… Kingibe, Akutah, Dantsoho, Mobereola to speak at the event
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator (Dr.) George Akume, will be honoured with the Distinguished Leadership Award at the 2025 edition of the MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame (WoFHoF), scheduled for November 20, 2025, at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
Akume, who will also serve as the Chief Guest of Honour, joins an array of eminent leaders and state governors at the one-day event themed “Fostering Sustainability, Women and Leadership with Technologies”.
The event will be chaired by Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, while Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State is among the award recipients. Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State, recognised as Nigeria’s “Executive Farmer Governor,” is also confirmed as a Chief Guest of Honour.
Other honorees include Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, First Lady of Bauchi State; Hajia Zainab Nasare Nasir Idris, First Lady of Kebbi State; Dr. Dili Ezughah, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council; Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka, CEO, Project E; Dr. Faisal Shua’ib, former Executive Director/CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency; Hon. Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, CEO, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI); and Hajia Aisha Atiku-Bagudu, who will be crowned MMS Hall of Fame Face of Northern Women.
This year’s ceremony marks 13 years of the MMS Hall of Fame legacy, renowned for celebrating leadership excellence and promoting impactful governance across public and private sectors.
2025 Inductees and Special Guests
The 2025 WoFHoF inductees include Chief Mrs. Faustina Ngozi Egbunike, Founder, Faustina Egbunike Foundation; Amb. Mrs. Jane Ogo Egbo, Founder, Paradise Mission for Widows and Teenage Girls; Dr. Ngozi Azodoh, Senior Special Adviser on Health to the Abia State Governor; Hajiya Sa’adatu Hussaini Agade, former Permanent Secretary; Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy; High Chief Dr. Rosevivian Chigekwu, CEO, Happiest Soaring Eagle Entrepreneur Academy; Hajia Maryam Ciroma, former Minister of Women Affairs; and Dr. Stella Iwuagwu, CEO, Centre for the Right to Health.
Others are Mrs. Aloysius Faithhope, Maritime Marketing and Logistics Specialist; Prof. Elizabeth Ugo, Faculty of Education, Federal University of Lafia; Engr. Mrs. Adedolapo Helen, CEO, Magnificent Works; and Amb. Aisha Mahmoud, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigeria-Russia Trade and Investment Advisory Council.
Summit and Awards Night
The event will feature a morning summit with two panel sessions and an induction ceremony, followed by an evening Leadership-Impact and SDGs Awards Night.
According to the organising chairperson, Amb. Nana Aisha Mahmoud, the 2025 edition aims to “intentionally promote sustainability in gender diversity across critical sectors of the economy, enhance the inclusion of technology in alternative and informal education, and encourage greater participation of Northern Nigerian women in socio-economic and political development”.
She added that this year’s focus aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in addressing barriers to women’s access to education and empowerment.
Corporate Awardees and Recognitions
In addition to individual honorees, Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) will be honoured for outstanding performance in gender policy compliance.
The MMS Hall of Fame’s recent assessment of 24 commercial banks and six non-interest banks found only five meeting the compliance benchmark, with Zenith and GTCO exceeding the Central Bank of Nigeria’s gender inclusion targets of 30% female board representation and 40% in senior management.
Zenith Bank will receive the Best Gender-Diversity, Equality & Inclusion (DEI) Bank in Nigeria Award, while GTCO will be honoured as the Best CBN Gender Policy Compliant Bank 2025.
Other corporate recipients include Skelas Group, LTT Coastal and Marine Services Limited, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), and Tyse Group.
The Emir of Nasarawa, His Royal Highness (Hon. Justice Dr. Sidi Bage Muhammad I, CFR, JSC Rtd), will serve as Father of the Day.
Speakers and Dignitaries
The event will feature a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Sen. Ireti Kingibe, Chair, Senate Committee on Women Affairs; Dr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah, Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council; Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director/CEO, Nigerian Ports Authority; and Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director General/CEO, NIMASA.
Other notable speakers are Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy; Dr. Ifenyinwa Ogbonna-Nwaogu, Faculty of Social Sciences, NOUN, Abuja (Keynote Speaker); Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs; Mr. Obed Levite, CEO, Hashtag Digital Limited; Dr. Mohammed Sani Idris, Executive Secretary/CEO, National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE); and Charles Odii, Director-General/CEO, SMEDAN.
The event will be hosted by Chief Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa, Chief Host, and Mr. Kingsley Anaroke, Founder/CEO, MMS WoFHoF Initiative.