Story by Dili Utomi.
“The day I was handing over to the next person, I never new that it will escalate to this level of ceremony, I thank God for his mercies, the opportunity to serve and for everything He has done for me”. These were the words of Mrs. Kate Oghagbon, the woman known as Mama NAGAFF as she was celebrated in a grand style with a send off party after serving for 14 years as the leader of the women wing of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF).
The event took place at the NAGAFF headquarters in the GRA part of Apapa on Friday and it was a festival-like atmosphere as the venue was packed with many members of the association as well as press men.
The event kicked off after the initial protocol with the new women leader, Princess Uju Ebubedike paying tributes to Mama NAGAFF. In her opening speech, she said of her “Deaconess Kate has been a beacon of inspiration for all of us. Her leadership was not just about guiding us through challenges or driving us towards success, but about fostering a community where every voice is heard, every effort is valued, and every individual is empowered to reach their full potentials”.
“Today, as we celebrate her, we also celebrate the values she stands for, integrity, innovation and inclusion. We also recognise the ripple effects of her leadership; the lives she has touched, the careers she has shaped and the legacy she continues to build. We are all beneficiaries of her vision and hard work and it is our privilege to celebrate her”.
The president of the association spoke glowingly about Madam Kate Oghagbon and said that “She has spent 14 years leading the women very well”.
More encomiums came from Chief Eugene Nweke, the former president of NAGAFF who detailed the history behind the emergence of Mrs. Oghagbon as the women leader of NAGAFF and he said that “Kate Oghagbon is a woman of valour, love, peace, a woman of substance and of great honour”.
Also, some of the colleagues and associates of the woman who was being celebrated came out to pour more accolades on Mrs. Oghagbon. Speaker after speaker came out to speak exceedingly good words about Kate Oghagbon and one of the lady speakers added “Like most women, Madam Kate Oghagbon doubles everything given to her, when you give a woman sperm, she gives you a baby, when you give a woman a house, she gives you a home and Mrs Oghagbon has done even more through her leadership qualities and may the good Lord continue to bless her and her family “.
The founder of NAGAFF who also founded the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam said of Mrs. Kate Oghagbon, “NAGAFF is 25 years, but she has been with us for 20 years and 14 of which she served as the women leader of NAGAFF, she is a woman of great ability and substance”. She was also at the occasion formally included in the list of the documented ten members of the board of trustees of the NAGAFF.
The woman who was being celebrated on the day expressed her joy, she said “I am overwhelmed with joy and happiness at the kind of love shown to me by all members and I am so grateful”.
A lot of gifts in cash and in pledge as well as a deep freezer plus an award were given to Mrs Oghagbon at the event.
The son of Kate Oghagbon, Barrister Tony Oghagbon who gave the vote of thanks after the event said “Kate Oghagbon is more than a mother to me in every way, I am so overjoyed with the level of encomiums and gifts showered upon her and I am so thankful to everyone “
While speaking to the press after the event Mrs. Oghagbon said “I want to advise my successor to have an open door policy and not to discriminate against anyone irrespective of whatever circumstance. We had a lot of challenges, but with God’s grace and the help of the founder, we were able to do some of the things we needed to do”.
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