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MOST IMPACTFUL AND AWARD-WINNING FEMALE CEO’S THAT CONTRIBUTED TO NIGERIA’S GDP GROWTH IN 2022

By Guardian Nigeria
20 March 2023   |   7:15 am
Tanwa Ashiru: A Stallion Stride Over Intelligence, Security Tanwa Ashiru is the Chief Executive Officer of Bulwark Intelligence Solutions (BIS), a security, risk and consultant company that has won different awards on security, intelligence and information gathering within and outside Nigeria. Having served in the U.S. Air Force, the Nigerian-born security expert has over 19 years experience…

Tanwa Ashiru: A Stallion Stride Over Intelligence, Security

Tanwa Ashiru is the Chief Executive Officer of Bulwark Intelligence Solutions (BIS), a security, risk and consultant company that has won different awards on security, intelligence and information gathering within and outside Nigeria. Having served in the U.S. Air Force, the Nigerian-born security expert has over 19 years experience in security, information gathering and intelligence analysis. She was involved in the U.S. counter-insurgency, counter Improved Explosive Device (IED) and the counter-terrorism operations in Southwest Asia, Middle East and Africa.

She is a fellow of the Association of Enterprise Risk Management Professionals (AERMP), a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and a senior member of many industry organizations. Her company has rendered services and training for several local and international corporations including the Northern Alliance Treaty Organization (NATO), the Nigerian Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), U.S. Embassy in Abuja, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigerian Navy SBS, U.S. Army Africa Forces (USARAF), Department of State Services (DSS), Halogen Group, the Nigeria Police Force, (NPF) and among others.

What is Bulwark Intelligence Solutions all about?

Bulwark Intelligence is a security, intelligence and defense solutions company which provides enterprise security risk management to our clients. We help our clients identify and manage security risks while they’re operating in Africa. Take for example, a businessman who wants to set up an industrial farm in the middle belt of Nigeria which is perhaps an area he is not too familiar with. He can approach Bulwark to help him assess all security threats, both physical and cyber, to his business assets and put measures in place to minimize his company’s security risks exposure. We do this through risk assessments, risk advisory, security intelligence reports, investigations, trainings, and consultation. This is the security service we provide to our private sector clients. On the other hand, we have defense and intelligence solutions which we provide to our public sector clients in the military and law enforcement clients.

How has your experience in the United States of America military impacted on your job in the country?

The first thing that comes to mind is the discipline. Discipline is one of the first things they instill in you from the first day of Airman basic training. You will wake up at 4a.m. everyday and are immediately engaged in activities that will push you to your limits throughout the day. You are physically and mentally tasked to bring out the best in you; that discipline has not left me. This spurs me to put in the level of work and dedication that I put into the things I do. To be honest, even till date, I enjoyed working with the U.S. Air Force because of the discipline inculcated in me. I was also trained to be straight forward and get straight to the point. Integrity is one of the core values I got from there. Doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Being true to yourself, being disciplined with achieving your goal. Staying focused, dogged and determined until that goal is achieved, even if it is outside your comfort zone. This mindset is really what that has helped me to succeed and it is part of the lessons I received from my time in the U.S. military.

How has information gathering and intelligence helped to solve the nation’s security challenges?

I worked within the United States of America’s intelligence community. I was exposed to how the intelligence cycle works, everything from when information is gathered, to being analyzed and shared or disseminated to the end user. So, I know exactly how it is supposed to work. When I got to Nigeria and started working within the security sector, I soon realized that there was definitely a gap in the intelligence process. So, we have a lot of people who are gathering information but that information not properly being analyzed. We have those who are analyzing it properly, but they are not sharing or disseminating it to those that need it. And then, we have the ones that are being shared and disseminated, but the end user is largely ignoring it.

