The Chief Executive Officer, ONAS 100 Resources Nigeria Limited, Comrade Joy Onome, has gifted N1.1million to four of the organisation’s pioneer members of staff.
Comrade Onome, who is also the Public Relations Officer-elect of the Tincan Island Port chapter of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), disclosed this at the 15th year anniversary of the company in Lagos on Wednesday.
Onome also disclosed that as part of efforts to ease the transportation challenges of workers the company has acquired a 2006 Sienna vehicle for conveying workers to the office and other operational tasks.
Her words: “When we got this office precisely 15 years ago, and commenced full operations as a freight forwarding company. I got a secretary from the mother. The Secretary, Ekaete Akpan, had just finished secondary school. Over the 15 year period, Ekaete has been working with me along with Mr. Gbenga Olabiyi.
“Ekaete has gotten married and has children now but she has remained ever-present and always supportive. She comes to work even a day or two before giving birth and she’s always ready to resume 2 weeks after. Most times I have to plead with her to stay at home for 1 month before resuming.
“Three years ago, I looked at Ekaete and thought of a significant way to impact her life. I didn’t want to give her money. So, I asked if she had credits in her WAEC and enrolled her in the National Open University (NOUN). She is currently in her third year and she’s been sponsored by ONAS. She will be receiving N200,000 gift today.
“For Gbenga who started with us, if you call him to be somewhere by 6am, you can be sure that he will call you by 5 minutes before the time to notify you that he’s there waiting for you. Gbenga, who just turned 50 years, isn’t so keen on going back to school. He has huge responsibilities for his family and I have decided to empower him with N500,000 to appreciate his efforts at ONAS. Although we currently have 8 members of staff, only 4 have worked with us from the foundation. The other two will be getting a cheque of N200,000 each.”
While noting that every year, the company marks a small celebration, Onome noted that she decided to take it a notch higher because ONAS has grown over years as a result of the commitment and doggedness of its amazing workers.
“For 15 years, they haven’t turned her backs on me or the organisation as they keep pushing to make the company better,” Onome remarked with tears rolling down her cheeks.
“My goal is to ease the burden of transportation amid the current harsh economic situation. So, I ensured that the members of staff now work shifts so they don’t have to come to work everyday but for a minimum of 3 days in a week. As we keep increasing our capacity as a business, I want them to know that the benefits aren’t just coming to me but also impacts every member of staff.”
Speaking with journalists at the event, one of the long-serving staff, Mr. Gbenga Olabiyi, described the CEO of ONAS as a sister and a mother.
His words: “I feel very happy and excited with the money, gifts and the car provided for the company’s staff. My prayer is that God keeps giving her wisdom to paddle this ship (ONAS company) to greater heights.
“The CEO is someone that you can rely on when you have challenges. There is no one that has worked with her and had regrets because of her simple nature and amazing personality.”
Gbenga, who received a cheque of N500,000, advised young Nigerian workers to be patient, resilient and dedicated.
Also speaking, another pioneer staff of the organisation, Mrs. Ekaete Nathaniel, thanked the CEO for sponsoring her university education at NOUN where she is studying International Relations.
Her words: “I enjoy working with Madam Onome because she is very kind. On the few occasions when she gets annoyed she speaks her mind and forgets about the issue. She is also very hardworking and doesn’t look down on anybody.
“When I started university education in 100 level, the first semester was very difficult but I have gotten better and I am doing fine academically.”
Meanwhile, a former ANLCA Tincan Chapter Chairman, Mr. Peter Ojo Akintoye, described Onome as a team player, saying; “I have known ONAS for more than 10 years. She served with me when I was ANLCA Tin Can Chairman and she was the Public Relations Officer (PRO). She is a team player, she is kind and gentle. However, she can also be dogged and persistent when it comes to her work.
“I celebrate her and congratulate her on her emergence as PRO in the newly elected set of executives.”
The event was graced by several ANLCA bigwigs, including the National Public Relations Officer, ANLCA, Mr. Emmanuel Oyeme; ANLCA Tin Can Chapter, Chairman-elect, Mr. Wale Cole; outgoing Secretary, ANLCA Tincan Chapter, Mr. Michael Imonitie Ovien; ANLCA Tin Can Chapter, Financial Secretary-elect, Mrs. Susan Ogunwunmi; among others.
