Worried by some unfair displacement of Nigerian women in leadership positions across the nation, the MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame (WoFHoF) Initiative has encouraged Nigerian women groups to curb the unjust removal of female leaders.
The Founder of MMS WoFHoF Initiative, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke, made this call while speaking at the 2024 MMS Hall of Fame Induction and International Women’s Leadership Summit on Wednesday at Nicon Luxury hotel, Abuja.
“We have so many women groups in the maritime sector and across several industries. However, these groups aren’t doing enough in terms of standing up for women. We have seen unfortunate trends of women leaders being unfairly displaced and women groups not doing anything about. No comments, no intervention, nothing!”
“It is not okay to visit these women after they are displaced for condolences or pity parties or crying. Women groups should be able to interrogate these displacements especially when they are unfair,” Anaroke said.
He described MMS Hall of Famers as a set of phenomenal women who have seen it all in their chosen careers by redefining standards and are giving back to the society as role-models and mentors in the spirit of goal 5 of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which seeks women empowerment and by extension poverty reduction.
“Regrettably, the MMS Hall of Fame family in the last two years lost three key members. The most recent is the late music icon, Onyeka Onwenu. Earlier, we lost Lady Margaret Orakwusi, another Icon and Queen of the maritime industry who incidentally was our Board of Trustees Chairperson. And painfully again, we lost lyalode Alaba Lawson, an astute educationist and serial entrepreneur, who also happened to be a member of the Governing Council of the MMS Hall of Fame. These were painful losses but Heaven gained.”
“For want of time, on behalf of the Board, Council and Management, I congratulate the Class of 2024 MMS Hall of Fame inductees for having been found exceptionally worthy of being part of the MMS Hall of Fame community,” Anaroke stated.
In his keynote address, a former Executive Secretary of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Barr. Hassan Bello, expressed delight that the numbers are rising in terms of women recruited in the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron.
Bello opined that the increase in women enrollment in maritime academies is expected to lead to a rise in the number of female cadets in the country.
His words: “We need coordinated and concerted efforts to ensure that more women get involved in the academies and become leading practitioners. Gender equality is about equal access to education, access to finance, absence of harassment, equal access to promotion at the workplace, as well as economic and political rights”
“The essence of women inclusion isn’t just to tag along, but proper inclusion in the development of policies. The truth is that if men were to pay their wives wages for taking care of the children and the home, we won’t be able to afford it.”
However, the Chief Host of the occasion and Chief Executive Officer of Le Look bags, Chief (Mrs.) Chinwe Ezenwa, stressed that women can never be over recognized or sufficiently celebrated for their unique roles in society.
Ezenwa, however, charged women to continue to fight for their interests and legitimate cause for career advancement and development.
“As I get older, I am thrilled to find women fighting and winning in securing their rights and legitimate interests. Women must continue to support one another, but also ensure they have the right attitude. Get your priorities right, ensure you practice business before pleasure,” the business tycoon said.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the occasion/ former Director, Special Duties at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Hajia Lami Tumaka, observed the need to establish a gender equality taskforce, gender policy task team, develop a proper policy recommendation and create an online resource based and platform for gender based issues.
While reemphasizing the need to have Nigerian women at leadership tables were significant issues about policies and industry decisions are taken, Tumaka also charged women to make themselves available and ready to be helped.
In her remarks, one of the inductees and Co-Founder of Protection Plus Services Limited, Dr. (Mrs.) Unyime Ivy-King, said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to be recognized by MMS Hall of Fame. It means that the work I am doing is recognized and appreciated by people who are watching from outside. It signifies value and impact because it was totally unexpected.
“Personally, I know mentorship is very important because I have several mentors who have helped me over the years. I also have a lot of young women who look up to me as a mentor and I am happy to play that leadership role.”
Another inductee and recipient of the Life-Impact Awards, the National President of Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, also said she was deeply honoured to be honoured and decorated at the MMS 2024 Hall of Fame event.
Mrs. Adeniyi, who was represented by COWA National Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Asma’u Isah Maibasira said: “I dedicate my 2024 Women of Fortune Hall of Fame award to every woman striving for excellence. May our collective achievements inspire future generations.”
“This induction is not just a personal achievement but a testament to the support of my loved ones, mentors, and colleagues and all COWA members across Nigeria. Thank you for believing in me. I look forward to continuing our shared journey of empowering women and fostering positive change,” she said.
The event was graced by several eminent Nigerian personalities and maritime bigwigs as inductees into the 2024 MMS Hall of Fame including; the President of African Women in Maritime (WIMA) Nigeria, Mrs. Rollens Macfoy; the Deputy Director, NIMASA, Mrs. Chizoba Anyika; Managing Partner, Temerity International Experts Limited, Mrs. Temilade Ogunniyi; Founder, MallPai Foundation, Hajia Aisha Atiku Bagudu; former Director, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Bilkisu Usman; Executive Director, Finance and Administration, NPA, Mrs. Vivian Richard-Edet; Deputy Director, NSC, Adaora Nwonu; Vice President, Clarion Group, Mrs. Bernadine Ifeoma Eloka; Group Human Resources Manager, LITT Coastal and Marine Services Limited, Mrs. Theodora Nwaeze.
Others were; President, When In Need Foundation, High Chief Chetachi Ecton; Executive Director, Healthy Living Services Limited, Dr. Ify Nwakwesi; Founder, Golden Souls Initiative International, Comrade/ Prophetess Mary Baamlong; Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack; CEO, The Recovery Place, Hajia Hadiza Aliko Mohammed; Dr. Faith Zibs Godwin; and the Lead Consultant, Amazon Project, Amb. (Mrs.) Tina Kenechukwu.