 

I noticed these gaps occur at each point of the intelligence cycle. So, what I try to do on the tactical side, especially when we provide intelligence analysis training for our public sector clients, is to show our intelligence analysts how they can overcome these obstacles. Such as getting the attention of the end user and decision maker. For example, say the user of this intelligence is the President, who is a very busy man, and because he has a lot of things to do at a time, the information or intelligence you are sending to him must be extremely brief and straight to the point. It has to cover all the key points that he needs — the who, when, how and where, and why. Most importantly, you need to include a lot of visual aids to drive home the points he needs to know. Visual aids help simplify the information or show the gravity or the full picture of a situation so that an informed decision can be made. On the strategic side, we show the leadership how to utilize and query the data. We also show them how to bring out the best in their analysts.

Security, intelligence, threat assessment are in the domain of men, what are the gender challenges you are currently facing going into this area?     

It is indeed a male dominated one and I am one of the few females in the sector. This has some advantages and disadvantage. Often, when people remember the need for diversity, I am one of the first females they remember to call, to be a part of the conversation. That’s one advantage I truly enjoy. Getting a seat at the table is one thing, but being able to speak and get your voice heard is another. As a woman, I have to work a little harder to make sure that they understand that I am at the table to share useful strategies and contributions for a better national security or the security of the enterprise.

Across the world, women in military and law enforcement are more trusted within their communities than their male counterparts. For example, research shows that when women are involved in peace discussion or conflict resolution, the solutions are longer lasting. So, women do have a very strong role to play in the security, intelligence, defense and peace of a nation. It is unfortunate that this has not been fully recognized in Nigeria. Women analyze things a lot; we are really good as intelligence analysts, and cyber security analysts and so on. These strengths need to be better harnessed.

On the other hand, some of the disadvantages I’ve experienced as a female in a patriarchal society and industry stem from cultural peculiarities. Some cultures or people still have the mindset that women are to be seen and not to be heard. Although, I have lost some deals or contracts because I could not have back-channel discussions or do things that are not by the books. This means that it might take me a longer time to have those wins, but it is sweeter knowing that those wins came as a result of hard work and diligence, and not by compromising one’s value. 

 Did your background prepare you for these challenges?

My mother was a business leader in her industry. She retired as a managing director in an advertising agency. I can recall as a girl, how my mother would pick me up from the daycare to her office, where I will sit behind her big desk in her big office. I knew she was a leader. I remember growing up when people would ask me, what would you be in future? I would reply: “I want to be a business leader.” I studied business administration, with an emphasis in marketing because I thought I was going to go into advertising like my mom. I tried it out for a while, but it did not work out for me; so, I went back into the defense and security industry, which, it turns out, I had really come to enjoy.

Although security came naturally for me, I had take time to learn about business and leadership. Thankfully, I am a fast learner. I spend time reading lot of books about business, leadership, accounting, marketing, among others. I take the time out to learn what it takes to succeed in these areas and quite frankly, I am still learning.

I have also learned the value of having mentors. I have a lot of strong and successful mentors within the defense, security, intelligence and business communities. I respect my mentors and value the time and wisdom they share with me. They have really helped me understand more about strategic thinking and leadership.

 

 How long have you been on this job?

Bulwark was incorporated in 2012, but business officially started around 2015. So, it has been an interesting eight year journey thus far. I always advise young people not to despise their days of humble beginnings. The period of one’s wilderness or obscurity is the opportune time to hone their skills, so that when the time comes for that public revealing they are ready.  There is a saying that: “Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.” All those years of working and no one sees you or calls you, are periods of preparation.  When the opportunity comes, and you get a call to provide a solution, you will be able to sort it out. When you get the job or contract, people will say you were lucky. But no, it’s not luck. It means your days of preparation finally met with an opportunity.

These eight years of business have taught me so much. I have made some mistakes and learnt from them. Over the years, I have learnt to spend quality time with people, who can talk to me and tell me the truth about the nature of things. I appreciate straightforwardness and verbal encouragement. I have been blessed to have a community of loved ones, friends and mentors that can help give me the firm or encouraging words that I need. I have also learned to pray and trust God to work things out. Work, Pray and keep going.

Why do you think The Guardian Newspapers chose you as one of the 50 outstanding female CEOs in 2022 to be part this project?

