By
Ex-corp Okeke Kourtney Uju........


The National Youth Service Corps is a scheme that was established under the regime of Yakubu Gowon as a post-civil war strategy to inculcate in the Nigerian Youth the spirit of selfless service, oneness, and brotherhood irrespective of cultural or social background. This is what I was told while growing but 80% of Nigerian youth just thought that it was a waste of time.

Sadly, I was one of them with that mentality at that time. As a graduate of English from the prestigious University of Lagos, I registered and was waiting to be mobilized for NYSC. If I had my way, I would have applied for exemption but I didn't, so I was left with no other option. After camp, I was posted to the Nigerian Ports Authority as my primary place of assignment.

The only thing I admired about the organization was the building, little did I know that the glasslike and gigantic structure was a symbolism.

The first week was one of my dreadful days. I was always idle from 9-5, no one wanted to engage a newbie so soon. I just had to find a way to kill the boredom of which led me to start researching the organization.

It was in the course of this that I googled about the Managing Director of the Authority and found fuel for me to never give up.

I realized that Hadiza Bala Usman is the first female MD of the Authority in over 60 years of existence and regardless of her gender has been able to achieve and even superseded the achievements of the past MD in such a short time. Under her administration, she started to change the narrative-change in the gender gap.

She strongly believes that there is room for women to be outstanding and to hold leadership positions in the maritime industry. She is a firm believer in hard work.
It was at the watch of Bala Usman that the first female GM, Marine & Operations in the 64-year history of NPA was appointed as well as many other females.

Since her tenure, she has been able to project the Maritime Industry in a positive light. The function of the port that is keen to my knowledge was limited to traditional activities but under her watch, it has expanded to a logistical platform.

Ports not only perform the basic operations (embarking, disembarking, and transferring of passengers) to name a few but now provide inland access and intermodal connection ms as well as complementary services to shipping carriers.

As a Corp member, my inner eye was unlocked to see the opportunity and potential in the maritime industry. I realized that the Port Industry is a major catalyst for economic growth by virtue of its position as the gateway to the nation's economy.

Also, the shipping sector which is a part of the port system has the potential to generate at least 80,000 jobs annually.

Trade has constantly been one of the crucial pillars of remuneration to the economy.

The maritime industry, therefore, is the primary facilitator for world trade which includes retail trade even at its lowest level.

The advantage of transporting goods by sea is huge all over the world because transportation cost has a great impact on the final retail prices of goods. Most items are affordable today because they are transported by sea.

Under her leadership, NPA published a book for the first time " The business of becoming the best you" which simply shed light on hard work and determination. NPA commissioned two Tugboats to facilitate trade mission, to mention a few

It was at this point that I linked the symbolism of the building to the personality of the MD

As glass is fragile, so it is transparent. The structure made of glass is fragile but is a reflection of the society.

n the same vein, the Managing Director is a woman, kind at heart but not one to associate herself with corruption, not one to preach hard work and do otherwise and she can be seen as an inspiration to women to work hard because the maritime sector is a wide industry ready to accommodate strong-willed individuals regardless of the gender.

Of all her achievements, she never neglected the Authority’s CSR by adding value to society through the implementation of infrastructure and financial support

In the course of my service year, I am grateful for the things I learned, people I met and shared knowledge with but none can surpass the privilege I was given to serve at the Nigerian Ports Authority when it was under the leadership of the first female Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman in its over 60years of existence.



Lalasticlala OAM4J, Mynd44

Nice and well detailed write up, apart from what you learnt on google is there anything you were taught?

Had two friends then, both Lawyers who served there too, its really a great place to be but the problem is that they hardly retain corpers after service. And they try with their 40k payments and other benefits.