The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator (Dr.) George Akume, is set to receive the Distinguished Leadership Award at the 2025 MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame (WoFHoF), holding on November 20, 2025, at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
Senator Akume, who will also serve as the Chief Guest of Honour, will be joined by a distinguished lineup of leaders, policymakers, and industry executives at the one-day event themed “Fostering Sustainability, Women and Leadership with Technologies.”
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, will chair the event, while Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State and Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State known as Nigeria’s Executive Farmer are also among the 2025 award recipients.
Other prominent 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 Shuaib, former Executive Director/CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency; and Hon. Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, CEO, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).
Hajia Aisha Atiku-Bagudu will be specially crowned as the MMS Hall of Fame Face of Northern Women 2025.
This year’s edition marks the 13th anniversary of the MMS Hall of Fame, a platform that has consistently spotlighted outstanding leadership, gender equity, and impact-driven governance across public and private sectors.
New inductees into the 2025 MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame 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 include Mrs. Aloysius Faithhope, maritime marketing specialist; Prof. Elizabeth Ugo of the 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.
The programme will begin with a morning summit featuring two thought-provoking panel discussions, followed by an induction ceremony and an evening segment dedicated to the Leadership Impact and SDGs Awards Night.
According to Amb. Nana Aisha Mahmoud, Chairperson of the Organising Committee, the 2025 edition is designed to “intentionally promote sustainability in gender diversity across critical sectors, while driving inclusion through technology and informal education, particularly for northern Nigerian women.”
She added that this year’s focus aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing education, empowerment, and gender parity.
The MMS Hall of Fame will also honour corporate institutions that have demonstrated exceptional compliance with gender diversity standards.
Following an assessment of 24 commercial and six non-interest banks, Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) emerged as Nigeria’s top performers in gender policy compliance.
Zenith Bank will receive the award for Best Gender-Diversity, Equality & Inclusion (DEI) Bank in Nigeria, while GTCO will be recognized as Best CBN Gender Policy Compliant Bank 2025 for exceeding the Central Bank of Nigeria’s benchmark of 30% female board representation and 40% women in senior management.
Other corporate awardees include Skelas Group, LTT Coastal and Marine Services Limited, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), and Tyse Group.
The event will feature a powerful lineup of speakers, including: Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy; Senator Ireti Kingibe, Chair, Senate Committee on Women Affairs; Dr. Dayo Mobereola, DG/CEO, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Dr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah, CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC); Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, MD/CEO, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Dr. Ifenyinwa Ogbonna-Nwaogu, Faculty of Social Sciences, NOUN (Keynote Speaker); Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs; Charles Odii, DG/CEO, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN); 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).
The Emir of Nasarawa, His Royal Highness Hon. Justice (Dr.) Sidi Bage Muhammed I (CFR, JSC Rtd), will serve as Father of the Day, while Chief Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa will be the Chief Host, and Mr. Kingsley Anaroke, Founder/CEO of MMS WoFHoF Initiative, will serve as the Event Convener.
#MMSWoFHoF2025 #LeadershipAwards #WomenInLeadership #SustainabilityAndTechnology