Abuja Set To Hosts WoFHoF Biggest Gender, SDGs Summit, Induction, Award

NPA, NSC, Customs, NEPC, NIMASA, AfCFTA, others to explore gender issues

Tumaka chairs, Bello leads as Ezenwa hosts 20 women nominees

Aniebonam, Brainjotter, Kikelomo, AMAC Chair, others get SDG awards

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

In a bid to influence policies that promote gender equality, the 2024 MMS Hall of Fame induction and International Women’s Leadership Summit will see the heads of key government agencies including; the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), deliver presentations on gender based issues and inclusivity.

The summit in a unique delivery mode will address the concerns of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in areas of poverty alleviation through entrepreneurial and job creation opportunities, gender inclusion in global trade and different sectors as well as across professions, among others.

Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Ebere Kennedy-Ohanenye will play the role of Chief Guest of Honour, while the occasion will be chaired by the Chairperson,Blue Economy Nigeria Limited, and former Director; NIMASA,Hajia Lami Tumaka and the Keynote Speech to be delivered by a former Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr. Hassan Bello.

The event themed; “Gender Equality: Influencing Policies and Upscaling Capacity in Digital Economy” marks the 8th edition of MMS Hall of Fame and will take place at NICON Luxury Hotel on November 6th, 2024.

Speaking ahead of the event, the Chairperson of the Planning Committee, Bunmi Falana, noted that Special Guests of Honours will be delivering strategic papers focusing on their respective organizations.

The Managing Director of NPA, Mr. Abubakar Dantsoho on “Digitisation, Women and Effective Port Administration in a New Port Order”; NEPC Chief Executive, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, will address, “Mobilising Women for Export and Global Trade Opportunities”; the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Adewale Adeniyi will discuss “Trade Facilitation and Women in Smart Cross Border Trading”.

Falana also noted that the Chairperson, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Princess (Dr.) Vicky Haastrup will speak on “Perspectives of Women and Leadership in a Male Dominated Industry”; NIMASA Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, is expected to discuss “Digitisation, Women and Sustainable Blue Economy Regime”; the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr. Pius Akutah – ” Digitisation, Women and Shipping Regulation in a Smart Port Regime”

Also, the Deputy Managing Director/CEO ,Ghana Shippers’ Authority(GSA),Mrs. Sylvia Asana Dauda-Owu, who is also the President of Women in Maritime Organizations of West and Central Africa(WIMOWCA)  will share a perspective on maritime policies as they affect women in Ghana and others; while the National Coordinator of African Continental Free Trade Agreement(AfCFTA), Dr. Segun Awolowo will speak on “AfCFTA: Mainstreaming Women in African Trade”. The National President of Customs Officers Wives Association(COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi will share on insight on COWA and its envisioned  life- transformation leadership.

The Planning Committee Chairperson, Falana, expressed optimism that these presentations will enable the various chief executives have a better assessment of women contributions in their respective agencies and also help stimulate better policies and work environs that foster inclusivity.

Meanwhile, the event will also feature the induction of distinguished women into 2024 Class of MMS Hall of Fame. The inductees include; Executive Director, NEPC Mrs. Nonye Ayeni; CEO, Protection Plus, Amb. (Dr.) Unyime-Ivy King; Deputy Director, NIMASA, Mrs. Chizoba Anyika; Chairperson, Zoe Maritime Resources Limited, Barr. (Mrs.) Oritsematosan Edodo-Emore; 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; Chairman, Sky Capital Limited, Mrs. Folashade Afolabi; Deputy Director, NSC, Adaora Nwonu; CEO, Ocean Deep Services Limited, Mrs. Rollens Macfoy.

Others are; National President, Customs Wives’ Association (COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi; Vice President, Clarion Group, Mrs. Bernadine Ifeoma Eloka; Group Human Resources Manager, LITT Coastal and Marine Services Limited, Mrs. Theodora Nwaeze; 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; and Dr. Faith Zibs Godwin; and the Lead Consultant, Amazon  Project, Amb. (Mrs.) Tina Kenechukwu.

