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IWD: SIFAX distributes 500 food packs to Ijora community, empowers staff 

Geraldine Samuel, Senior Correspondent 
In a series of impactful activities spanning a school outreach, an employee empowerment webinar and a community food donation drive, SIFAX Group has marked the 2026 International Women’s Day with a multi-pronged initiative that touched the lives of hundreds of girls, women employees and vulnerable residents in Lagos.
One of the highlights of the celebration was an outreach programme to United Christian Secondary School, Apapa, Lagos, where over 500 girls received mentorship from senior female employees of the company.
 The session covered topics such as leadership, education, personal development and menstrual health awareness.
There was also a donation of textbooks to the school, menstrual pads, as well as perfumes to the students.
The speakers drew from personal career experiences to motivate the students, urging them to remain focused on their education and resist distractions.
 They emphasised that determination and discipline could open doors across any field — from business and law to medicine, technology and the creative industries.
Jesuyemisi Odeyemi, Company Secretary and Legal Head of SIFAX Group, charged the students to strive for excellence without reservation.
 “You are strong. You can do it, and you will. You will not only do it, but you will also do it well, you will do it better,” she told the girls.
Vanessa Uansohia, Head of Corporate Communications at Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO), SIFAX Group’s aviation arm, also challenged the students to confront self-limiting beliefs.
 “The only person that is stopping you is yourself,” she said, encouraging the girls to pursue their ambitions with bold confidence.
As part of internal activities to mark the day, the company also organised an interactive webinar for female employees focused on strengthening communication and leadership capacity in the workplace.
Speaking on the topic, “Speaking: A Tool for Growth, Multiplication, and Career Progression,” Public Speaking Strategist, Joyce Daniels, urged participants to embrace public speaking as a catalyst for professional advancement, noting that confidence and conviction are the cornerstones of effective communication.
“If you will grow, multiply and have progression in your career, you will speak from a place of conviction,” she said, adding that impactful leaders distinguish themselves by their willingness to boldly articulate their ideas.
Wunmi Eniola-Jegede, Group Coordinating Director, SIFAX Group, described International Women’s Day as a moment to celebrate the social, economic and cultural achievements of women while renewing the call for gender equality.
“This year’s theme, Give to Gain, resonates deeply with our mission of inclusivity and empowerment.
” Every woman is a leader in her own right, and giving back creates growth opportunities for individuals, organisations and communities,” she said.
Extending its impact beyond the workplace, SIFAX Group also carried out a community outreach to Ijora where 500 bags of assorted food items were distributed to vulnerable households.
Each pack was assembled with essential household staples — rice, beans, vegetable oil, garri and salt, carefully curated to provide tangible relief to families within the community.
The distribution was conducted in collaboration with community leaders to ensure a transparent and orderly process.
Eniola-Jegede, who coordinated the outreach, noted that the initiative reflects the organisation’s culture of compassion and its determination to give back to the communities in which it operates.
She added that the exercise was also designed to amplify the message of International Women’s Day by encouraging women within the organisation to lead community interventions that uplift vulnerable groups.
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IWD: Mobereola, NIMASA DG, celebrates women for their contributions to maritime industry 

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter 

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) , Dr Dayo Mobereola, has applauded the contributions of women to the development of the Nigerian Maritime industry.

In a goodwill message to mark the 2026 International Women’s Day with the theme “Give to Gain”, Dr Mobereola celebrated the strength, expertise and invaluable contributions of women to the sector, emphasising that the industry has gained progress, innovation and sustainable growth through their efforts.

According to him “I celebrate your strength, expertise, and invaluable contributions to our maritime industry.

“The theme #GiveToGain reflects your daily impact. Through your professionalism, leadership, and resilience across sea-going, regulatory, technical, and administrative roles, you give excellence and our sector gains progress, innovation, and sustainable growth.”

Mobereola further commended the dedication of women in the industry and reaffirmed his commitment to “a maritime industry where every woman is empowered to lead and thrive”.

International Women’s Day is a global observance that seeks to draw attention to challenges faced by women and the need to ensure gender equity.

This year’s theme “Give to Gain”, focuses on investing in women through resources, education, and mentorship to create a stronger, more equitable society, highlighting the fact that empowering women brings collective benefits; economies, communities, and workplaces all grow when women thrive.

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IWD: 60 percent of my aides, technical assistants are women – Danthoso, NPA MD, declares as he celebrates women.

