UN@75: Making A New World With MMS UN Generation Amazons

As the United Nations marks its 75 years anniversary with a search for the “Third Paradise”-A new world where humanity and sustainable development  are the concerns of mankind, MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame(WoFHoF) Initiative presents a bevy of beauty and brain with exceptional intelligence as MMS UN Generation Amazons cast in the mould of the “Third Paradise” Ambassadors and agents of sustainability.

They are the new face of the new world, where woman and humanity are the mankind’s priority. They are:

 

VICTORIA TAWHI-MICHAEL TARFA (MRS.)

Victoria Tawhi-Michael Tarfa (Mrs.)is a Senior Manager at the Nigerian Ports Authority and currently heads the Industry Associations and Port Promotion Unit at the Corporate and Strategic Communications Division. She is a Bi-lingual Communication Strategists and a trained Project Manager.

She joined the services of the Nigerian Ports Authority in 2001. Mrs. Tarfa was seconded to the Ports Management of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) from 2008-2013 where she worked as a Chief Project Manager and interacted closely with Ports and maritime agencies in over 21 Countries in West and Central Africa, North Africa, Southern Africa, France and Las Palmas. She participated in the review of African Maritime Charter in 2008, was Peer Reviewer for AfDB (African Development Bank) in 2011. Victoria further obtained Diploma in Senior Port Management from Galilee International Management Institute (GIMI), Israel in 2012. This job earned her the International Who’s Who Historical Society recognition in 2015 for exemplary achievement and distinguished contributions to business communities.

Victoria started her working career at the GTV (Gongola Television) and later ATV (Adamawa Television) as a Producer and Presenter of programmes but that was short lived as she proceeded to the University of Maiduguri and graduated with Bachelor of Arts (BA) French Language in 1992. Due to paucity of jobs, she proceeded for her second degree at the same University and had her Masters (MSC) in International Relations in 1998 with special interest in Foreign Policy Formulation. She continued as a Research Assistant with the Political Science Department where she participated in several research projects including the Ford Foundation Ethnic Mapping in 2001 where she mapped Bauchi and Gombe States.

 Victoria has attended numerous Maritime, Communication, Leadership and Anti-Corruption courses locally and Internationally. She has equally participated in several local and foreign conferences, seminar and workshops in the same fields and these experiences expanded her taste for expertise and professionalism. 

Her interest in women was born out of concern for the security of the girl child. In 1999 she became member of Women development initiatives in particular, WRAPA and later, the Better Life of Rural Women. Since 2014, Mrs. Tarfa became part of Rural Self-help women group. the Dlarkir Women Enterprise where she is an adviser and provides palliatives for over 80 rural women and the elderly in her home town every end of year. She is also an Adviser to the Dlarkir Nursery, Primary and Secondary School. In 2020 she started a self-help initiative for young girls and will be giving hands-up for 20 girls who are into mini businesses of making, Moi Moi, Cup Cakes, Akara, kunu, among others, every year in order to keep them off the street and protect them from being victims of assault.  Her passion is to encourage young women to strive for knowledge and professionalism and encourage determination for greater achievements.

 She is a Fellow of the institute of Budget Management and Administration (IBMA) and a member of NIPR, CILT, WISTA, WiLAT, and the Network of Professional Women in Maritime and Port Sector (PMAWCA-NWPW). She is widely travelled including almost half of Africa.

 Born to Mallam Tawhi Shallum Tarfa and Malama Saratu Tawhi Tarfa of Garkida in Gombi Local Government of Adamawa State, Victoria is happily married to Mr. Michael Tarfa, a great, charming and lovely man.

Victoria’s passion for charity is ingrained and eloquent enough to stand her out as agent of sustainability. As such, she deserves a place as MMS United Nations Generation Amazon.

 

Mrs. Folake Wole-Soyinka

Mrs. Folake Wole-Soyinka earned her degree in English, Literature and Drama at the University of Ife, Ile-Ife in 1983 and did her National Youth Service with the Nigerian Television Authority, Kaduna, in 1983/1984. She later obtained a MSc degree in Human Resources from Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California, United States in the year 2000.

In between, she began her career in 1984 as a journalist at The GUARDIAN Newspapers where she  earned and excelled as an Investigative Reporter. She was on the judicial desk and reported landmark cases ranging from judgments from the Supreme Court to trials by Military Tribunals charged with adjudicating on matters relating to treason. She also wrote reviews of plays and books for the Arts section of the newspaper.

