10/01/2025
*DR CHINYERE NWOGA EMERGES PHCCIMA 1ST FEMALE PRESIDENT*
… *AS GOV. FUBARA PLEDGES PHCCIMA/GOVT SYNERGY*
In what has been largely described as a historic and groundbreaking achievement, quintessential trailblazer, author, businesswoman and astute professional, Dr. Chinyere Nwoga broke through the glass ceiling again to emerge as the first female President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, PHCCIMA. Dr Nwoga’s emergence has become part of a growing trend of exceptional women taking on leadership roles to make their mark in the business world.
Dr. Nwoga who has surmounted similar barriers as the only woman to manage a Federal Coastal Fishery Terminal in Nigeria as Managing Director of Taraba Fisheries, and also the first female Vice Chairperson, Chartered Institute of Directors South East/South South Zone, is an astonishing achiever, a consummate administrator, an exceptional organizer and mobilizer, who has gathered over 35 years of cross-industry experience, and career progression that reflects enviable blend of resilience, innovation, and leadership mien.
Dr Nwoga's over two decades journey to the top echelon of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce movement underscores a blend of strategic vision, operational excellence, and a pioneering spirit –and the significant impact she's had in various industries is a pointer to her career trajectory/versatility that has been quite inspiring.
1987 to 1990, she worked as a Radio Presenter on Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) FM, Owerri. and moved to Port Harcourt to begin a part-time engagement with Radio Rivers as presenter of the popular programme, ‘The Masters', a Classical music program.
From 1992 to 1997, she was Manager of Corporate Affairs of a Shipping & Logistics company Revic International Ltd. 1997 also saw her handling the affairs of Fourth Dimension Publishers Enugu, as a copy editor, a regional Representative, and eventually as their International Representative. She took some time off to pursue her academic goals outside the country and came back fully to business in 2003 when she became the Managing Director, Taraba Fisheries, which had a management lease with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to manage their largest fisheries Coastal Terminal in the country as at then.
In 2009, she founded her Human Capital Development company, Soluzone Ltd, which offers services such as product/service launches, branding/rebranding, corporate literature production, event delivery, and trade missions.
Dr Chinyere Nwoga has served in various strategic positions at the parent body of the chamber movement, National Association of Chambers of Commerce, NACCIMA and impressively at the home front PHCCIMA, leaving little surprises to her steady rise to the zenith as President.
Her membership of various professional groups like: *Senior Fellow International Association of Research Scholars and Administrators Corporation Delaware USA (SFAISAC), *Fellow Institute of Corporate Administrators of Nigeria (F**A),*Fellow Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC),* Member Chartered Institute of Directors (MCIoD),* Member National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) USA, * Certified Management Specialist (CMS) London Graduate School and alumni The Leadership Institute, Arlington Virginia USA.
She is also Member, Institute of Directors ( M IoD), Member, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Fellow Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC), Certified Management Consultant (CMC), Board Member International Association of Research Scholars & Administrators Corporation IARSAC (Delaware USA), Secretary General International Association of Research Scholars & Administrators Corporation IARSAC ( Delaware USA), Fellow International Association of Research Scholars & Administrators Corporation IARSAC ( Delaware USA), Fellow Institute of Corporate Administrators (F**A), Board Member (Non Executive Director) Universal Insurance PLC, Board Member NDDC Chamber of Commerce Industry Trade Mines & Agriculture (NDDCITMA) among others
It will be recalled that Dr Chinyere Nwoga who is also an author of many books was elected as President on November 27th 2024 at the PHCCIMA 64th Elective Annual General Meeting (EAGM) held at the Conference Hall of PHCCIMA. She was elected alongside Chief Isaac Wonwu - 1st Deputy President, Engr. Chief Godwin Etim - 2nd Deputy President, Mrs Edughom Hanson - Treasurer, Surveyor Emmanuel Ogbonda – Financial Secretary, ESV Chief Emma Oka – Publicity Secretary and Mrs Florence Nwosibe as Welfare Secretary . The election also witnessed the emergence of Joseph Habila, Monima Ezekiel Daminabo, Oseleye Daniel Ojuka, Vivian Akajiekwu Segun-John and Virgilus Chukwudi Ezugu as elected council members.
The Elective AGM was succeeded by an elaborate and colourful investiture ceremony that witnessed the presence of the Executive Governor of River state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara as Special Guest of hnour on December 12th 2024 at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Stadium Road, Port Harcourt.
Making her welcome speech at the event, Dr Nwoga noted, “While not forgetting that I am the 1st female president of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce since its establishment in 1957, I am however, not standing before you today because I am a woman. I stand here today because members of Port Harcourt Chamber have found me worthy to steer the affairs of the chambers.”
According to her, “Port Harcourt Chamber is the second largest Chamber in this country and as a Chamber, our responsibilities are clearly defined, sustain an ecosystem that grows trade partnership & collaboration, ensure government provides the necessary infrastructure that allows ease of doing business, creates access to funding opportunities for businesses, ensure that members align with global best practices, and of course provide access in funding for members”.
The new PHCCIMA helmsman noted that the theme for her administration is “POSITIONING PHCCIMA TO CREATE AND OFFER DIVIDENDS OF MEMBERSHIP AND ENGAGING ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC PROGRESS, adding that they intend to achieve this objective via a PHCCIMA BUSINESS COUNCIL, which will serve as a think-tank, with the mandate to providing the private sector positions on emerging issues in real-time, addressing concerns of the business community, sustaining engagement with policy-makers, and analyzing regulatory issues.
Dr Chinyere Nwoga also commended the River State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for finding time to attend the event, and assured the continuous collaboration of the Chamber with the government to attract investors to the State.
In his remark, the River State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara congratulated the first female President of the Chamber, Dr. Chinyere Nwoga for her record of excellence and performance, urging members to give the Nwoga-led team the maximum support to succeed. The Governor said his administration is willing and ready to work with genuine investors to accelerate economic development of the state.
He noted that the government was creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, and encouraged the business community to take advantage of the friendly-policy initiatives of the government and explore the state.
Highlights of the event include induction of the Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara as Grand Patron of PHCCIMA, as well as investiture of the first female President, Executive and Council members of PHCCIMA.