Perhaps you needed a female voice that could represent defense and security in the private sector (laughs). I appreciate the recognition. It is always encouraging to know that one’s efforts and hard work is being noticed and welcomed. Being a successful CEO is about have a strong team. As a CEO, I have worked hard on encouraging the team to key into the vision of the organization so that we are working together as a family, towards a common goal.

What are your plans and vision in the next five years?

We are going to expand Bulwark’s global reach. The truth is there are very few indigenous African organizations that provide enterprise security risk management solutions across the global market. Even the ones that dominate the African market are foreign firms. We are going to work towards expanding our reach across Africa. We are going to look into getting more women involved in security so that we can bring more stability to African communities. We are going to work with key strategic partners that can help in not just bringing the necessary defense and intelligence tools and equipment to ensure the sovereignty of African nations and communities are secure, but also, to establish and develop the necessary intelligence skillsets and defense production capabilities within the continent.

I am so passionate about the peace, security, and stability of African communities, so I am going to keep working with global stakeholders on key strategies and recommendations for promoting non-kinetic military involvements so that the relationships between security personnel and the communities they serve remain healthy. The overarching goal is peace and stability across Africa so that her nations and people can thrive.

Interior De Choix Ltd – Dr. Preye Bobmanuel

PREYE ZIKO BOBMANUEL: Pursuing Passion, Mentoring Women, Youths For Better Society

PREYE ZIKO BOBMANUEL is an accomplished executive with domestic and international experience in real estate operations, and marketing involving both start-up and growth organisations. The University of Port Harcourt-trained Psychologist also has a second degree in accounting from the Enugu State University (ESU) and an MBA from the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. 

 She is the Founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Interior De Choix Ltd., and Jasmine Stores and Studio.  

 Currently the most sought-after speaker on real estate advisory matters, Dr. Bobmanuel is a cerebral writer and has authored several books on entrepreneurship guide for women doing business Nigeria among which is She- Executive.

  As a philanthropist of note, she has carved a niche for herself in the industry through coaching, directing, empowering, inspiring and equipping new realtors in Africa.

  She has also received several awards both within and outside the country, among which is the Doctor of Business from ESGT University, Benin Republic. In 2022, she emerged winner of the Entrepreneur Africa Awards (TEA) as the Outstanding Female Entrepreneur of the Year.

How did you start Interieurs De Choix and Jasmine Studio?

  I have actually had various companies. I fell in love with entrepreneurship and never looked back. I started my business by coming up with an idea that I am passionate about — which is interior decorations and beauty enhancements. After this, I did a research into the idea that enabled me to create a niche for my self and product. I also invested in some quality marketing tools and strategies to help get my business off the ground.

 Starting the business, I focused on my set goals and keep things moving forward.

What were the challenges that propelled you on?

   One of the challenges is funding and I know most start-up business owners suffer this I the country. Getting the need help to get businesses off the ground has always being a problem. Raising capital is even more difficult for women-owned businesses. Most investors typically look for already established businesses that can grow their valuation rather than funding start-ups. Again, defying social expectations and the struggle to be taken seriously, as a female entrepreneur in a male dominated industry as earning respect has been a struggle. To overcome this, I had to learn to build my confidence and overcome negative self-talk.

What are the contributions of your book titled, She- Executive to women in general and to the socio-economic growth and development of Nigeria?

  The emergence of my book titled, She-Executive, has helped many female entrepreneurs escape their reality as well as expanded their knowledge, wisdom, morality, and self-improvement. Most importantly in the area of poverty eradication and inequality, women have been armed with the requisite skills and necessary knowledge to be resourceful, which has led to improvement of their economic status and move out of poverty. The book has helped many to be gainfully engaged in their respective businesses and also to decide how to better utilise their resources.

As an award-winning entrepreneur, how have you impacted the society, especially the youths?

  As a youth myself, I have prioritised the situation of the Nigerian youth, especially those interested in entrepreneurship. It is said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. This is particularly true considering the growing population of unemployed youths and the associated increase in social unrests and criminality currently witnessed across the country. Young Nigerians with entrepreneurial ideas and concepts that could generate jobs are often left stranded because of lack of access to credit facilities. Many have even jettisoned their ideas for lack of encouragement, collateral to get loans among others.