She later resigned from The Guardian and joined Quality Magazine as one of its pioneer staff.  She wrote on current affairs and political trends but concentrated mostly on gender issues, particularly as it affects women. Mrs. Wole-­Soyinka left Quality Magazine to become a founding member and part owner of the pioneer women’s journal in Nigeria – CLASSIQUE magazine.

She found herself compelled to join her husband in exile in the United States during which period she wrote columns for Nigerian journals, enrolled in Claremont University where she obtained a Master of Science in Human Resources Management. In exile, she volunteered in public service with the Supreme Court of California, Family Law Division, County of San Bernardino and in Battered Women’s Shelters in Pomona and Los Angeles, California.

She later joined the staff of Water of Life, where she was responsible for setting up the Human Resources Department. She worked in several other organizations and was the Executive Director of the non-profit outfit, Essay Foundation. She returned to Nigeria and joined the staff of Nigerian Shippers’ Council where she is now Deputy Director (Corporate Strategy/Special Assistant to the ES/CEO).

She is a Board Member/Executive Director of The Wole Soyinka Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is the eradication of barriers of self-expression. She is married and a mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law.

She has a robust record of human empowerment exploits in decades with an inclination for sustainable development .  Would you not rather we have her as MMS United Nations Generation Amazon?

 

Mercy Ebere Ojeogwu (Mrs.)

Chief Mrs. Mercy Ebere Ojeogwu is one of the solid  Nigerian women who have been unsung, especially in the industry where they operate. A 2001 graduate of Economics from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, she is the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Ebby Integrated  and Logistics Services Limited, operators of a 5,000 TEU capacity bonded terminal along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. The bonded terminal  meant to decongest the Lagos port has gulped about N2billion in investment.

Mercy is a restless soul in search of a better future for many, and this is seen in many other business interests she has across the country.

Her early life started with attending Mgbom Primary School Amanator Isu in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. She would later attend Niger Grammar School, Idoriver, Enugu, Enugu State.

Chief Mercy who is often addressed by her chieftaincy title- Nwanyibuife 1 of Isuokoma is a key member of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders(NAGAFF).

Her non-governmental organization, Mercy Foundation, founded to touch lives has actually lived up to its aspirations with many students given scholarships, widows empowered, and businesses grown.

Chief Mercy is a recipients of many awards and have attended many training programmes both locally and internationally.

Her benevolence and inclination to assist her neighbor makes her a candidate for MMS United Nations Generation Amazon.

  

MRS. ROMAINE STELLA NWAKACHA

Mrs. Romaine Stella Nwakacha is one of the Nigeria’s female professional freight forwarders who has carved a niche for herself in the logistics and transport industry. She studied International Relations & Personnel Management at the Lagos State University, a course which came handy in the management and growth of AMOTEX & Sons Nig. Ltd., where she is a director. Her company is not only a corporate player but also a  corporate member of  the Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents(ANLCA). A former Treasurer and Financial Secretary respectively for Seme Border Chapter of the association, she is a  stakeholder in the maritime industry and vice chairperson of PDP-E Women Network, a member of WISTA-Nigeria, among others.  Stella is a recipient of numerious national & international awards. An astute entreprenuer, She is happily married with children. Stella has shown sterling qualities in entrepreneuship, a platform on which she stood to break ceilings and conquer borders, which include politics to the admiration of many people. The courage and seed of inspiration planted in her peers and younger women earned her the place of MMS United Nations Generation Amazon.

  

MRS B. OLUFUNMILAYO OLOTU

In the history of port management in Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA), Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olotu has displayed exceptional brilliance, record has shown, a reason she was given the responsibility of managing one of the most difficult  ports, Calabar Port Complex to overseer as a Principal Manager, a step lower than the traditional Port Manager position. She is currently the Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex(LPC), where she has helped to carry out reforms in this challenging times in Nigerian port environment.

  Born on 12th November, 1965 to Mrs. Mofoluwake, and late Chief J. Oludotun Olaogun – both of Egba descent in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria,  Olufunmilayo was employed by the Nigerian Ports Authority in 1988 as a Commercial Officer II, and was taken through an intensive and expansive Induction Programme to equip her for the tasks ahead. She stood out among her peers and distinguished herself as a brilliant, bold and blunt woman of integrity, an initiator of ideas and positive changes in all units and departments where she was deployed in the Commercial/Marketing Departments of NPA across different locations.

