Nigeria’s fastest-growing logistics company, GPC Energy & Logistics has been awarded 3 ISO Certifications. While appointing 3 additional female directors, the company is also getting ready to celebrate “World Logistics Day” coming up on the 28th of June 2023. In the words of Elvis Okonji, The MD/CEO of GPC, “these 3 ISO Certifications (ISO 14001:2015; ISO 9001:2015; ISO 45001:2018) plus our ‘A’ rating by DataPro* are testaments of how far we have come and will energize us to do more, while the appointment of 3 additional female directors will drive our growth”.
According to Okonji, the “World Logistics Day is celebrated on June 28 every year to honor the work of the hardworking professionals in the logistics sector; it plays a huge role in the progress of the economy, especially in a country as large as Nigeria, because everything that you order online reaches you through a vast network of distributors, shippers, and transporters who take care that you receive the correct item on time and in perfect condition, regardless of the distance or weather”. Though the first World Logistics Day was celebrated in the year 2019, the links that make up the modern world of logistics have been in place for centuries for as long as people began trading with each other. Continuing Okonji noted that “Pioneers and explorers such as Vasco Da Gama and Christopher Columbus played a valuable role in finding new trade routes; innovations such as the steam engine helped to reduce the time required to ship goods; modern preservation methods ensure that products do not get spoiled during transport, which makes it possible for consumers to enjoy goods produced in any part of the world”.
Expected to strengthen the board and bring more diversity and inclusivity to the Board, the new directors are: ‘Lolade Ayo- Braimoh (Non – Executive Director), Hajiya Rakiya Abdulkadir (Non-Executive Director) and Hadiza Kubura Abdullahi (Non-Executive Director). Confirming this development in Lagos, the Company Secretary, Suzanne O. Erhimedafe said these appointments are with immediate effect. These appointments, bring the total number of Directors to nine (9) as follows: Professor. Mike Asekome (Chairman); Elvis Chukwudi Okonji (Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director); HRM Jimoh Rasaki (Independent Director); Opemikun Ibitoye (Deputy Managing Director); Olusola Tijani (ED, Operations, Business Development & Strategy); Vivian Isioma Okwudike (Non-Executive Director); Lolade Ayo-Braimoh (Non-Executive Director); Hajiya Rakiya Abdulkadir (Non-Executive Director); Hajiya Hadiza Kubura Abdullahi (Non-Executive Director).
With a 1996 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Ilorin and Masters of Science degree in Global Marketing Management, from the University of Liverpool, Lolade is a consummate banker with a career that spanned over 13 years. Before her appointment as the Group Head Commercial – Lagos Mainland: Union Bank of Nigeria Plc in 2015, Lolade rose through the ranks in various managerial capacities at United Bank for Africa Plc. She took a bow from banking in 2017 and ventured into education. She’s the founder Memory Lane School (Nursery & Primary) in Lagos, where she operates as Proprietor.
Before joining the board of GPC, Rakiya was the MD of Purple Magenta Ltd, an Enterprise Solution Management Organization. A top performing result oriented and accomplished professional with over 15 years’ multi-sectoral experience. Notable for visioning and executing projects from inception to launch and able to provide leadership towards a structured framework to analyze complex situations and resolve them into simple strategic imperatives. She is an analytical
strategist skilled in successfully navigating projects and programs both large and small through periods of accelerated growth and impact. She has supported Private sector organizations at various levels to develop policies and strategies in Business Administration, Human Resource Management, Supply Chain Management, Protocol and Service Quality Management.
Meanwhile, Hadiza Abdullahi is an experienced and tested Supply Chain Business Executive with almost 3 decades’ track record of people leadership, strong commercial acumen, and competency in sales, human resource, business process & efficiency, supply chain (planning, procurement, warehousing & distribution) and customer relationship management. She started her career with UACN Plc in April 1994 as a Management Trainee post-graduation from University of Maiduguri in 1992 with BSC Economics. Her 29 years’ experience saw her serve in various Divisions/Subsidiaries such as GBO/MDS Limited, Grand Cereals & Oil Mills Limited, UAC Restaurant, CAP Plc and UAC Foods Limited. She held senior leadership roles such as GM Supply Chain in UAC Foods Limited (2018 – Feb 2023); National Customer Services Manager for CAP Plc (2013- 2018); Supply Chain Manager and subsequently, Business Services Manager coordinating Supply Chain, Legal Estate and Human Resources Units for UAC Restaurants Limited (2010-2013), etc. She hold a Master’s degree (MBA) from University of Jos; is a Fellow of Institute of Logistics Management of Nigeria; Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (ACIPM); Certified Warehousing Manager and Fellow of Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria (FIMC). And Fellow of African Centre for Supply Chain.
