MMS Hall of Fame Trains Women On Innovative Leadership Traits
As the Initiative inducts 5 women as 2025 accelerated amazons
In a bid to enhance the contributions of women at the workplace, businesses and in governance, MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame (WoFHoF) Initiative trained scores of Nigerian women on leadership traits required for success across diverse industries.
The occasion, which also featured the induction of 5 accelerated amazons into the MMS body of Amazons, last Wednesday, availed a unique opportunity to learn the core values, attitudes and actions required to optimise the performance of women at work as well as their ability to attain work-home balance.
The 2025 Accelerated Amazons recognized were; the Principal Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Apapa Port, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mrs. Florence Onweagba; Assistant General Manager, Training and Human Resources, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Queen Nwanyieze Ajayi; Head Convener of World Disability Campaign in Nigeria, Dr. Ada Theresa Onwuka; Chief Medical Director of Sussamss Hospital, Ahmadu Fatimah Binta; and Mrs. Virginia Obogo Nzeribe, Assistant Director, Jetties and Terminals,Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA)
Speaking at the event, the chairperson of the occasion and Managing Director of Tyse Group, Barr. (Mrs.) Augustina Igbokwe, maintained that when doors of equal opportunities are opened to women and girls, everybody wins.
Noting that organizations with women board members have outperformed those with less or none, Barr. Igbokwe stressed that women have proven to be better human resource managers and more prudent with finances.
Igbokwe, who is also the Vice Chairperson, Governing Council, MMS Hall of Fame, recalled that the most proactive nations in managing the COVID-19 pandemic were led by women presidents with earlier lockdowns and lower death rates under the likes of Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand) and Angela Merkel (Germany).
“When you see this theme ‘Accelerate Action’, you will observe a sense of urgency, urgency to take stock, urgency to press harder on the throttle to power progress and to insist on the progress and justice that women equality demands.
“So, while we can admit that there has been some kind of shift because women have shattered barriers, many women have overcome stereotype and bias, and have achieved in the manner that we’ve not achieved before; we are still very far from the objective,” Igbokwe remarked.
She expressed dissatisfaction at the poor representation of women in Nigeria’s governance structure with only 4 women out of 109 Senators, 16 among 360 House of Represemtatives, and 8 in 45 Ministerial appointments.
“We have gathered here to learn to lead and be able to drive innovation across industry fronts in our socio-economic environment. Prepare yourselves as we listen today so that we have an open mind. Learning does not stop, it is continuous, we must continue to learn. We must remain curious, remain adaptable and remain informed because that is how we rise,” she said.
During the keynote lecture, the Group Head of Human Resources at SIFAX Group, Mr. Oluwakayode Alonge, listed some of the key leadership traits for women to include honesty and integrity, grit and resilience, discipline beyond motivation, responsibility, and proactiveness.
According to him, women with these traits and adequate preparation will make it difficult to be denied access to positions that they duly merit and when such women get into positions they will be better placed to bring premium value.
Mr. Alonge equally inspired the participants to realise that no one can empower them as much as they could empower themselves, stressing the importance of the right mindset in their respective fields of endeavour.
Corroborating Igbokwe’s assertion that women are better human resource (HR) managers, Alonge disclosed that SIFAX Group has over 70 percent of its HR team as women managing the workforce of the multinational which has over 3000 workers.
Speaking during the panel session, a former Director of Human Resources, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mrs. Ada Okam, observed the need to lead with empathy as she recalled how a honest compliment to a former colleague at NSC opened an avenue to give counsel and encouragement to the divorce-traumatized worker.
“We must realise that the leadership traits for today’s ever-changing economy include visionary leaders that are people-centric. Women leaders must learn to reward outstanding performance. Be quick to give praise and encouragement for work done. Be quick to empower and mentor a lot. Be open and flexible especially when handling criticisms,” Okam stated.
Meanwhile, Amb. Ijeoma Chukwu, who represented the Special Adviser to the Imo State Governor on Aviation, Mrs. Rejoice Ndudinachi, underscored the need for women to learn financial intelligence and be more prudent with their spending.
Chukwu argued that savings, acquiring assets and exploring investments will be more beneficial to Nigerian women who intend to do exploits in their respective professions and careers, adding that financial capacity also influences the growth trajectory of women across several industries.
In his welcome remarks, the Founder of MMS WoFHoF Initiative, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke, stated that the event marked the MMS Hall of Famers’ Day and was in sync with the season of International Women’s Day 2025.
Anaroke posited the summit is a strategic platform to build capacity for women he described as ‘jewels’ and ‘change agents’.
While commending the MMS Hall of Famers for their mentorship service as role models to the next generation of women leaders, he bemoaned the demise of a 2021 MMS Hall of Famer, Mrs. Mary Hamman and led the participants to observe a 1-minute silence in her honour.
The event featured several maritime bigwigs; including the chairperson of Women in Logistics and Transport (WILAT), Mr. Khadijat Sheidu-Shabi; Group Head of LTT Marine and Coastal Services, Mrs. Theodora Nwaeze, who moderated the panel session; President of Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Otunba Frank Ogunojemite; President, Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN), Mr. Godfrey Bivbere, among others.
