*Kingibe, Akutah, Dantsoho, Mobereola to Speak
Some eminent Nigerians have been selected to be honoured with the Distinguished Leadership Award at the 2025 edition of the MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame (WoFHoF).
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kings Communication and Founder of WoFHoF, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke in a press release made available to Maritime Bits disclosed that the event is scheduled for November 20, 2025, at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja on November 20, 2025.
Those to be honoured include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and his counterpart in Zamfara State, Mr. Dauda Lawal.
Other honorees include the First Lady of Bauchi State, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed; First Lady of Kebbi State, Hajia Zainab Nasare Nasir Idris; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council (NPC), Dr. Dili Ezughah; CEO, Project E, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka; former Executive Director/CEO, National Primary Health Care, Dr. Faisal Shua’ib; CEO, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons(NCFRMI), Hon. Tijani Aliyu Ahmed; and Hajia Aisha Atiku-Bagudu who will be crowned MMS Hall of Fame Face of Northern Women.
His Royal Highness (HRH) Hon. Justice Sidi Bage Muhammed 1 (retired), Life Bencher and Emir of Nasarawa State will be father of the day.
Anaroke also revealed in the statement that Akume will serve as the Chief Guest of Honour at the at the one-day event with the theme “Fostering Sustainability, Women and Leadership with Technologies.”
According to the statement, the Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Bago has been confirmed as chief guest of honour while Sule will chair the event. The event also marks 13 years of the MMS Hall of Fame legacy, known for spotlighting leadership excellence and inspiring impact-driven governance in both public and private sectors.
2025 MMS WoFHoF inductees also include the Founder, Faustina Egbunike Foundation, Chief (Mrs.) Faustina Ngozi Egbunike; Founder, Paradise Mission for Widows and Teenage Girls, Ambassador (Mrs.) Jane Ogo Egbo; and the Senior Special Adviser on Health to the Abia State Governor, Dr. Ngozi Azodoh; former Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Sa’adatu Husssaini Agade; Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa; CEO, Happiest Soaring Eagle Entrepreneur Academy, High Chief, Rosevivian Chigekwu; former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Maryam Ciroma, and the CEO, Centre for the Right to Health, Dr. Stella Iwuagwu.
Others are Maritime Marketing/Logistics Specialist, Mrs. Aloysius Faithhope; Professor Elizabeth Ugo of the Faculty of Education, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State; CEO, Magnificent Works, Engr. (Mrs.) Adedolapo Helen; and the Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigeria-Russia Trade and Investment Advisory Council, Ambassador Aisha Mahmoud.
According to the statement, the event will also feature a morning summit with two thought-provoking panel sessions and an induction ceremony followed by an evening segment dedicated to the Leadership-Impact and SDGs Awards Night.
It also quoted the organising chairperson, Ambassador Nana Aisha Mahmoud saying that this year’s edition is designed to “intentionally promote sustainability in gender diversity across critical sectors of the economy and the inclusion of technology in alternative and informal education, while encouraging stronger participation of northern Nigerian women in socio-economic and political development.”
Mahmoud noted that addressing the challenges limiting women’s access to education and empowerment is central to the 2025 focus, aligning with the broader UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Meanwhile, Zenith Bank Plc (ZB) and Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) will also be honoured at the event after emerging as Nigeria’s top performers in gender policy compliance, in a recent assessment by MMS Hall of Fame.
The evaluation which covered 24 commercial and six non-interest banks, examined annual reports, sustainability disclosures, and gender representation in leadership over a three-year period.
Only five banks met the compliance benchmark with ZB and GTCO standing out for exceeding the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) gender inclusion targets 30 percent female representation on boards and 40 percent in senior management.
ZB will receive the award for Best Gender-Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) Bank in Nigeria while GTCO was named Best CBN Gender Policy Compliant Bank 2025.
Other corporate awardees are Skelas Group; LTT Coastal and Marine Services Limited; Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC); and Tyse Group.
Speakers and guests of honours include; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola; Dr. Ifenyinwa Ogbonna-Nwaogu of the Faculty of Social Sciences, NOUN, Abuja, keynote speaker; Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim; Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Ireti Kingibe; CEO, Hashtag Digital Limited, Mr. Obed Levite; Executive Secretary, National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE), Dr. Mohammed Sani Idris; and the Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria(SMEDAN), Charles Odii.
Other speakers are the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; Founder and CEO, Le Look Nigeria Limited, Chief (Mrs.) Chinwe Ezenwa; Founder/CEO, MMS WoFHoF Initiative, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke; and the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola.