Similarly, Nigerian comedian and content creator, Chukwuebuka Emmanuel Amuzie popularly known as Brainjotter; Chief Executive, Lelook Bags, Chief (Mrs.) Chinwe Ezenwa; National President, Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi; among others are set to be honoured with Life-Impact Awards at the 2024 MMS Hall of Fame.

Other awardees include; the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the FCT, Christopher Zakka Maikalang; Founder, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam; and the Founder, C21FG, Ambassador Michael Okoli; will be celebrated at the 8th edition of MMS Hall of Fame and International Women’s Leadership Summit to hold at NICON Luxury hotel, Abuja on November 6th, 2024.

According to the Co-Founder, MMS Hall of Fame, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke, the Life-Impact awardees were selected for their exemplary humanitarian exploits which resonates with the MMS brand essence as the awardees have impacted several lives despite the prevailing harsh economic times in Nigeria.

Brainjotter’s strings of inspiring life-transforming skits and comedy shows have redefined the creative industry with an appeal of generosity and humanity, setting a new standard of practice which conforms to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“In specifics, his novel comedy show (Outside the Box) ironically, turned out a humanitarian platform with the donation of N30million for a female participant in crutches. We are particularly impressed that this was done for the female gender unsolicited,” the statement read.

The comedian’s creative ingenuity which reinvented Pa Mike Ejeagha’s folklore song (gwogwogwongwo) was also singled-out for praise as it placed Pa Ejeagha’s career on global music radar.

Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa is an international business owner and her company ‘Le Look Bags’ is one of the first companies to receive a Nigeria-AfCFTA Certificate of Origin, enabling the organization to trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) protocol.

Ezenwa floated an African fabric lifestyle accessories 39 years ago and her company has become massively life-impact wrenching on a global scale as Le look bag Academy has empowered over 1000 youth with skills acquisition for free.

This life-changing opportunity targeted at young women also enables them to trade across the African continent under AfCFTA. The Lelook brand today has varieties of bespoke bags and luggage designed to cater for customers’ needs using trending technology and internationally acclaimed designers.

Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, the National President of COWA, is set to receive double honours with the MMS Life-Impact Award and an induction into the 2024 Class of MMS Hall of Fame.

Kikelomo has revived the formerly moribund COWA and repositioned the non-government organization (NGO) to make significant contributions to humanity, especially less-privileged women and indigent children.

Impressively, COWA’s humanitarian and life-changing activities under Kikelomo have reached over 100,000 beneficiaries and transverse geopolitical regions with much-needed food palliatives to lessen the economic pangs on poor Nigerian citizens.

The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the FCT, Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, will be honoured for initiating urban life-changing projects including; schools, climate change, transport and others.

While the construction and rehabilitation of several kilometers of roads in various interior communities such as Waru, Bagusa in order to open them up to business opportunities and international aids, have earned Christopher national recognition, he also launched the Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plan (SEACAP) in 2022 to address the impacts of climate change on lives with bearings on the indigenous people, women and children as well as the vulnerable.

These feats are pacesetting even as they conform to the spirit of the SDGs of the United Nations and also resonate with MMS brand essence of leadership by impact.

Amb. Michael Okolie, floated a cash-flow service and life-style initiative called LaBuena Vida with the vision of producing 50,000 millionaires yearly. This enables individuals to tap into the system to generate funds for business project.

His Amazon project has already empowered thousands of women and girls, raising young millionaires and changing destinies of people who would have been jobless. This redefines entrepreneurship and sets a new standard even as it conforms to the ideals of the MMS Hall of Fame.

Dr. Boniface Aniebonam established the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) in 1999 with the mission of challenging the status quo and birthing a liberal and human-centric freight forwarding and logistics association.

NAGAFF has grown to become irrepressible and life-transforming as well as a change agent in the nation’s maritime industry. An innumerable number of young and budding freight forwarders have leveraged the NAGAFF platform to become breadwinners and philanthropists in their homes and societies.

This amounts to elevating the standards of professional practice which conforms to the spirit of the SDGs and resonates with the MMS brand essence of leadership by impact at MMS Hall of Fame.