It’s December in Lagos; a season filled with back-to-back events, launches, pop-ups, and celebrations. But among the noise, ARANINI FEST stood out. Rooted in wellness and created intentionally for women, the gathering offered something deeper than just another end-of-year event.
Following the festival, Deeds Magazine sat down virtually with founder Dr. Joyce Omatseye to explore the vision behind Aranini Health, the importance of building intentional safe spaces for women, and how what began as a one-time event has evolved into a growing global community.
Aranini, which means “good health” in Itsekiri, is more than a name. It reflects founder Joyce Omatseye’s cultural background and the philosophy behind the brand. The Itsekiri people are an ethnic group from Delta State, Nigeria, and for Joyce, wellness has always been deeply personal.
Aranini Health is a wellness organisation focused on creating intentional platforms, experiences, and safe spaces for women. What began as a one-time event has since grown into a global community, with experiences hosted across multiple countries, including London, Kenya, and Lagos.

Reflecting on Aranini’s journey, Joyce says:
“Aranini Health started as a one-time event, but my mum encouraged me to dream bigger, and that’s how Aranini became what it is today.”

Today the brand continues to grow which is shaped by her background as a medical doctor and commitment to women’s health education. At the core of every Aranini experience is what she calls the “Aranini girl”, the woman for whom every detail is carefully considered.

“When we plan these events, the woman attending is always at the forefront,”  She explains. “Everything is curated around her health and wellbeing.”‍

For Dr Joyce, 2025 was an incredible year both personally and professionally
‍“2025 was such a special year for me. Aranini Health grew in ways I couldn’t have imagined, and personally, getting engaged was a huge milestone,” she shares.
What started as a single event has grown into a thriving, multi-country community. Today, Aranini Health has hosted events across four countries, with Lagos serving as a major hub for its in-person activations. One of its most impactful gatherings so far is Aranini Fest, a full-day wellness experience designed to meet women where they are, physically, mentally, and emotionally. The event brings together fitness, health education, entrepreneurship, and community in one space.

Which exceeded Dr Joyce expectations. While the initial goal was to host about 100–120 women, over 160 attended, with many coming in and out throughout the day.

“We sold tickets, but more people showed up ,friends, family, women who were just curious,” Joyce shares. “For the first panel especially, we didn’t expect that many people to be so interested.”

Aranini Fest featured wellness panels, fitness sessions including Pilates and dance, free health checks sponsored by Provita Clinic and Tiffany Amber, and brand gifts from Arami Essentials for skincare, SLIQ Beauty for haircare, Basics for fitness wear and brands like Beautyhut. Beyond the activities, the event created a space where women could connect, learn, and feel seen.

Dr Joyce is intentional about showing the reality behind these events, often sharing behind-the-scenes moments on her personal platform.
“People see how beautiful everything looks when it comes together, but they don’t see what happens before, during, and even after,” she says.
From last-minute changes to technical setbacks , including lost footage from a videographer , resilience became a key lesson.
“I’ve learned that resilience is very important. Things don’t always go as planned, but they still work out the way they’re meant to.”
To start 2026, Aranini hosted the 2026 Reset event in Lagos, hosting 30 women for a day of reflection, and connection. The event focused on resetting and left a lasting impression on everyone who attended.
“The women who attended gave incredible feedback. It was amazing to see how much they appreciated the space, the conversations, and everything we’d planned for them,” Dr Joyce says.
The 2026 Reset reinforced Dr Joyce’s vision for Aranini: creating intentional spaces where women feel seen, cared for, and inspired to live their healthiest lives.

One of the interesting things Dr Joyce says about this journey is how it’s helped her discover different parts of herself.“I’ve always loved planning events. My first women’s health event was actually in Year 10. In secondary school, I did a breast cancer awareness event for my school. Event planning has been something I’ve naturally done over the years, and to be able to incorporate that with my medical journey, it’s been incredible.”
‍Questions about the future including the possibility of an Aranini clinic or hospital come up often. While that vision exists, Dr Joyce is clear that it will come in time.“That’s something that will eventually come,” she says. “Right now, we’re focused on understanding what women actually need and how we can best provide that.”
As Aranini Health continues to grow, its focus is shifting towards accessibility and sustainability. While physical events remain important, Joyce is placing strong emphasis on expanding Aranini’s virtual offerings to reach women who may not be able to attend in person.“We want to reach more people,” she explains. “There are women who want to be part of the community and gain value from it, even if they can’t attend physical events.”With plans for more virtual events, continued community building, and long-term healthcare solutions, Aranini Health is steadily positioning itself as more than an organisation ,but a movement.
At its core, Aranini Health is focused on improving women’s health and creating spaces where women can learn and connect. In Nigeria, many women still face limited access to health information and are discouraged from talking openly about their health. Programs like Aranini help fill that gap.What makes Aranini stand out is how it has grown, from a single event to a community with members in multiple countries. That growth shows it is more than just an event; it is part of a wider move towardbetter wellness for women.
To keep up with Aranini Health, follow @aranini.health on Instagram or join the Aranini community for updates on future events and programs.