Devoted to duty and very dynamic, determined and diligent in handling assigned tasks and projects. Mrs. O (as generally called), is singled out as a rare breed of “billing expert” in port operations noted for her non-compromising stance on organizational goals and standards; as well as national interests especially on revenue generation and collection. Olotu could balance the extremity of strictness with the benevolence of gentleness – all in one breath.

A pilot under her tutelage in Calabar got double promotion, based on her Special Recommendation to the Managing Director during a Stakeholder’s Forum.

She has traversed all port locations nation-wide presenting papers on port operations and terminologies for effective and efficient revenue generation and collection.

She is a multiple award winner with numerous commendation letters of fund recovery and exceptional dedication to service from successive chief executive officers of NPA in decades.

Studied at the University of Lagos and Ogun State University Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria (now Olabisi Onabanjo University),where she read B.A. (Ed) English and a masters degree also in Education,  Mrs. Olufunmilayo is fellow of Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) Chartered and National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (Chartered) .  She is also a member of Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, Nigeria and Associate Lecturer – Entrepreneurship Research & Development Centre, (ERDC) Kaduna State University

Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olotu is married to an Anglican priest and they are blessed with four children now in their twenties

Her exceptional quest and eloquence for integrity and accountability  and the untiring zeal to touch lives for humanity, makes her our United Nations Generation Amazon.

Mrs. Rejoice Ndudinachi

Rejoice Ugochi Ndudinachi,mni started her working career with Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in 1988. She rose to the position of Airport Manager, Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. She has a track record for efficiency, effectiveness and prompt service delivery. In the course of her working career, Mrs. Ndudinachi attended a number of professional trainings both within and outside Nigeria. Among the courses attended are International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), Airport Council International (ACI), Singapore Aviation Academy, Transport Security Administration and Centre for Management Development courses. She served FAAN in several positions in all airports in Nigeria, including internship in Canada, exchange programme in South Africa and USA, and in other Airports around the world. She has received several awards, scholarships, special promotions and letters of excellence in the course of her career. She belongs to several professional bodies.

Rejoice is currently an ICAO AVSEC expert. She is the first certified ICAO AVSEC Professional Manager in Nigeria and the first ICAO AVSEC Certified Instructor. She has delivered such task and missions with deep sense of responsibility in countries like Senegal, Kenya, South Africa, Canada, France, Nigeria and several other countries. She is also a core member Security and Facilitation Working Group of Airport Council International ACI representing Nigeria. She is the team leader in the development and review of several security programmes.

Rejoice is the first female Airport Manager of Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport and the founder and the President, Women in Aviation, Nigeria; she is a member of National Institute of Management, mni, Senior Executive Course 40.

In appreciation for her philanthropic activities, her community crowned her with the title ADADIORANMA (the daughter appreciated by all) and EZIADA (good daughter). She is an achiever, God fearing, a professional, a mother, an astute administrator, a senior expert in civil aviation security and airport management, an international aviation figure. She is married and blessed with two wonderful Children. Her hobbies include reading, music and travelling. Rejoice has over the years volunteered has service in mentoring the younger generation of women and youths and even provided hope for career making in the aviation industry so much that she has become an icon of inspiration. This earned her the place of MMS United Nations Generation Amazon.

PHARM. (MRS.) NGOZI STELLA OBIKILI

Born on 24^th January 1965, Pharm. Ngozi Obikili obtained her First School Leaving Certificate in 1975. She proceeded to Federal Government Girls’ College, Owerri, where she was awarded a federal scholarship after her outstanding performance in her first year.  In 1980, she sat for West African School Certificate Examination and made a distinction. She gained admission into University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and read Pharmacy. Her sterling academic performance earned her a Federal scholarship for her university education.  In 1986, she graduated with a Second Class Upper Division and was the best final year student in Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her internship in 1987 was at General Hospital Onitsha, while her National Youth Service in 1988 was at State House Annex Clinic, Ikoyi.

In June 1995, she was awarded a Masters of Business Administration (MBA), from University of Lagos, after her executive part-time programme. She proceeded to the prestigious Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA in 2002, for her Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH). In 2005, she decided to acquire more knowledge of the Maritime transport industry, by earning a Masters degree in Transport Planning (MTP) from Lagos State University.

