2015 Class Of MMS Plus Woman Of Fortune Hall Of Fame
INDUCTEE’S PROFILE
- Lady Onyeka Onwenu
- Dr. Ibilola Amao
- Ms. Anne Etoke
- Dr. Chinwe Ijeoma Abamar
OGANIRUCIOUS ONYEKA
Lady Onyeka Onwenu
Director-General, National Centre for Women Development (NCWA)
Lady Onyeka Onwenu, MFR, is a multi-talented Nigerian female artist. A broadcaster per excellence, a fearless journalist, a natural song writer, a professional actress, a consummate politician, a Human Rights Advocate, X-Factor series judge and Public Administrator, the elegant stallion, as she is fondly called has distinguished herself in all her vocations.
The multiple award winner is a veritable role model for the Nigerian Girl-Child and is greatly admired for her strength of character and outspokenness. Appointed Director-General in September 2013, Lady Onyeka has in less than 2 years with passion and focus, repositioned the NCWD and turned it into a pride of place for Advocacy, Training and Empowerment of the Nigerian woman and the Girl-Child.
Onyeka Onwenu is the youngest daughter of the Nigerian Educationist and Politician D.K. Onwenu. She started her early childhood education in Nigeria, then moved over to the United States. She is a graduate of Wellesley College, Massachusetts and the New School of Social Research in New York, where she obtained a B.A. in International Relations and Communication, as well as a Masters in Media Studies, respectively.
Ms Onwenu worked for many years at the United Nations in New York, before returning to Nigeria in 1980, for the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA). During this period, she made an impact as an articulate, incisive and fearless reporter.
In 1984, she wrote and presented the internationally acclaimed BBC/NTA documentary called “Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches” , which became the definitive film about corruption in Nigeria, as well as the intractable Niger Delta agitation for resource control and campaign against environmental degradation in the oil rich region of Nigeria.
Onyeka has always won the admiration of many, since her musical hit “One Love”. Through her music, Onyeka has enthused unparalleled patriotism, preached peace, love and tolerance. Originally a secular artist, she now sings mainly gospel music and continues to write and sing about issues on health (HIV/AIDS), peace and mutual coexistence, respect for women and the plight of children. Her latest efforts titled “Inspiration for Change”-mama peace- focuses on the need for an attitudinal turn around in Nigeria.
Ms Onwenu in 2013 wrote the theme song for Nigeria’s Centenary Celebrations,
“This Land”, a song which has garnered appreciation around the world and a second National Anthem for evoking unparallel patriotism and National pride, in Nigeria.
She has bagged many awards, as best pop artist performing musician association of Nigeria in 1988; a certificate of Appreciation from the United States Aid (USAID) in 1989; global media awards population Institute award, Pan African and Music awards. AMAA Award for supporting Actress in the movie “Rising Moon” to mention a few. In 2013, she was named as one of the three judges on the Nigerian Version of The X-Factor.
Onwenu has featured in numerous Nollywood movies. In 2014, she was in the movie Half of a Yellow Sun with Chiwetelu Ejiofor and Thandie Newton, where she gave a superlative performance as the Mother of Chiwetel’s Characters “Mama”. Onyeka Onwenu has influenced the way women think, talk and lead by example. She has changed our mindset to include demonstrate respect for women in Nigerian society.
Lady Onwenu is a Member of the Federal Republic (MFR). A former Chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture, She has also served on the Board of the NTA.
She is today inducted into the 2015 Class of MMS Plus Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame.
INGENUOUS IBILOLA
Principal Consultant of Lonadek Oil & Gas Consulting
Dr. Ibilola Amao is the Principal Consultant of Lonadek. She is an alumni of Manchester Business School, has a Ph. D. in Computer-Aided-Design and Draughting from Bradford University, UK and a First Class Honours degree in Civil and Structural Engineering from Queen Mary College, University of London. She is the Chairperson for the Industry Advisory Team, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, a Fellow and Member of Council of the Energy Institute (EI), UK, a chartered member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), a certified HR professional with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Managers (CIPM), a member of the Institute of Director’s Programmes Committee and the Coordinator of the Young Members & Graduate Empowerment at the Energy Institute, UK, Lagos Branch.
