15th-century businesswomen

politician

Emotan () was a market woman who traded in foodstuffs around the Oba Market in the ancient Benin kingdom during the reign of Oba Uwaifiokun and Prince Ogun, who later took the name "Oba Ewuare the Great" after becoming the Oba of Benin. She is the pioneer of the first day care centre in Benin City; oral history said she assisted Oba Ewuare in reclaiming the throne as Oba of Benin after several years in exile.

typographer

wife of Jakob Fugger the Elder (1419-1497)