WISTA Nigeria Elections Done, Dusted; NPA’s Ezeoke Emerges Winner
By DAPO OLAWUNI
Mrs Eunice Ezeoke, an Assistant General Manager, Tariff and Billing, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has been elected as new President of the Women International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria.
Ezeoke was elected during the Annual General Meeting and elections of officers of WISTA Nigeria, held in Lagos on Thursday.
She solicited members’ cooperation.
She assured that her executives will ensure collaboration with all members to enable them achieve their mandate of getting a befitting Secretariat for the association.
She promised to continue to build on the networking of stakeholders and technical capabilities to help boost the objectives of WISTA.
“It is my fervent desire to take women empowerment to the next level in the maritime and trading community.
“My prime objective is to sustain the good achievements that WISTA – Nigeria has recorded over the years and build on the existing foundation to protect our impact locally and internationally.
“Our relationship with regional branches of WISTA as well as WISTA International
will be strengthend to the benefit of all members and we will once again work as a team to achieve greatness,” Ezeoke said.
In her opening speech, the immediate past President of WISTA Nigeria, Mrs Mary Hamman, commended the support of all members which had assisted her and her executives in taking the association to the next level.
“The journey of my tenure started in 2015 on a sad note because that was the day I got news of the death of my elder sister.
“I appreciated the Almighty God who had given me the strength and courage to face the storm and guided us throughout the tenure.
“We took over the administration of WISTA Nigeria, which I ran for two tenures with 43 financial members and now we have over 130 financial members.
“We are privileged to be part of WISTA Nigeria in the international by witnessing our admission into the International Maritime Organisation(IMO) and also getting a Consultative status by signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently with everybody’s administration,” Hamman said.
She said that WISTA Nigeria had also gotten increased international recognition as well as local recognition by key maritime players and government of some states.
Hamman urged all the incoming executives to work as a team to enable them achieve their aims in the next two years of their tenure.
The electoral commission comprised WISTA Nigeria Diamonds members who officiated and coordinated the election process.
They were: Mrs Funmi Folorunsho, Pioneer WISTA Nigeria President; Mrs Funke Agbor, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mrs Joy Chiori WISTA Diamond and Mrs Roseline Macfoy.
Agbor said that Mrs Eunice Ezeoke, emerged as WISTA Nigeria President with 36 votes; Ortsematosan Edodo-Emore with 16 votes; Mrs Victoria Tarfa with 15 votes and Obiagelli Obi with 12 votes.
Agbo said that Mrs Ann Akpan emerged as the Vice President of WISTA; Dr (Mrs) Odunayo Ani Treasurer, Madam Obiagelli Nweke, Assistant Treasurer; and Mrs Aisha Cole emerged unopposed as the Assistant Secretary.
“Also Mrs Chizoba Anyika emerged as the Secretary with 36 votes; Mrs Lilian Nneji with 30 votes; and Mrs Helen Majemite with 12 votes.
” Mrs Sarah Roberts emerged the Public Relations Officer with 28 votes; Mrs Tokunbo Ajila-Jakande elected the Assistant Public Relations Officer with 27 votes; and Arit Nwokedi with 17 votes.
The occasion was graced by Mrs Jean Chiazor-Anishere Anishere for President of WISTA, also the Continental President of Women in Maritime Africa (WIMAfrica) Mrs Caroline Ufere, amiable diamonds, mentors and dedicated members of the association.
PHOTO CAPTION
From left: the newly elected President of Women International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Mrs Eunice Ezeoke, Mrs Serah Roberts, PRO, Mrs Ann Akpan, Mrs Chizoba Anyika the Secretary, Mrs Aisha Cole, the Assist. Secretary, Dr Odunayo Ani the Treasurer, Madam Obiagelli NWEKE the Assist. Treasurer and Mrs Tokunbo Ajila-Jakande the Assist. PRO are the newly elected WISTA Nigeria Executives during the 2020 AGM and Election of officers of WISTA Nigeria, held in Lagos on Thursday.