Mrs Obikili joined the services of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in November 1988, as Pharmacist Grade One. She rose through the ranks and held several posts such as Coordinator Drug Information Centre, NPA; Chief Port Pharmacist of Lagos Port Complex, Apapa and Tin Can Island Port. She gave her best to the job and in 2016 was promoted to Assistant General Manager, Occupational Health. She pioneered NPA Occupational Health Services under HSE division, and after the transfer to Medical Division in August 2017, following the NPA Organizational Restructuring. She impacted greatly on the entire NPA workforce through several Workplace Wellness Initiatives such as Annual Workers Wellness Programme, Annual Health Assessment Exercise, Monthly Physical Fitness Exercises, Provision of Gym Facilities at NPA Port Locations, Weekly Lift-Free hours at NPA Corporate Headquarters, Health Surveillance, Occupational Hygiene Monitoring Programmes and several Health Promotion and Sensitization programmes. In 2019, she was posted to Corporate and Strategic Planning Division as AGM, Research & Statistics to reposition the department.

As a member of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), she contributed immensely to the growth of pharmacy profession. She obtained a Fellow of West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (FPCPharm) in 2000. She was a member of the Pharmacy House Commissioning Committee in 2006; member National Conference Planning Committees 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009; member of the Committee on Investiture of PSN President and New Fellows of the Society in 2007 and received the Gold Mentors Award of Young Pharmacists Group (YPG) the same year. She was also a member of Committee on Pharmaceutical Excellence & National Service Award in 2009 and member of the 2016 Re-Accreditation Committee, Faculties of Pharmacy in Nigerian Universities. In February 2010, Mrs Obikili was awarded a Fellow of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN), the highest honour in Pharmacy profession.

The Managing Director and the Executive Management of NPA honoured her with a Merit Award for Brilliance & Workplace Wellness Initiatives at the maiden Award-giving ceremony in December, 2017. Notable for her intellectual capability, Mrs Obikili won the 2018 Scholarship Award of International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) Women’s Forum and was honoured at Azerbaijan in May, 2018. She also won the Galilee International Management Institute Scholarship and attended the Port Senior Management programme at Israel in November, 2018.

Mrs Obikili is a member of various Maritime organizations such as Women in Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Women in Logistics and Transport (WILAT) and Women in Maritime Africa (WIMA). She is also a member of Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Association of Public Health Pharmacists of Nigeria (APhPN), International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) and League of Anambra State Professionals (LAP).

She has attended several world congresses and conferences at The Hague, Barcelona, Singapore, Sydney, United States, Cairo and Salvador Bahia, Brazil; as well as Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) conferences at Cote D’voire and Accra; and International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London.

Through her membership of Corona Schools Trust Council Governing Board

(2018 – 2020), she impacted the education sector. As a result of her competence, she was nominated Chairperson, Corona School, Apapa, PTA, from 2018 – 2002.

Mrs. Obikli has made valuable contributions to the church and her community. She became a Lady Auxilliary, Knight of St. Paul (KSP) in 2008, the Golden wife of Agulu in 2010, Woman of Excellence by St. Michael’s & All Angels Church, Agulu in 2012 and in April 2018, the Bishop of Afikpo, invested her “Ezinne,” a worthy mother. She is a member of Committee of Friends for Humanity (COFFHA), a charitable organization committed to Women Empowerment and touching the lives of the less privileged.

Mrs. Obikili was married to Late Dr (Sir) Davies Obikili, a Consultant Radiologist & Aviation Medicine Consultant at Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Ikeja. They are blessed with six kids.

Mrs. Obikili is a humanist, a quality that stands her out as MMS United Nations Generation Amazon.

NGOZI OYEWOLE

Ngozi Oyewole is the Managing Director of Noxie Limited, a leading manufacturer and service provider in Nigeria with a major emphasis on local content and local manufacturing of bespoke and contemporary Office Furniture, Safety Gears and Equipment (PPE), Corporate Branding. She is a certified and experienced Interior Designer and an alumnus of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

In 2015, she was nominated by Forbes Magazine as one of the leading women entrepreneur in Africa championing business sustainability and women inclusion in business. She is a WEConnect International award recipient for Woman of Excellence 2019, and also a 2019 award recipient of an Exceptional Leader of Excellence from the Women Economic Forum (WEF) and All Ladies League.

She is the Executive Vice President of the International Women Forum in Energy Oil and Gas (WEOG); a member of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria. She is also a member and COO of Commonwealth Business Women Association Nigeria.