The mission of Lonadek is to identify, develop and engage local talent and enterprise for business growth and profitability. Lonadek’s focus is local content and capacity building to transform SME’s into multinational and transgenerational businesses. We develop and build the workforce and businesses of tomorrow. Lonadek provides her services to high technology industries such as IT, Energy, Power, Oil, Gas, Infrastructure and Agriculture.
Ibilola is a resilient, conscientious, dynamic, innovative and focused professional with a robust vision. She is committed to the implementation of state-of-the-art Engineering IT solutions in High-Technology driven industries. Pursuant to her passion for national development and socio-economic transformation, she established Lonadek Nigeria Limited in 1991 and Lonadek UK in 2007, with the aim of bridging the local capacity, capability and competence gap in high technology industries. Ibilola is committed to ensuring that Lonadek remains ISO 9001 certified and the preferred and leading consulting firm that develops capacity, capability and competency for engineering and enterprise.
Ibilola is visionary and passionate about developing youths. She is committed to developing tomorrow’s leaders, strategic thinkers and planners who can be groomed to make a difference. As a committed change agent she invests her time and effort in career counselling, industry awareness and youth empowerment hence the formation of “The Vision 2020: Youth Empowerment & Restoration Initiative” a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) driven programme in May 2006 (See: www.vision2020-ng.org). Through the Young Transformers/Innovators (YTI) programme established in May 2012 and the Junior Engineers Technician and Scientists (JETS) Club in Secondary Schools, Ibilola hopes to awaken the sleeping ideas in the minds of youths.
Today, most fulfilling to Ibilola is mentoring and coaching female professionals and entrepreneurs that are involved in or interested in STEM.
Above all, Ibilola is a bundle of inspiration to budding entrepreneurs. May we present to you, Ingenuous Ibilola as a member of 2015 Class of MMS Plus Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame.
ANOMMANARUSCIOUS ANNE
Ms Anne Etoke
Co-founder, The African Gas Association (TAGA) and MD, West Africa
Ms Anne Etoke is the co-founder and the Managing Director, West Africa of The African Gas Association (TAGA), a group that aims to place Africa as a strategic player in the global gas and energy market. TAGA is US based and is collaborating with institutions across Africa.
Ms Etoke is equally the CEO of the Africa American Investment Partners, a US based consulting firm with satellite offices throughout Africa.
TAGA, since inaugurated three years ago in Nairobi, Kenya has consummated deals worth several millions of dollars on behalf of Nigeria with their International partners, thereby helping to create wealth for the nation.
A goal -getting galvanizer and amiable personality, with much love for Nigeria and passion for human development, she speaks and writes English and French and very conversant with Dutch, Spanish and Arabic.
She holds an MBA, B.S.N. and B.A. (Honors) and has worked with Tetrahedron oil and gas inc. USA as a Public Relations Officer (PRO) and a General Manager of CAMAID Inc. and CM/DN of Seec Inc. USA.
For her restlessness in impacting her environment, Ms Anne Etoke is today being inducted into the 2015 Class of MMS Plus’ Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame. Ladies and gentlemen, we present Anommanarucious Anne to you.
CHEERING CHINWE
Dr. Chinwe Ijeoma Abama
General Manager, Medical Department of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)
Dr. Chinwe Abama read Medicine at the University of Lagos, graduating in 1983. On the completion of her mandatory Housemanship in Military Hospital, Yaba, and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), she joined the employment of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as a Medical Officer. She rose through the ranks to become the first General Manager of the medical division in the history of NPA in May, 2015. It is worth noting that in her course of leadership, her sense of commitment to success, vast medical practice knowledge, enviable team spirit, excellent decision – making skills and great interpersonal ability were of huge effect as she was able to develop various initiatives to reposition NPA medical services delivery in line with international best practices. Among her innovations and achievements are the revitalization and upgrade of NPA medical services, continuing and mandatory capacity development of medical personnel; various health awareness programmes especially on Cervical cancer, Hepatitis B, Roll Back Malaria, Diabetes, Hypertension, HIV/AIDs, among others. For her professional achievements, Dr. Abama has been marked as a role model and has scores of awards for this.
She has numerous post-graduate degrees and certifications and have attended several trainings within the continent of Africa and other parts of the world.
She is also a member of various professional bodies namely American Academy of Ophthamology (AAO), American College of Physician Executives (ACPE), Ophthamological Society of Nigeria (OSN), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), among others.
Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you, Cherry Chinwe Abama as member of the 2015 Class of MMS Plus’ Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame.