How I stood Amaechi up while attending my son’ s school party - Hadiza

By Dapo Olawuni |

Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala Usman has recounted how she stood up former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi in her office while she attended a function at her son’s school.

Hadiza described Amaechi as a man that is very sensitive to the human gender and highly detribalized.

She stated this recently at a sent forth party held in honor of Amaechi by a group of maritime stakeholders under the aegis of ‘Team Maritime Nigeria’

She explained that she had no experience in the maritime industry when Minister recommended her as the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports against all odds and the minister had stood by that recommendation.

According to her “Nigerians were saying all sorts of things, challenging the decision and the fact that he chose to put this young Hausa girl as Managing Director of NPA, he did everything he could to ensure that people understood the reason why he selected me”

“For me, it is the fact that this man is not in anyway tribalised, he is an international statesman that believes in the Nigerian nation and that we are one”

“Three years down the line, to God be the glory that I have not disappointed him, he has instituted reforms that hitherto, no minister has been able to provide, so I will like us to recognise him for that person he is”

“He is not a micro manager, he allows you to take your decisions, he listens to you and listens with reason for whatever quality you bring about, he is a stickler for legal and regulatory compliance, he believes in the rule of law and ensures that we operate within the ambit of the law”

“On the other side, am a young mother, I have very young children, my children are six and eight, there are times that I must be able to do things within a short period that is required”

“For instance, we are to have a meeting with the minister at my office at 9am, and my son was making a presentation in school at 9am, you know children really don’t feel happy if their mummy’s don’t come, so I told the minister, Sir please, my son has a program in school and I would be some minutes late for the meeting, surprisingly he said Hadiza, go and stay and let your son feel your presence in his life”

“That is a man that supports the female gender as well. After I finished attending to my sons program, I rushed to the office and met the minister seated in my office, waiting for me, for a minister to do this, it is a testament of the fact that he believes in the capacity of women and that he should support the woman in anyway he can, to make sure she succeed” she narrated