Death is a path of equity that we all must travel. However, only good name defeats death.
Hon. Mrs. Promise Anaroke is dead but she lives on in the lives of many business, political and maritime industry players. She passed on recently after a brief illness in Lagos.
Meanwhile, a night of tributes in her honour is being planned by maritime industry stakeholders for Thursday, November 7th, 2019 at Eagle Club, Surulere, Lagos.
Her family led by Mr. Kingsley Anaroke, the husband and Publisher of MMS Plus newspapers, has continued to receive visitors on condolence visits. Even death would have been shocked and embarrassed by the deluge of condolence messages and inspiring remarks on her personality while living.
Among those who have been on commiseration visits were the board and management of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) led by the Executive Secretary/CEO, Mr. Hassan Bello and Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi. It was a surprise visit done in company of all the NSC directors and board members, defying the weather to give hope to the bereaved family.
In the condolence letter signed by Bello himself, the council stated: “With deep sense of loss and grief, I write on behalf of the Management and staff of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to commiserate with you on the untimely demise of your beloved wife, Mrs. Promise Anaroke.
“The magnitude and propensity of this unfortunate incident is indeed very difficult to quantify, knowing the deceased pedigree in her sphere of influence, socially and politically. We join to mourn this great loss and sympathize immeasurably with you, while praying that the Almighty gives you an uncommon fortitude to tide through this time,” the letter added.
Former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Temi Omatseye, also defied the flood in Lagos that bad Saturday to condole with the deceased’s family.
The former Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Chief Executive Officer of Le Look Nigeria Limited, Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa visited as the President of Women in Maritime Africa (WIMAfrica), Mrs. Jean Chiazor Anishere and former General Manager, Servicom, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Mrs. Carol Ufere, showed and poured their empathy on visit.
The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman in a condolence letter signed by herself, said the management and staff of NPA “received with rude shock the demise of your wife.”
“We are deeply saddened by your loss knowing how difficult it would be to fill the vacuum her demise may have created in your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your entire family during this time of grief, even as we pray that God will give you the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” she noted.
A team of Corporate and Strategic Communications staff of NPA led by their General Manager, Engr. Jatto Adams had gone on condolence visit to the MMS Plus head office in Lagos, where they were received by Mr. Kingsley Anaroke.
The late Mrs Anaroke was a member of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA-Nigeria) where she was a one time Public Relations Officer, So, the entire WISTA executives and members led by the Vice President, Mrs. Eunice Ezeoke visited.
“Words are hardly ever adequate to console a bereaved person but we do hope that you look up to the Lord Almighty for fortitude to bear this colossal loss,” WISTA stated in their condolence letter signed by the President, Mary Hamman and Secretary, Helen Majemite.
According to the Women in Logistics and Transport (WILAT) Nigeria, where the late Mrs Anaroke also belonged, “It is with sense of great loss we heard of the death of your wife, Mrs. Promise Anaroke. Promise is one of us and also part of the success story of WiLAT Nigeria before moving to Enugu for her political pursuit. Her demise is no doubt a huge loss to WiLAT and CILT at large.”
The condolence letter signed by the chairperson, Mrs. Folake George, further read, “On behalf of WiLAT Nigeria, we express our heartfelt condolence and sympathy over her demise.”
Folake equally led a team of WiLAT executives on a condolence visit after the founder and former global convener, Hajia Aisha Ali-Ibrahim, who is now the General Manager, Marine and Operations of NPA visited.
In its condolence message, SIFAX Group of companies stated, “We received the news of her death with rude shock and wondered why she had to depart at this time when her continuous support to the family is badly needed.
“From the testimonies of your friends and other well-wishers, we have read on the social media, we can submit that she was a good woman, devoted wife and a dedicated Christian who served God and humanity with all steadfastness and sacrifice. It is our hope that the family will sustain and build on the good legacies left behind by the departed soul,” the letter stated.
Signed by the Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akande, the letter further noted, “We pray that God Almighty will grant you and other members of the family fortitude to bear this great loss.”
Also, the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners(NAMM) paid their respect to the deceased with a condolence visit led by its former President Capt. Tony Olugbode in company of its strategic members of staff.
In their condolence message signed for the President, Capt. Tajudeen Alao, NAMM stated, “ Please, accept our deepest sympathy on her demise. It is our hope that her highly productive life in the way of the Lord will be a source of satisfaction for you at this time of your grief.”
Members of the freight forwarding community were not left out in the pain sharing. Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, the founder of the National Association of Government Approved Forwarders(NAGAFF) had gone on commiseration visit to the family before the executive members of NAGAFF led by the president, Chief Uche Increase visited.
In their condolence message, NAGAFF stated that “Mrs Promise Anaroke was a well-known person to us and we make bold to say that she was a caring wife, dutiful mother and compassionate professional who would be surely missed by her family, colleagues and the maritime industry in general.
“We are however consoled by the fact that she lived a community life which shall make her memory to remain indelible in the minds of everyone that came in contact with her,” it noted.
The former President of NAGAFF, Dr. Eugene Nweke, Dr. Zebulon Ikokide, President of Institute of Freight Forwarders Nigeria and Customs Brokers (IFFNCB), members of Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (AAPFFLON) led by its National President, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite and the Executive Director of Sea Empowerment Initiative, Mr. Aniezechukwu Uchechukwu, the National Publicity Secretary of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Joe Sanni, paid condolence visit to the family of the late Promise Anaroke, last week.
Former Registrar/CEO of Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Amb. Sir Mike Jukwe in a condolence letter, said he received the news with shock, urging the family to take solace in the fact that she lived and died in Christ hence our Lord Jesus Christ has called her to occupy her mansion that is ready.
The Chairman Ports Consultative Council (PCC), Otunba Kunle Folarin, the Director General of Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Ms. Obiageli Obi, Assistant Controller General (ACG) Charles Edike (rtd), the Vice President of Sunrise Club of Inyi, Engr. Oliver Akabuogu, the Administrative Secretary of Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIoTA), Mr. Nnamdi Eronini, all commiserated in persons with the family.
The maritime media showed an unusual solidarity to their colleague who is bereaved as the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers (LOMEP), Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN), Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) paid condolence visit.
MARAN in its condolence letter, stated, “It came as a real shock to the association when this news reached us. Members of MARAN who have known Promise Anaroke over the years described her as a go-getter, an astute politician, a successful business woman and indeed a very accommodating person. We know how dear a friend and partner she was to you and we know she would be missed”