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter 

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abubakar Danthoso, has said that he was intentional in his prioritizing  gender equality in key appointments at the NPA.

While eulogizing the role of women in the maritime industry as part of his message to women during the International Women’s Day celebration, Dr Danthoso, declared that 60 percent of his aides and technical assistants are women.

“Women hold 60 percent of these roles(personal aides and technical assistants) with men making up the remaining 40 percent.

“This intentional step underscores NPA’s commitment to advancing women’s participation and success across the maritime industry.” he stated.

Danthoso said he recognizes the remarkable contributions of to the progress and success of NPA “who continue to drive progress, break barriers, and shape a more equitable future for the sector.”

” The Nigerian Ports Authority proudly celebrates the resilience, dedication, and invaluable contributions of women in the maritime sector—including firefighting, security, piloting, engineering, hydrography, administrative and vessel-support services such as aids to navigation.

” These remarkable women are excelling even in roles that traditionally demand male-kind of strength”

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NRC plans electric rail operations across the country- Opeifa

Geraldine Samuel, Reporter 
All things being equal, the Nigerian Railway Corporation(NRC) may soon commence electric rail operations for smoother and faster rail services across the country.
Making this disclosure in a recent interview on a national television, Dr Kayode Opeifa, the Managing Director of NRC, said the corporation is planning  to electrify major rail corridors within the next five years.
He further disclosed that Warri and Lagos will be used a pilot scheme of the ambitious project.
However, Opeifa said this is largely dependent on the availability of gas to support power generation for electric rail operations.
Meanwhile, the NRC boss has called for stronger collaboration between state governments and the Railway Police to enhance the protection of rail infrastructure across the country.
 Opeifa noted that the Railway Police currently operates across 26 states, stressing that state governments should see the unit as part of their security architecture and support it accordingly.
According to him, the security of railway infrastructure is closely tied to the security of mobility corridors across the country, describing the railway as a critical national asset that passes through many states and plays an important role in national development.
Drawing from his experience as a former Commissioner in Lagos State, Opeifa recalled how the Railway Police supported the Lagos State Government during the cleanup of the Oshodi area, demonstrating the importance of inter-agency cooperation in protecting public assets.
“The history of the Nigerian Railway Corporation is the history of Nigeria itself,” he said, adding that the issues confronting the railway system are reflective of broader national challenges.
The NRC Managing Director also traced the evolution of Nigeria’s modern rail development, noting that the real overhaul of the system began in 2015 with the introduction of the standard gauge rail lines.
He credited the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari with commissioning key projects such as the Abuja–Kaduna Railway, Warri–Itakpe Railway, Abuja Rail Mass Transit, and the Lagos–Ibadan Railway, while also initiating the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri rail corridor.
 Opeifa further highlighted the constitutional amendment that moved railway from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List, explaining that the development has opened the door for state governments such as Lagos, Kano, Ogun and Plateau to participate more actively in railway development.
He stated that his priority as Managing Director is to ensure that the NRC functions as a key driver of national integration and economic development, while operating in line with international best practices.
According to him, many developed countries treat railway infrastructure primarily as social infrastructure, noting that Nigeria’s rail system currently plays a similar role by enabling mobility and economic activities across regions.
“Railway is an enabler of growth,” he said, adding that the Federal Government’s investment in rail projects across states such as Lagos, Kano and Kaduna is largely due to their strategic economic importance.
 Opeifa also revealed that the NRC has developed a national rail map that clearly shows how state rail systems can connect to the national rail network to enhance connectivity.
Highlighting developments along the Eastern corridor, he described the Enugu main railway station as a massive and well-designed facility with underground structures, recalling that the corridor once contributed significantly to national revenue.
On concerns about ticket racketeering, Opeifa acknowledged that the problem exists largely due to high passenger demand, but explained that the corporation has introduced additional verification procedures to curb the practice.
Passengers, he said, are now subjected to double checks—first at the waiting area and again during boarding, a system that has significantly reduced illegal ticket sales.
He also reassured passengers of the high level of security along the Abuja–Kaduna rail corridor, noting that train movements and station activities are monitored from a central control room.
 According to him, the corporation plans to replicate similar security and monitoring arrangements on other rail lines across the country.
Opeifa announced that the number of daily trips on the Abuja–Kaduna Train Service has now been increased to three, in response to growing passenger demand.
He added that the NRC is also working to promote the tourism and entertainment potentials of railway services, promising that the corporation will continue to expand its services and improve operations until it achieves its development targets.
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