Rollens Macfoy Emerges President of WIMA-Nigeria

By Kenneth Jukpor

The Managing Director of OceanDeep Services Limited, Mrs. Rollens Macfoy on Tuesday emerged the newly elected President of the Nigerian chapter of African Women in Maritime Africa (WIMAfrica).

A former Director General of Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Mrs. Ify Akerele headed Electoral Committee which presided over the elections and announced the results on Tuesday in Lagos.

Akerele noted that the election was a keenly contested one, as Macfoy obtained 26 votes to defeat Mrs Obiageli Obi who scored 20 votes, stressing that there was a need for all women in the maritime industry to maintain level of integrity and professionalism.

She commended the efforts of the past executive of WIMA-Nigeria, adding that they extended a lot of Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) to the needy in the maritime sector despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Akerele also urged more women to join the association and support the new executives to succeed.

In her acceptance speech, Macfoy commended the electoral committee and other continental bodies present at the election ground to ensure the election was free and fair.

Macfoy appreciated the support of the higher enclave for proper direction and also commended all the new members for witnessing the election without even casting their vote following the constitution of the association.

“I appreciate the existing members present, whether you voted for me or not, the issue now is that WIMA-Nigeria must go forward. I pledge to take reasonable counsel from different authorities, I will deliver and take the association to the next level. I thank all the contestants for having the courage to step out because of the prevalence issue,” she said.

Macfoy equally commended the effort of the Continental President, Barr. Jean-Chiazor Anishere (SAN) and the immediate past President of WIMA-Nigeria, Hajia Bola Muse, for the laudable platform they had created.

The former Public Relations Officer and the Continental Coordinator of WIMAfrica, Mrs. Carol Ufere, tasked the new executives to ensure they bring every member onboard and collaborate with other sister associations.

She advised them not to lose the vision and the objectives of the association, adding that they were expected to make the association attain a higher standard by always staying united and speaking with one voice.

Meanwhile, the Continental President of WIMAfrica, Anishere, congratulated the new executives led by Mrs. Macfoy, adding that she is extremely excited that “those who are qualified, well-skilled and dedicated are those who turned up and won at the polls today.”

“My appreciation to God for the professional way the election was handled by the Ambassadors of Nigeria who were appointed by General Assembly to be members of the officiating board that conducted the election. I congratulate Rollens Macfoy who served as Secretary during my tenure as President, and during the tenure of the immediate-past President, she served as the Vice-President. Macfoy had been very dedicated to the ideal of WIMAfrica in general,” Anishere said.

At the polls, Hajia Aisha Cole emerged the Public Relations Officer of WIMA-Nigeria unopposed while Lola Adesakan was elected as the Assistant PRO with 43 votes as Jumoke Olowookere scored two votes.

Other unopposed executive positions officers were; Mrs Stella Falaye as Vice President, Mrs. Chinyere Azike as Secretary, Mrs. Benjamin Obiageluakuchukwu as Assistant Secretary, Theodora Nwaeze as Treasurer and Oluwadamilola Adebamipe as National Coordinator.