EKEDC celebrates International Women’s Day, 2022 with review of Rita Akpata’s “She Triumphs”

Oredola Adeola

Eko Electricity Distribution Company(EKEDC) in commemoration of the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2022, paid glowing tributes to the resilience, courage, strength, and triumphant attributes of women who have survived the agony of gender bias and other societal restrictions.

This was the major highlight of the global event that the EKEDC celebrated in Lagos on Tuesday, with the theme:#BreakTheBias, drawing inspiration from the experiences of Mrs. Rita Akpata’s “She Triumphs”.

MD/CEO Engr. Adeoye Fadeyibi, sharing his insights on how EKEDC is implementing social inclusion and diversity in the establishment, aligned his thoughts about women to the concept of faith, hope, and restoration which are the key pillars of Akpata’s award-winning book.

According to him, these are the attributes that have distinguished EKEDC as a leading electricity distribution company in Nigeria. “In my role as MD/CEO of EKEDC, I have over the years learned to harness the potentials of women who are staff of my organization. They are extremely emotional and reactive but loyal, brilliant and focused,” Fadeyibi said.

He said, “I have two daughters and two sons. I didn’t know how God did it, but I realized that the two girls are brilliant and possess exceptional qualities.

“Women make about fifty percent of the executive directors at EKEDC. They play a significant role in the drive to make our organization the best DisCo in Nigeria. I have learned so much from them and still learning.

“On the occasion of the IWD 2020, I want to tell the women that the great gender divide has been closed. The gap no longer exists. God did not create a woman person, but a human being. Women deserve equal human rights as men. They do not deserve to be stereotyped but find happiness in whatever they choose to believe and are allowed to seek what is right for themselves.

“The IWD is not about celebrating the women. It offers the global community the opportunity to recognize women and the space they occupy in our society. If we can accept this, the world will be a better place for us all,” the EKEDC MD said.

Fadeyibi in his acknowledgment of the survival instinct of the author promised that EKEDC would support her in helping to “conservatively” protect and allow more women to triumph both at the DisCo and all human endeavours.

Mrs. Rita Akpata, the author of the book, in her remark said, “I realized that God particularly spared my life for the purpose of saving and giving hopes to more women through the stories I shared in the book. The book is an encouragement to other traumatized ladies (both young and old) to speak out and exit their nightmares.

“I realized over the years and through my foundation which is called, Barr. Rita Oboh-Akpata Foundation(BROAF) that quite a lot of women are dying in silence. The book is a source of continuous victory for me and hopefully, other women.

“ I wrote the book as practical guidance on a range of issues and to provide a road map not only for doing more than simply moving on from the past challenges of life but to be impassioned with great motivational and inspiring thoughts for women and young girls who aspire to fulfill their dreams and live happier lives, regardless of past experiences.

“I believe this publication makes the annual celebration of women, a more worthwhile and impactful contribution, especially for those who aspire to triumph. This is because God made me triumph over my adversaries and now blessed me with a new loving husband,” the author concluded.

The book reviewer Mrs. Sheri Adegbenro, commended the author for writing a book to give strength to women especially those who are facing storms of life. She affirmed that the book would serve as a catalyst and inspiration for women to triumph in whatever circumstance that they find themselves.