The Idoma woman who drives trains and dreams: Meet Isabella Adams

In a country racing toward modernisation and a region awakening to new possibilities, one woman has emerged as an emblem of progress, grace, and unstoppable ambition. Her name is Isabella Adams, fondly known in creative circles as Elbellassignature, a woman whose journey cuts across steel tracks, digital screens, and the intimate spaces of family life.

Today, she stands in history as West Africa’s first female electric train driver, but her story is far richer than a single groundbreaking title, IDOMA VOICE reports.

After completing her secondary education, Isabella pursued higher studies at Benue State Polytechnic, where she earned a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration and Management in 2021. Her educational background provided her with a strong foundation in management and administration, IDOMA VOICE reports

Isabella is the uncommon blend of rail engineer, content creator, travel vlogger, entrepreneur, wife, mother, and Idoma ambassador, a multidimensional woman thriving at the intersection of passion and purpose.

Her extraordinary journey began in 2018 when she joined the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) as a signal and telecommunications technician. Within the buzzing world of railway cables, control systems, and complex machinery, something stirred in her, a fascination that quietly matured into a bold ambition.

Training under seasoned Chinese railway experts, Isabella immersed herself in a field long dominated by men.

What began as curiosity soon became conviction.

That conviction led her to the Lagos Blue Line project, where she stepped into the driver’s cabin and rewrote the narrative of what women can do in Nigeria’s fast-evolving transportation sector. In that moment, Isabella did not just take command of a train, she took command of history.

Her pioneering achievement has since echoed far beyond the tracks. Across Nigeria, especially in technical and engineering circles, Isabella’s story has become a reference point: a testament to how talent blossoms when opportunity meets determination. Her rise has encouraged more young women to consider careers in transportation technology, an industry central to Nigeria’s long-term infrastructure growth.

Yet, even as she navigates the demanding world of rail operations, Isabella leads an equally vibrant life beyond the tracks.

Through her brand, Elbellassignature, she has built a creative enterprise that blends beauty, fashion, lifestyle, and digital storytelling. As a content creator and travel vlogger, she captures moments that inspire, educate, and entertain her growing audience. Her makeup artistry, fashion offerings, and ushering services have positioned her as a respected lifestyle entrepreneur with a personal touch.

Her creative excellence has also earned her prestigious recognitions, including the Women on Fire (WOF) Career Achievement of the Year and Best Content Creator of the Year awards in 2023.
Recently, her hometown roots in Idoma land celebrated her in spectacular fashion.
At the Idoma Celebrities Award, Isabella was honoured as the Idoma Iconic Woman of the Year, a recognition that crowns her achievements, her influence, and her rising role as a cultural and inspirational symbol for the Idoma nation.

But perhaps the most compelling part of Isabella’s story is the seamlessness with which she wears her many hats. She is a mother whose warmth fills her home, a wife whose partnership strengthens her journey, and an Idoma daughter whose roots remain a source of pride and power.

Through every phase of her life, from the driver’s cabin to the creative studio, Isabella embodies a message that resonates deeply in today’s Nigeria:
that women do not have to shrink themselves into one role, one passion, or one expectation.

Looking ahead, Isabella intends to deepen her expertise, expand her digital footprint, and build a platform that will empower more women and girls to dream boldly. Part of her vision includes launching a dedicated website filled with insights, travel content, railway knowledge, lifestyle tips, and motivational resources.

With each stride, she continues to redefine what is possible.

A trailblazer.
A creator.
A mother.
A visionary.
A daughter of Idoma whose story now inspires a continent. In her leisure time, Isabella enjoys watching movies, creating digital content, and engaging in marketing activities. Furthermore, she has a family of her own, being married to Mr. Israel Ochedikwu Achichi of Odudaje in Otukpo local government of Benue state, and they are blessed with  children.

Isabella Adams is not just on the tracks, she is on a journey that is reshaping Nigeria’s future, one milestone at a time.