TOP MARITIME WOMEN IN NIGERIA
Ify
Anozonwu
Akerele
I
ffy Anozonwu Akerele is one
of the women that have made
a name in the maritime sector
of the Nigerian economy. She is
among the first few women in the
maritime industry, and the
pioneer Director-General of
Nigerian Chamber of Shipping,
an affiliate to the International
Chamber of Shipping. She led
the Chamber for ten years, and
was honoured with a life
member of the Board of Trustees.
She was also a former President
of Women in Shipping and Trade
Association (WISTA),
andMember and Ambassador of
the Women in Maritime Africa.
Iffy started her career with the
Federal Ministry of Internal
Affairs (NIIA), and later served as
the Special Assistant and
Administrative Assistant to the
DG, Nigerian Institute of
International Affairs. She later set
up the Institute of Directors of
Nigeria with some others,
working as the Executive
Secretary. From there, she
moved to the Nigerian Institute of
Management, and then to the
Presidential Liaison Office in the
senate during Obasanjo
administration.
She holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in Sociology from the
University of Lagos, a Master's
degree in International Relations
and Corporate Administration.
Elegant, delectable lady whose
pretty mien belies her hard
background, Iffy believes that
her organizational flair stemmed
from her childhood. As a
thirteen-year-old girl, she had
lost her father who was a
prominent medical practitioner.
The death was a rude shock to
the closely-knit family and
everyone found it difficult to
cope, especially her mum who
was still quite young. To
compound everything, one month
later, the civil war broke out. “I
automatically grew up fast and
learnt to look after my siblings
and my mum who was quite
shattered. I just found myself
being strong for other people,
hardly remembering my own self.
I don't know who gave me the
mandate, but I felt I was the one to
protect the family,” she always
recalls.
This childhood experience
prepared her for life of
management of men and
resources. Unknown to her she
was being empowered with skills
that would shape her destiny.
Looking back now at how those
organizational skills have
contributed tremendously to her
success as the pioneer DG of the
NCS, transforming the chamber
from nothing to a key player in
the maritime industry, Iffy says
she has got every reason to be
grateful for those bitter childhood
pills. She is indeed a bundle of
inspiration to young, growing
women.
Elegant, delectable lady
whose pretty mien belies
her hard background, Iffy
believes that her
organizational flair stemmed
from her childhood. As a
thirteen-year-old girl, she had
lost her father who was a
prominent medical
practitioner. The death was a
rude shock to the closely-knit
family and everyone found it
difficult to cope, especially her
mum who was still quite young.
To compound everything, one
month later, the civil war broke
out. “I automatically grew up
fast and learnt to look after my
siblings and my mum who was
quite shattered. I just found
myself being strong for other
people, hardly remembering
my own self. I don't know who
gave me the mandate, but I felt
I was the one to protect the
family,” she always
recalls.
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