Shippers Council, MWUN Commiserate With Late Margret Orakuesi's Family

By Esther Oluku 

Harboursandport.com: LagosThe Board, Management of the Nigerian Shippers' Council, NSC, and the leadership of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), have commiserated with the family of the late ship owner and foremost maritime expert, Margaret Orakwusi.

Apart from the Board and Management of the Council paying condolence visit to the family of late Margaret Orakwusi, a condolence letter by the Chairman of the Council's Governing Board, Samaila Abdullahi, was also presented to the family.

A statement signed by Deputy Director, Public Relations Unit of the Council, Rakiya Dhikru-Yagboyaju, noted that the Board expressed shock over the news of the passing of the late Margaret Orakuesi, who was one of them.

The state read, "We woke up to the very sad and devastating news of the death of our dear friend and sister, Mrs. Margaret Onyema Orakwusi.

"While no one can question God Almighty, the suddenness of her passing was most shocking not only to us, her comrades on the Governing Board of Nigerian Shippers' Council, but indeed to the generality of stakeholders in the maritime industry in Nigeria.

"Orakwusi was a consummate businesswoman, a great patriot, and easily one of the most successful, knowledgeable and important voices in the maritime sector of our country", the letter said.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Emmanuel Jime described late Margaret Orakwusi as a rare gem, adding that she contributed greatly to the development of the nation's maritime sector. 

Jime who was represented by the Director, Human Resources Management Department of the Council, Adaku Okam stated this during the condolence visit to the Orakwusi family in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The ES/CEO called on the children of the deceased to preserve her legacy, particularly in the maritime sector

 

Similarly, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have said that the deceased touched  the heart of the Nigerian Maritime Industry while on earth.

In a statement sighted by Harboursandport reporter, MWUN recounted Orakwusi's resilient voice in leading the cause for development in the maritime industry.

From campaigning for indigenous Trawler owners to be allocated a specialised terminal for their business in Lagos to raising her voice for the standardization of Nigerian fishing, the late Orakwusi was said to have served as a source of encouragement and mentorship to younger female folks in the maritime business terrain.

The statement read in part: " Late Barrister Orakwusi was indeed was an Amazon, a rare gem who  touched the heart of the maritime industry. She was a strong advocate of gender equality who believed in women inclusiveness in all facets of human endeavour, most especially in the Maritime Sector where where she was President of Trawler Owners Association of Nigeria. She was also instrumental to the acquisition of terminal for fishing trawlers.

"She did not stop at that as she went further to agitate for a special joint Naval and Maritime Security Patrol Force cum the supervision of the packaging and marketing of the nation's fish amongst trawler owners, ushering in a means of standardizing the fishing business in Nigeria. This singular dynamic input brought about the acceptability of Nigerian fish in the global market.

"Late Mrs. Orakwusi encouraged women tutored and mentored them into the fishing industry; a feat she achieved during her life time. She served in various positions in the maritime industry, an epitome of motherhood who believed in equity, fairness and justice; little wonder, she is being missed by all and sundry for the unique legacies she has left behind.

"She will remain indelible in the sands of time and her loving memory will linger on in the hearts of good men, particularly in the sector where she transformed many lives for the betterment of the society."