By Charles Okogene
She is the Executive Director/CEO of Lagos International Trade Fare Complex (LITFC). She started showing the stuff she is made of early in the day when she was appointed the overall boss of the place. First, she endeared herself into the hearts of the stakeholders in the expansive complex that had passed through a hallow experience, occasioned by the last government appointed concessionnaire; that done, she started the process of renovating the complex by reclaiming all the open green areas in the complex, which street traders had taken over, then she began to remit funds to government, an action that never took place all the years of the concessionnaire. We are talking of Chief (Mrs.) Lucy Omosefe-Ayayi who Ndigbo will refer to, positively, as (nwanyi na eme ka nwaoke) a woman that acts like a man.
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The last time Newdawn spoke to you, you told us how much the Complex has generated into the confers of the Federal Government despite the little subvention at your disposal to carry out the rehabilitation of the complex and position it for better growth; how much have you remitted into TASS so far since you took over?
We have remitted over 1.2b since we took over in November 2017. My targeted budget for this year was N304m. I have surpassed that figure as at today.
We have seen and read about the massive ongoing rehabilitation and repair of the complex to attract more business concerns, how far have you gone in the area of the repair of the road leading into the complex from under the bridge and other internal roads within the complex?
It is an on going project. We have repaired about 2km of the 5km road; and because of paucity of funds, we are taking them in phases. We will start the third phase very soon.
In the same vain, we wan to know what is happening as per the government’s earlier plan to concession the trade fare complex; is the government still interested in going ahead with the plan since your tenure has shown that the place can make money for government, concession or no concession?
The concessioning process is still on. We want to be very careful so that this one will be successful.
What is your relationship with your supervisory ministry, National Assembly (that you appears before to defend your budget) the board members of the complex and most importantly, the complex stakeholders?
My two ministers are new. We learnt that they are happy because of the amount of money we have generated considering the circumstances surrounding the trade fare. At the budget parlay some months ago, our Minister of state, Amb.. Mariam Katagum, said ‘the woman at the trade fare is doing well and if supported, she will do more.’ I think that implies that she is happy and by extension my Hon Minister, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, is happy too.
The budget defence was okay too. The two committee chairmen are new. They need to visit the complex to ascertain the level of projects done and comment appropriately they said.
And my relationship with my board members including the chairman who recently toured the complex to see things for himself on the ongoing project is very cordial. I cannot ask for a better board members.
Chieftancy titles, awards have been coming your way from different people and organisations, even from stakeholders here in LITFC, are they a confirmation of the good works you are doing in LITFC?
As per the titles and awards, I give God the glory.
With the brilliant managerial acumen you and other women in President Muhammadu Buhari’s government have showcased, would you advocate for the inclusion of more female bright minds in strategic positions in all levels of government?
Yes o, I will advocate for more women to be included in government at the top level at all levels of government. Some of us have proved our mettle. And like Sir Shina Peters sang, ‘Give women a chance’, and we will surely turn things around for good.
What word of advice do you have for state governors who are reluctant to comply with the provisions of the affirmative action as it concerns appointing equal number of women in their cabinet?
My advice to state governors is to please include more women in their cabinets.
For women, what word of encouragement do you have for them to participate actively in politics?
I say women should please, participate actively in politics. We and the youth make the numbers. We are advocating for more elective and appointive positions for them. And it starts from being a partisan politician.
