By Victoria Onyisi
The immediate Past Governor of Rotary International District 9142, Dr. Grace Okaro, has been elected the new National President of the African Women Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP).
Her emergence came at the recently concluded Annual General Meeting(AGM) of the organization which held at the African School of Economics, Abuja.
Okaro, who joined the organization about 6 years ago had served the Zonal Secretary of South-east, State Coordinator of Abia and National Public Relations Officer respectively.
Others elected include: Hajia Farida Yahaya as Deputy National President, Mrs. Nelly Ndaguba as National Secretary-General, Hajia Ruqayyah Mohammed as National Financial Secretary and Mrs. Rosemary Akwashiki as National Treasurer.
Ms Amede Achingale, was returned as the National Internal Auditor while Mrs. Helen Imoagene
Clinched the position of National Publicity Secretary.
For the Zonal Vice-Presidents, we have Dr Jackie Ikeotuonye for North Central, Mrs. Peace Baba Ali
For North East and Hajia Ramatu Ibrahim for North West. Others are Engr. Stella Eneh for South East, Mrs Josephine Rhône Peters for South South and Mrs Yetunde Adegbite for South West.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of her colleagues, Okaro, thanked the members of the organization for the confidence reposed in the newly elected members of the executive and pledged to live above their expectations. She promised to leverage Leadership experience in various spheres of her life, established networks and relationships and systems thinking for the transformation of AWEP and members’ businesses.
She is also committed to provide platforms for regular entrepreneurial leadership trainings for the enhancement of members’ knowledge and skills creating an inclusive business environment tailored to the diversified needs of members in different zones.
Her professional background, she averred will enhance opportunities for individual and collective activities and achievements to be celebrated and promoted in the media to motivate the members.
“There will be an effective channel of communication for proper dissemination of information and feedback from members, stakeholders and the publicshe stated.
She also promised to create a forum of stakeholders and support service providers for members to access for the development of their businesses and introduce quarterly virtual business sessions where every zone would be represented for exchange of knowledge & skills.