Ngozi Oyewole is a resilient, result-driven and ace ‘womentrepreneur’ with an extensive experience in leadership, business management and strategic planning. She was a key note speaker at the 2nd Thrive Women Conference and at the 6th HIVE (High Impact Visionary Entrepreneur) Global Leaders’ Summit in Accra, Ghana.

As a social crusader and philanthropist, she supports education for the “Almajiri Child Right Initiative”, Women Impacting Nigeria and “When in Need” philanthropic group for the less privileged within her community.

Mrs. Oyewole is the President of Mrs. Beatrice Chiebonam Foundation where she engages her influence to reach-out and render financial aids to over 400 widows yearly in various parts of Rivers State. She also organizes skill-based empowerment programs for women and mentors young female entrepreneur through the Cherie Blair Foundation and other platforms.

As the Managing Director of Noxie Limited, she has strategically positioned the company as both a national and an international brand by participating as sponsor and exhibitor of several events such as African Union Expo and the AIW African Week Expo in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; the WeConnect International Europe Conference, SheTrades Commonwealth Program, African Women Entrepreneurship Program, Botswana Expo, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Trade Fair, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Expo.

Mrs. Oyewole’s passion for mentorship and sustainable world makes her an MMS United Nations Generation Amazon.

CHIZOBA C. ANYIKA (Mrs.)

Mrs.   Chizoba  C. Anyika is an Assistant Director and Head, Cabotage Secretariat of  the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA). She holds a Master of Science degree in Marine Policy from Cardiff University, South Wales United Kingdom (2007), with over 18 years experience in the Maritime Transport sector. She holds a Bachelor degree in English (Ed) from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria (1993) with an Advanced Diploma in Shipping Ports Administration & Management from Human Resources Development Board- University of Lagos.

Mrs. Anyika worked with NIGERDOCK Nigeria PLC from 1996 -1999 relating with different clients from multinational establishments who visit to dock their vessels. Her passion for the job was excellent as she was deployed to the then MD/CEO’s office to particularly coordinate business dealings with the high caliber visitors of this prestigious office.  She developed the landmark procedural manual for communication, entrance and exit from Tin-can to Snake Island.  She also worked with the Embassy of Palestine, the then Doyen of the diplomatic corps in Lobito Crescent Abuja where she was Administrative Secretary in charge of correspondences to the embassy.

Before joining NIMASA, she was the Head, Documentation & Information Control Unit of Sullivan & Sullivan Consultants, an SPDC COMMUNITY RELATIONS de-confliction firm ensuring hitch-free projects within the Cawthorne Channels, Flow stations and was the program process developer in cases of evacuation or relocation of Community members.

Mrs. Anyika is specialized in the area of raising the profile for the Nigerian maritime transport ensuring Local content in the Maritime Oil & Gas sectors in line with the provisions of Cabotage Act 2003.  Her advanced Maritime Transport training and vast experience in building indigenous capacity earned her the post of Secretary, NIMASA-Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board joint collaboration Committee on Local Content.

She has been actively involved in the activities of the maritime Industry attending conferences and trainings both locally and international while making qualitative contributions at different platforms.

She is very passionate about professionalism in all areas and is a member of various Committees where she makes outstanding contributions offering high level strategic contributions to stimulate fruitful engagements.

She is highly experienced in needs assessment. Her training in the Maritime Business School at Cardiff University Wales and her vast experience in NIMASA, NIGERDOCK, Sullivan & Sullivan Consulting and various Committees is quite enviable.

Mrs. Anyika has met and worked with industry practitioners, other government officials, academics and researchers.  She will continue to exchange ideas on the current initiatives and emerging issues towards an integrated approach so as to raise the profile of Women in Maritime Africa (WIMA).

Mrs. Anyika is a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS) and Chartered Marine Technologist, Institute of Marine Science & Technology(IMaResT, UK). She is also a Member, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations and a founder Caretaker, Committee Member,Women In Logistics and Transport(WiLAT-Nigeria) in charge of Maritime Mode; Certified Member, Maritime Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR).

She is the current Secretary, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association(WISTA-Nigeria) and Publicity Secretary, Chartered Institute of Transport Administration(CiOTA).

 

She found her place as MMS United Nations Generation Amazon for untiring impartation of knowledge to younger women and youths and infectious tenacity for goal-getting which spews inspiration.