   However, in a bid to reverse the trend, and support women and youths with business ideas, as well as redirect their energy into positive development, I have dedicated the funds realised from the sales of my book to empower women and youths. I also followed them up to ensure that the funds are properly utilised. I have also made innumerable contributions to the society, which includes but not limited to creation of employment for over 100 Nigerian youths. I have made up my mind, by choice, to be a charitable individual. I have donated resources to different causes when I can afford to do so. More importantly, I make myself available for those who need guidance and assistance. It is my belief that it does not take much from an individual to have empathy and to be charitable.

Why do you think the Guardian Newspapers is recognizing and celebrating you, as one of the 50 most impactful and award-winning female CEOs in 2022?

   Well, I believe I have demonstrated mastery and excellence in my field to be recognised alongside other great women in business and corporate world in Nigeria.

  In addition, I stand straight, aim high and achieve my dreams no matter the obstacles before me. There is no force that can stop me. As a woman, I aim the sky and there is nothing I cannot do.

Where do you see Dr. Preye Ziko Bobmanuel in the next five years?

  In the next five years, I see myself taking on as many complex decisions and by the end of the period, I would have built my empire comprising of chains of businesses. I would have authored over 10 books, trained and mentored young person to go into business.

Trade Expo Africa – Yinka Opeke

Dr. Yinka Opeke: A Selfless and Versatile Amazon With An Eye For Entrepreneurship 

Dr. Yinka Opeke, a Houston-based International Business Consultant, is the Founder/CEO of Trade Expo Africa (TEXA). Registered in Houston, USA, the company focuses on the promotion of bilateral trade relations, investment opportunities, educational advancements, international collaborations and information exchange between businesses in the USA and the African continent. With a commendable strong business networks on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), including public and private organisations in Nigeria, she has successfully helped business owners to penetrate the international market. She was able to achieve this, through exhibitions, study trips, B2B Meetings and trade missions. She is also using her over 17 years industry experience to connect businesses, small and big, mentor startups, and broker mutually beneficial relationships among organisations at private and government levels.

Apart from TEXA, Opeke is also the CEO of Smart Gas, a Nigeria-based gas company that is established to leverage on technology to solve some of the challenges consumers face when purchasing cooking gas.

Smart Gas is the only technology driven, app-based platform currently in the Nigerian market. The app is designed from ground up for clients to experience a more convenient way to purchase cooking gas, increase transaction efficiency, and optimise user experience.

Smart Gas Foundation (SGF), which is the not-profit arm of Smart Gas in Nigeria, is also registered in Houston. The not-profit outfit donates pre-filled cooking gas cylinders with burners to the less privileged communities in Nigeria, conduct advocacy programmes on transition from solid fuels such as firewood, kerosene, charcoal to gas, and also on safe use of cooking gas.

Opeke holds a first degree in Geography from the University of Ibadan (UI), Nigeria, and an M.Sc. in Geographical and Information Systems (GIS). She later proceeded to the United Kingdom to obtain a second master’s degree in Project Management from Queen Mary University of London. In 2018, she had her doctoral from Walden University, Minnesota, USA, specialising in entrepreneurship and organisational leadership.

 Opeke and her team organised a conference to promote trade alliances between businesses in Texas and West Africa at the Texas West Africa Chamber of Commerce (TWACC). Since the inception of TWACC in 2019, Dr. Opeke and her team have hosted the President of Guinea, three African Ambassadors, and also visited over seven African Ambassadors in Washington D.C and Houston.

 Her professional strengths are innovation and strategic thinking, entrepreneurship, strategy formulation and implementation, management and leadership, brand management, sales and marketing, project management, business process improvement, team building, coaching and mentoring. Dr. Opeke is a Prince 2 certified and a certified John Maxwell coach, speaker and trainer. She has attended several local and international trainings and workshops.

  For her leadership, business acumen and philanthropy, she was honoured   with Certificates of Recognition from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Less; State Representative Shawn Thierry and Mayor of Houston. Mayor Sylvester Turner also recognised her for her tremendous efforts at promoting trade and investment in Houston up till November 2021.

