TOP MARITIME WOMEN IN NIGERIA
Jean
Chiazor-Anishere
J
ean Chiazor-Anishere is one
of the gems of maritime law
practice and a pride to
women in the industry. A woman
legal practitioner of many firsts
she was in October last year
(2018) inaugurated as the
African President, Women in
Maritime Industry
(WIMAFRICA), where she is
working to make the new group
of African women in maritime a
strong organization for women in
the African maritime
industryand a voice in African
Union (AU). She has been the
president of Women
International Shipping and
Trading Association (WISTA-
NIG).
My JAMB had
nothing to do
with studying
Law. I chose to
study Medicine
and Optometry,
and I was
admitted into
in University of
Benin
Jean Chiazor-Anishere did not she left Olisa Agbakoba and
start her career in maritime. She Associates to open her own law
started her legal practice at the firm, Jean Chiazor & Co. “My
Federal Ministry of Justice, venture into Law practice is an
where she worked at the exciting one,” says lively Jean.
Department of Director Public She had not planned to be a
Prosecutions (DPP). She moved lawyer. But her father diverted
on to the private sector to work her to the profession. “My JAMB
with Jane Afolabi & Co as a had nothing to do with studying
solicitor for 18 months and later Law. I chose to study Medicine
with the late Bayo Kehinde and Optometry, and I was
(SAN). Her entry into maritime admitted into in University of
was in 1998 when Olisa Benin. It was my late father, Dr.
Agbakoba invited her to manage (Chief) Philip Chiazor, who was a
his Law firm because of his other broadcaster and the General
human rights activities. “It was Manager of Bendel Broadcasting
there that I was introduced to Services, who felt that one of his
Maritime Law practice and got children should be a lawyer…he
stuck till date,” she quips. Later chose me to drive his ambition
through.”
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