Change a six letter word was usually associated with commercial bus drivers and their conductors as well as petty traders until now. With the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) as the President elect of Nigeria, the word suddenly became a slogan to both corporate and private establishments in Nigeria.
With that change, expectations have also been raised high. It is expected that better and greater things are about to start happening with the leaders and the led.
Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria on the 5th of October, 2015 keyed into that change when the members during their Annual General Meeting (AGM) elected new executives to run the affairs of the association.
The election which was conducted at the Headquarter of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) at Apapa, Lagos which had Bar Mrs. Etosa Edodo Emoren as the electoral chairperson with Mrs. Gloria Kanabe and Chinyere Azike as the assistants.
Five positions contested for are: President, Secretary, PRO, Treasurer, Financial Secretary.
Before the election was conducted, the outgoing President, Barr. Mrs. Jean Chiazor Anishere in her farewell speech thanked the executives, Diamonds and members of WISTA – Nigeria for all their support and co-operations that were accorded her and the executives. She also expressed her gratitude to all the establishments that in one way or the other supported WISTA Nigeria. She said that it was their support that made the association a formidable one. She specially thanked the following parastatals: Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council(NSC) as well as Five Star Logistics, Stars Maritime, Sifax, Intels and all the others. She also extended her gratitude to the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Association of Nigerian Licensed Clearing Agents(ANLCA), MMS Plus Newspapers, Ships and Ports and all other Maritime reporters.
On that note, the executive was dissolved. The executives that left with the President, Mrs. Anishere were Mrs. Mary Hamman- Vice President, Mrs. Mary Yusuf – Treasurer, Obiageli Nweke – PRO,Mrs.Promise Anaroke-Assistant PRO, Mrs. Anne Akpan – Secretary, Faith Hope Aloyscious – Asst. Secretary, Mrs. Oluseyi Adejuyigbe – Asst. Treasurer and Mrs. With the dissolution, the stage was set for the election.
The high point of the election came with so much excitement when those contesting for each of the elective posts came out to briefly tell the members what the contents of their manifesto was and how they all intend to contribute positively towards the growth and progress of the association. With that, the members had a feel of what the contestant had to offer. As the presentation of manifesto came to an end, it was time for casting of votes by all the members present. The voting was a secret ballot voting system, the post of PRO was the first to be contested for while the post of the President was the last one contested for.
At the end of the votings, vote for each post contested for was counted and for the post of President, Mrs. Mary Hamman emerged winner, while Mrs. Eunice Ezeoke became the Vice President, Mrs. Anne Akpan was re-elected as Secretary and Barr. (Mrs.) Ada Mbama became Assistant Secretary. For the post of PRO, Mrs. Promise Anaroke emerged the winner while Aisha Cole became the assistant PRO, Mrs. Maryam Yusuf remained as treasurer as she was re-elected while Helen Majemite clinched the post of Financial Secretary.
The newly elected President, Mrs. Hamman who was visibly elated, thanked the members for choosing her as WISTA President for the next two years. She also asked them at the same time to give her and the entire new executive the best of their support just as they gave to the outgoing ones. She stated that it is only with their support that the team could function effectively and achieve all the goals set before them. She also thanked the outgoing President, Mrs. Anishere for her achievements during her tenure as President and wished her well in all her endeavours, particularly as she assists in piloting the affairs of (WIM Africa) Women in Maritime Africa as the Vice President.
Mrs. Hamman while speaking also acknowledged that the position of the President is not an easy one as she needs to really work hard with her team so as to fit well into the big shoe left by the past Presidents. She presided over the first meeting with the new executives as she charged them to work hard to take WISTA – Nigeria to another level.
The new executives will be officially sworn in soon.
By Mrs. Promise Anaroke