 In September 2021, she was honoured with the Amazon of the Year Award at the Nigeria Media Nite-Out Awards and in March 2022, while the Silverbird Group followed it up by honouring her with The Silverbird Special Achievement Award.

She is also the Executive Producer of My Chamber, a series of infotainment skits that highlights the struggles of the average Nigerian.

Cutix Plx – Ijeoma Oduonye

IJEOMA ODUONYE: Boardroom Stallion, With Eye On Quality 

IJEOMA ODUONYE became the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cutix Plc in October 2018, and has held the position to date. Before now, the chartered administrator has served as the company’s secretary for seven years. She was also head of the administration department for five years. She is a member of different professional bodies, including the 

Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN).

With a master’s in business administration from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University, Oduonye is currently the National Chairman of the Electrical/Electronic Sectorial group, and a National Council member of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). She is also the Vice President (Finance) of the Nnewi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NCCIMA). Cutix Plc, under her leadership, got the following awards: International Standards Excellence Award for the Best World-class Cable Manufacturing Company of the Decade by World Quality Alliance (WQA); Quality Product/Service Award by the Institute of Oil and Amp; Gas Research and Hydrocarbon Studies; Quality Brand of the Year by the Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering; People First Organisation Award by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, among others.

What has Cutix Plc contributed to the nation’s economy in the last four decades?

Cutix has been in the forefront of Nigeria’s GDP growth through its 100 per cent indigenous manpower employment and consistent payment of staff salary since its inception. It is because our employees are well paid and well catered for that make them to put in their best for the company and also touch the lives of those who depend on them. By so doing, Cutix has being able to contribute its quota in taking citizens off the labour market. The company also ensures an uninterrupted payment of dividend to all owners of the business annually. The payment of taxes as at when due to all the relevant arms and agencies of government is also unparalleled. Her consistent provision of quality products and services that meet national and international standards is also unequalled.

As one of the most impactful and award-winning female CEOs of a manufacturing company, what are your experiences and challenges in the sector?

The nation’s manufacturing sector is still growing and has a lot of potentials to blossom if given the right boost. As at the moment, Nigeria is still very much operating a consumption economy rather than production. Unfortunately, the few bold individuals who decide to turn around this narrative have continually been frustrated by many factors including difficulty in assessing foreign exchange to import the raw materials needed for production and also for the importation machines and machine spare parts. These are spare parts that are not found in Nigeria. Often, when we apply for Forex, we may be lucky to get up to 10 per cent of our total need at a time.  It takes a minimum of 10 weeks to complete the processing of Forex through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).  How this affects a company importing from the global market where prices can change within a few weeks can only be imagined. 

The delay in Forex processing through the CBN terribly frustrates local manufacturers.  In the bid to solve this problem through the parallel market, one only ends up buying at a very high rate that shoots up the cost of production and negatively impacts on the prices of the products.

Secondly, there is the problem of multiple taxes. Government needs to help manufacturers by streamlining the various taxes corporate entities are required to pay. The Nigerian Customs Services has upped the figures of imported raw materials higher and this is not encouraging production. The Nigerian Customs services is the only organisation that determine the duties and taxes companies are to paid for these materials, but they fail to understand that at the point conveyance of these materials from the port to the warehouse manufacturers encounter various intra and inter-state groups demanding for the payment of one ‘tax’ or the other and this gives room for extortion. The influx of substandard products into the Nigerian markets is a bad wind that blows no local manufacturing any good. 

These products in spite of their shortcomings and possible harmful effects, find their ways into our markets. Experience is that buyers revert to patronising imported substandard brands that come into the country because they are much cheaper than those produced locally. Another torn in the flesh of local manufacturers is the increasing rate of insecurity that now make people in some parts of the country to go about their businesses with trepidations. Infrastructure and steady power supply is also nothing to write home about.   

