Footprints of Trailblazer
Kingsley Aliamaka
Williams Shakespear once said: “Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.” This quote is a personification of Mrs. Nkoli Imoh. More importantly, it is interesting to note that Imoh’s rise to fame and fortune came by unshakeable faith in God and dint of hardwork. Like her peers, she saw everything very quickly and acted on what she saw. Her rising and the greatness she had achieved is a testament to her philosophy and upbringing. Among her contemporaries, she is the ultimate symbol of womanhood. Born into the noble Christian family of Chief and Lady Simeon Arazu of Umuakabuike-Umudike Ukpor in Nnewi-South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Imoh had a sound moral Christian up-bringing.
She had her primary school education at Premier Primary school, Onitsha and secondary education at Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Onitsha. She was admitted to the University of Lagos to study Business Administration. Her degree in Business Administration paved the way for foray in business.
She began her business life as a trader, dealing mostly, in vehicle tyres in Lagos and from there, her flagship organisation–Windward International Limited evolved; catapulting her into a business icon, whose business philosophy anchored on ideals of quality, efficiency, transparency and perfect finishing. This business philosophy coupled with her unconditional use of a formidable team of intellectuals as consultants holds the key to her business successes.
Imoh who loved by all and sundry, is fondly called Ada – a name derived from Adadioramma, is not a stingy business woman. She gives out and finds joy in giving, especially, to the less-privileged. This positive attitude of sharing and giving did not just start today, but dated back to her teenage years, and this has led her to become a global philanthropist. Thousands of Nigerians both young and old, male and female have benefitted in one way or the other from her philanthropic gestures.
Her uncountable philanthropic activities have projected her as a pillar of different communities and organizations who have variously embellished her with different titles, which include: Adadioramma Gburugburu, Ukpor; Adadioramma, Ebenator; Igolo, Mbaise; Ugo Si Mba, Adaziani; Nne Ife, CWO, Nnewi Diocese; Ada Ejiejemba, Abatete; Nne Ora nile, Aguata among others.
In the same vein, the echoes of Adadioramma’s philanthropic escapades have crossed national boundaries and earned her the International Peace Award, 2003 by the American Biographical Institute; Entrepreneurial Excellence Award by the Rotary Club International; Paul Harris Fellowship Award by the Rotary Club International; on 20th December, 2015, Panters Sports Club, Nnewi awarded her the “Social Mobiliser of The Year 2015”. Also in 2018, the International Women’s Conference held in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE), recognized Imoh as “Africa’s no. 1 Women Mobiliser.”
Above all, she has bagged two Honorary Doctorate Degree awards from the Pilgrims University, Burlington, North Carolina, USA, and Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria respectively. In 2013, she was made the Grand Patroness of the department of Education Foundation, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Imoh is not only, a successful business woman, a philanthropist or winner of awards and titles, she has also made impacting incursion into politics. This experiment brought her very close to the yearnings, needs and woes of the society hence, the phenomenal increase in her philanthropic strides, and expansion of her philanthropic boundaries, culminating in the establishment of her Foundation – Adadioramma Foundation in the year, 2000. This foundation enjoys international affiliations, one of which is the Anambra State Association (ASA) USA.
Her Foundation empowers all, but with greater emphasis on the unemployed youths, orphans and widows. By rough estimation, Nkoli Imoh has given out to the public, a total of 50 cars and buses of various classes, 500 motorcycles, 1000 Sewing Machines, 1000 Vulcanising Machines, 1000 Cellophane Machines, 500 sets of Hairdressing Equipment, 1000 Generators; she has also opened Barbing Salon for over 400 youths across the 326 wards in Anambra state and built houses for widows, provided funds for people to establish small-scale businesses, the quantity of rice and clothing materials are overwhelming.
In order to ensure the sustainability of its empowerment programme, Adadioramma Foundation, under its co-operative arrangement secured federal government approval for the establishment of a financial Co-operative/Microfinance Institution under the name Global Co-operative Society Limited.
This Microfinance institution has since become operative and a lot of people have benefitted from its near zero-interest loan.
In 2011, Imoh facilitated the visit of the Medical Team of the ASA, USA to Nnewi-South Local Govt Area to offer free medical treatment in the ailment areas like prostate cancer, breast examination, optical services and diabetic care. In 2013, she gave out a Departmental Vehicle to the Department Education Foundation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. One thing that has continued to amaze people is that nothing in return has ever been demanded from the beneficiaries. She is married with children.
