy called Lagos Tigers Sports Academy in 2012, and I am the academic director and founder of Business of Sports Institute, Africa, an online sports business learning platform, established in 2024.

Share one unexpected thing about you

I do not enjoy cooking at all.

How did you meet your husband, and how long have you been married?

We met in the UK through my brother-in-law, Obi Iwuchukwu, and we have been married for 17 years in July.

Can you tell us one of the funniest things about your child(ren)?

Nico is the philosopher who comes up with very random things about life, which have a hilarious side at times. Luca is a deep thinker and can do impressions of other family members. Olanna is a comedian, very witty and dramatic.

How important is a support system for a mum? Who is in your group, and what kind of support do you have?

A support system is like life itself. I have never been one of those moms who swears she does everything herself. I don’t outsource my life totally either, but I have to acknowledge the role support has played, and I couldn’t have done a lot of things without family and friends’ support.

A support system is like life itself. I have never been one of those moms who swears she does everything herself. Share on X

What are some ways that children and parenting are different from when you were growing up and now?

Children are very outspoken now and unapologetically so. I am sure many parents will agree with me. Once, I recall having a conversation with my youngest and telling him that I thought his comments were rude, and he replied, but am I not supposed to express myself. I had to explain that there are boundaries, and I just laughed at the situation with him. I couldn’t imagine doing this 35-plus years ago with my parents. It would not have ended in jokes lol.

How do you raise your child(ren) to be ready for an ever-changing world?

I raise them to be authentic, sincere, kind, but bold…. And also very curious.

What has motherhood taught you about yourself?

That I am a deep problem solver and can multitask effectively and multi-skilled, one minute a mediator, career counsellor, next minute event planner, life coach, personal shopper, family administrator, you name it.

Motherhood taught me that I am a deep problem solver — one minute a mediator, the next a life coach, event planner, and family administrator. Share on X

What advice would you give to other new mums?

Make time for yourself, don’t lose your identity. Take time for personal development and self-care, make time to rest, and don’t be too rigid with your expectations for your children as they grow up. Mine had to tell me I expect too much from them before I realised the pressure I was putting them under, not to mention myself.

Bust one motherhood myth!

That you will love every minute of motherhood, far from it.

The idea that you will love every minute of motherhood is a myth, and it’s okay to admit that. Share on X

Use one word to describe one thing that should not be missing from every home.

Sorry, I can’t restrict to one word. COMPASSION and mutual respect

How do you balance work and parenting?

To be candid, I don’t even know how I do it lol. Some days are unexpected, some days it’s calm. There is no such thing as balance in my humble opinion. My daughter’s godmother, Nkem Emezie-Ejinima, once shared with me that she aims to live an integrated life, and I aligned with that thinking. I find it more practical than striving for balance. Balance is a myth to me.

What do you love the most about your work as a founder of the Business Sport Institute Africa and all the many expressions of your purpose and passion?

I love being an active advocate for education, helping people find their path and purpose in a very unstructured sports sector in Africa. I see big change coming, thanks to the power and acquisition/application of technical knowledge. BOS will hopefully drive significant change across the continent. This also applies to my academy LTFC. With all the other things, I write technical books and also write for my personal development newsletter, Develop Your A Game. I also act as a dispute and advisory counsel in the sports, entertainment, and tech space. I love that I can express myself in different ways, but the things I do remain connected.

What are some challenges of running a business, and how have you overcome them?

Where do I start? There are many challenges or risk exposures, as we like to call them, in risk and compliance. Number 1 People risk: when they do the most unpredictable things, sincerely or not-so-sincerely; FX risk, political risk, and so on. The only way to succeed is to always have a good plan in place that foresees contingencies, one that innovates and moves ahead of the curve, and a plan B for when things go wrong.

The only way to succeed is to always have a good plan in place that foresees contingencies, one that innovates and moves ahead of the curve, and a plan B for when things go wrong. - Beverly Share on X

What inspires you to stay positive?

My faith, family, and friends.

Can you share your self-care tips?

To be honest, I was terrible at self-care for a long time, but in 2025, I switched things up, and I promised myself I would never go back. I spent more time on self-care – trips to the salon, caring for my hair, body, skin, going for massages and body scrubs, reading, listening to music, and audiobooks. Spending time with friends and family and a lot of travelling.. In 2026, I would like to go on a residential spiritual retreat.

How do you plan for the new year? Do you set resolutions?

Since 2017, I started doing personal development planning exercises for the year ahead. I pick a weekend in December and go through the items on the plan covering goals I would like to achieve professionally, personally, for the children, etc I think it has helped steered me on the right path.

What do you love about LagosMums?

I have been a fan of LagosMums for many years now. It’s a good resource and guide for parents. It’s become a credible voice and reliable authority for parents. It is really a great way to bring so many parents and parents-to-be together who are interested in developing their parenting skills and connecting with others. I love the conferences, webinars, and summer camp guides; they also indirectly help small businesses gain visibility in front of parents. Well done to the team.

Trivia

○ N1 Million or more sleep?

More sleep pleaseeeee – that will save me N1m worth of medical bills and health care issues caused by sleep deprivation later.

○ Would you prefer to go on a shopping spree or an all-expense-paid trip to your dream destination?

I am all for experiences; they are priceless. I will take the trip, please.

○ Homeschooling or Traditional school

Traditional school with amazing pastoral care, so it feels as homely as possible

○ Is AI good or bad?

Like the lawyer that I am, I will say it depends. AI, like many things, is neutral; it’s how it’s used that is the issue. In the wrong hands, it’s a weapon, but in the right hands, it’s a wonderful optimisation tool and potentially a force for good.

AI, like many things, is neutral; it's how it's used that is the issue. In the wrong hands, it's a weapon, but in the right hands, it's a wonderful optimisation tool and potentially a force for good. Share on X

Beverly’s story reminds us that motherhood, career, and personal growth don’t come with a perfect formula but with authenticity, resilience, and a strong support system; thriving is possible. We are proud to feature her as our LagosMums Mum of the Month, a true embodiment of passion, purpose, and authenticity. Explore other real, relatable, and inspiring Mum of the Month stories.