To turn the narratives around, government — both Federal and State — should begin by making foreign currencies available to manufacturers without manufacturers going through third parties.  Also, government should tackle the issues of the multiplicity of taxes decisively.  The root causes of Insecurity should be identified and tackled head-on. Government should be committed to encouraging local manufacturers by checkmating the influx of sub-standard products into the country.

Do you think you deserve this special recognition by the Guardian Newspapers?

I think, on the other hand that you – The Guardian Newspaper – is better positioned to tell me why you nominated me for the special recognition and because you chose me out of the multitude and not the other way round.  

However, when I look at Cutix Plc, I pride myself in my ability to consistently maintain the exclusive quality of our products against all odds. It may interest you to know that Cutix Plc won the International Standard Excellence Award for the Best World Class Cable Manufacturing Company of the Decade under my watch.  We have also consistently paid taxes to all arms of government as and when due.  Furthermore, Cutix Plc has never, since her inception, failed to remunerate all her staff and owners commensurately.  

What’s Cutix Plc social investment in Nigeria in the last one year?

 In the last one-year, we have continued to contribute our quota towards making our society a better and happier place to live in. Our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibilities is unwavering. This we showed, in the past one year, through a number of social engagements including, the continued sole sponsorship of the East of the Niger Inter Club (ENIC) Tennis League. It is worthy of note that Cutix has been sponsoring this yearly event consistently since its inception about 24 years ago. The sporting competition, which brings various sports and clubs across the South-South and South-Eastern states of Nigeria together is geared towards improving the unity of the zones, as well as encouraging physical and mental wellbeing of the various club members through sporting activities.

 We also alleviated the suffering of our neighbours and others who use the road that passes through our head office as we carried out major reconstruction works on the road. Worthy of note here, as well is that this is not the first time we would be doing this. The road was first reconstruction by our company with major assistance by the then state governor, Mr. Peter Obi. Subsequently, it was annually managed and maintained by Cutix Plc till it became so bad that we decided to do a total reconstruction of it.

 More still, in the past one-year, we continued with our social interventions in the lives of our neighbours by providing free power and potable water. Also, we have continued to provide palliatives to the less-privileged around us, provide gainful employment, pay school fees for some of their children, and give Christmas gift packages to some others. The apparent concentration of these social investment schemes in our neighbourhood stems from the wisdom that charity begins at home.

Where do we see Cutix Plc in the next five years?

In terms of business development, we hope to be much more present in many African countries within the next five years. In addition, we hope to fully diversify into many other product groups different from cables and wires. In terms of value to the society, we hope to expand our corporate social investments to a larger group of beneficiaries.

 

NNEKA LOVELYN NWARUEZE, CEO, Healthgarde International, is the first black African and woman to found a major international network marketing company with footprints across four countries and over 50,000 consultants and distributors.

She established Healthgarde in 2020 and acquired Swissgarde in South Africa, a much older healthcare network marketing company for which she was the sole franchise owner in Nigeria.

She holds a first degree in Business Administration, an MBA and she is currently studying for her doctorate degree, DBA.

She has taken over 500 Nigerians from humble backgrounds, including former fruit sellers and bus drivers from different parts of Nigeria and Africa to various destinations – South Africa, United States of America and the Bahamas Island, Paris, Portugal, Turkey, Mauritius, Vietnam, Singapore, Bali, Brazil, Dubai, Hong Kong, Germany, Austria, Thailand, Argentina and many more as award winning Healthgarde consultants and distributors, all expenses paid.

Nneka Nwarueze has helped many helpless women who had low self esteem and low earnings, many of whom now earn decent incomes, live comfortably, buy choice cars, build their own homes and send their children to good schools. 

Her Grace and Nneka Nwogbo Foundation for women and less privileged children, which began in 2016, has metamorphosed into Healthgarde Foundation; a first for the network marketing sector in Nigeria.

The foundation has trained and equipped over 300 women in various skills including sewing and fashion design, hairdressing, bead making, event management, cosmetology, baking, catering, polythene production and computer training. 

The Healthgarde Foundation has also provided scholarships for 14 primary school children, one adult education candidate, three university undergraduates, and a university graduate.

She is passionate about inspiring others to make a difference in their lives and those of others.

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