ONE ON ONE with the Chairperson
The Women in Logistics and Transport- WiLAT Nigeria will be holding its annual Award ceremony on the Thursday 27th,2020 .This is the 8th edition of the award with the Topic: ROLE MODELING AND ITS IMPACT. The event event is scheduled to hold in Zoom. Speaking ONE ON ONE with the Chairperson of WiLAT Nigeria Folake Soji-George:
1Q : LETS MEET YOU & WiLAT.
My name is Folake Soji- George, WiLAT Nigeria Chairperson and the President, Corporate Fleet trucks and the Chairperson of Women in Logistics and Transport -WiLAT Nigeria. WiLAT is a group for professional body under the auspices of the Chartered institute of Logistics and Transport,(CILT). We were founded June 12, 2010 by an incredible woman name Hajia Aisha Ali Ibrahim. WiLAT promote the status of Women in Logistics and Transport globally. We bring together those who support talent and career development of Women and provide a support network of mentoring opportunities for Women in the transport sector.
Q2 : WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGHT?
As at the year 2020, Women in Logistics and Transport- WiLAT has over 2500 members globally in 22 countries and we’re still growing. Nigeria was the first to establish a women group in 2010 while the global launch of WiLAT was in Colombo in June 2013. WiLAT are formed within CILT Territorial Organizations and Branches. In areas where CILT is not yet established, WiLAT activities will be guided by the regional coordinator.
Q3 : WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIAL PROJECTS,WITH COVID-19, HOW DID YOU COPE THIS YEAR?
WiLAT have Five major strategic thrust, Which are LEADERSHIP, MENTORSHIP, CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, EMPOWERMENT. This year, we held most of our events in zoom,like our annual conference and forthcoming is the 8th edition of our Award ceremony. We will also have the Bicycle Project presentation. we want to present bicycles to recipients in the Lagos Area . Our intended date of presentation will be announced soon. This is a follow-up of our presentation of Wheelchairs to the physically Challenged at our 2019 Annual Conference in Abuja, tagged (ABUJA 2019).
Q4 : WHAT ARE THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON YOUR EVENTS
We appreciate God for the blessing in disguise, what we thought was for evil, God turned it around for our good. Annually, During our Conference, we invite great men and women to discuss pressing issues as it affect our businesses and life. This year, due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, we hosted the edition via webinar in Zoom. It will be the first time our conference will be held virtually, it created a historic moment for WiLAT Nigeria amidst the pandemic situation prevailing in the country and beyond to enable participants join from far and wide,contributing meaningfully to the topical discuss. A well attended event, with power-packed presentations from our Panelist. Some of Our Advisors like : Dr. Dorothy Chan (FCILT), immediate Past WiLAT Chairperson, our amiable Dabney Shal- Holma ( FCILT) Chairperson, Sealink Consortium, Major General Olatilewa Amusu(FCILT)MNI a Director, Cledron Health Ltd, also joining them are Mrs Rejoice Ndudinachi (FCILT)MNI ,President, Women in Aviation., and Mrs Antonia Adara, Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation including my humble self.The Conference was anchored by the resourceful Moderator Wura Tunde- Anjous. What we thought was meant for bad turned out good for us at WiLAT. Still on the effect of COVID-19, Our topic for the webinar was ” Adaptation of Nigeria Transportation System to COVID-19… The Way Forward” . We needed to JumpStart our industry by setting out to know how to do the business in this New Normal situation. We are indeed glad to have the … Panelists at our event, and let me use this opportunity to appreciate our Founder Aisha Ali Ibrahim for her vision and accomplishments.
Q5 : WHAT NEXT FOR WiLAT?
We will like to borrow the words of Helen Keller which says “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” we will be hosting our 8th edition of WiLAT Nigeria award on Thursday 27th, this August, 2020. Topic is the Role Modelling and its impact, special recognition awards will be conferred on Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, the Executive Vice- Chairman, SIFAX GROUP and Dr. Dorothy Chan, the immediate past Chairperson and also WiLAT global Advisor,other distinguished WiLAT role models will be recognition in the ROLE MODELS AWARD category.
The special guest of honour is Ambassador Dr. Kema Chikwe, while the special guest Speakers will be Princess Dr. Vicky Haastrup,CEO ENL Consortium and Madam Chinwe Ezenwa,CEO, Lelook Nigeria Limited.
Q6: LAST NOTE
One of our five major strategic thrust is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). ” Our Corporate social responsibility via our PET- PROJECT this year is the THE BICYCLE PROJECT. This is one of the ways of reinforcing our commitment and Empowerment of women as key to a more equal future. Empowered women are able to access the tools, resources and learning that allow them to unlock their potential and choose their own destiny. As always, We are STRONGER TOGETHER.
Women in Logistics and transport in Nigeria- WiLAT – With an interestng and creative acronyms – W – WORLDWIDE | I – INSPIRATIONAL | L – LEADERSHIP | A – ADAPTABLE | T – TALENTED