Ojeaga: A Dedication to Breaking Barriers

Bayo Akinloye

Obehi Ojeaga, the General Manager of Business Development and Corporate Affairs at Quinn McGrath Limited, plays a pivotal role in steering the company’s operations, overseeing communication, government relations and sustainability for Quinn McGrath Limited, the parent organisation of Nigeria Machine Tools Limited (the leading integrated industrial, engineering, and manufacturing firm, as well as Badagry Development Port Limited).

Over the years, she has brought to fruition ideas and concepts that have benefitted her organisation and many other facets of society. Not known for half measures, Ojeaga is respected for and trusted to go the extra mile. Her corporate dossier is filled with testimonies of breaking barriers and reinventing the norms while building bridges and bridging gaps.

As a resourceful professional, Ojeaga is committed to personal and organisational development.

She holds a master’s in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs from Robert Gordon University, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) in the United Kingdom, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), and the Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria (APCON).

Ojeaga’s know-how, sense of duty, dedication and ingenuity always shine through in every enterprise she undertakes. As a leader of men and women, the corporate guru illustrates the purposefulness of hard work, honesty, hindsight and insight. Her clear vision underlines her foresight and the intensity of her commitment to work.

“I’m particularly proud of launching Career Masterclass, Nigeria. In 2017, following a conversation over tea with a dear friend and founder of Career Masterclass UK (an organisation that focuses on enabling career growth for the BAME community, especially amongst women), we decided to start a similar initiative in Nigeria,” Ojeaga tells AOW in an interview.

She adds, “The decision to launch in Nigeria was in response to the many requests from our growing community of professional women in Nigeria who follow activities in the United Kingdom. I was delighted that we are finally able to serve these discerning Nigerian women as we know that the principles taught at the events are applicable globally wherever you work. The goal is to be the go-to hub for professional women in Nigeria by incorporating the local Nigerian nuances into the tried and tested Career Masterclass approach.”

Her depth of intuition is often used to champion the cause of others.

“Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world, and when they work together, great things happen,” Ojeaga points out.

Ojeaga is a result-oriented professional and influential leader renowned for her strategic acumen and exceptional relationship management skills. Her fervour for organisational effectiveness, sustainable impact, and leadership development for young people distinguishes her in the field.

“My fundamental philosophy is that we owe it to new talents, the organisation and ourselves to be selfless and share knowledge through mentorship if we ultimately want to move the organisation forward. When you share knowledge, it’s the only way to remain immortal,” says Ojeaga.

According to her, mentorship and knowledge sharing have helped mankind survive and evolve into an intelligent and productive species.

Currently serving as the General Manager of Business Development and Corporate Affairs at Quinn McGrath Limited, Ojeaga plays a pivotal role in steering the company’s operations. She oversees communication, government relations and sustainability for Quinn McGrath Limited, the parent organisation of Nigeria Machine Tools Limited, the foremost integrated industrial, engineering, and manufacturing firm, as well as Badagry Development Port Limited.

In her capacity, Ojeaga provides visionary leadership, directs business operations, and guides teams to achieve business objectives while enhancing overall organisational performance. Her efforts have been instrumental in business growth, client relationship management, operational efficiency, waste reduction, and cost discipline.

With over 18 years of diverse experience, Obehi has successfully driven growth and implemented corporate strategies across various sectors, including FMCG, telecommunications, industrial engineering, manufacturing, and oil and gas. Her international experience spans the United Kingdom, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria. Throughout her career, she has managed business development, relationship management, corporate social responsibility, investor relations, and corporate communications, working with notable brands such as Oando PLC, MTech PLC, Clarins, Estee Lauder, Econet, Vmobile, MTN, and GLO.

Ojeaga is a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion, actively promoting local capabilities and capacity across the oil and gas value chain, which earned her a seat at the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) committee on in-country manufacturing, capacity and capabilities for specific products.

“I have learnt to embrace who I am and my femininity,” she states. “One piece of advice I give everyone is to stand out for what makes you different. I have gotten used to seeing the conference room filled with dark-suited people, a contrast to my pink shoes and bold colours.”

Her commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion is reflected in her roles as a member of the Oil and Gas Council: Africa Assembly Women’s Council and AOWomen at Africa Oil Week, initiatives aimed at bridging the gender gap in the oil and gas industry. She is also dedicated to promoting local talent and products, leveraging her position to support and elevate Nigerian enterprises.

“By mentoring employees, we are establishing them with the knowledge needed to advance their skillset. We are also learning from them how to be better teachers and leaders and how to get the best out of our future co-workers,” Ojeaga explains. “But this cannot be done in isolation. The organisation needs to have a mentorship-friendly structure in place.”

Her dedication to improving workplace environments for women is evidenced by her successful advocacy for a world-class lactation room for a renowned indigenous company, which contributed to a significant increase in the company’s female employee population from 21 per cent in 2016 to 38 per cent in 2017. It is fitting, therefore, that Ojeaga leads the Brighter Girls Initiative Advisory Board Communications project, aiming to build a supportive community for girls to maximise their potential. She has also served as the regional leader of Africa for a non-governmental organisation focused on advancing women’s careers.

Ojeaga’s equanimity has made her stand out over the years, bustling with ideas and tremendous dexterity. Ojeaga’s persona is a metaphor for passion, perseverance and perspicacity.

While broad-minded, she admits, “At the moment, a passion of mine is pushing for more ‘women-focused’ plenary sessions in sector events. I’ve been privileged to work with a lot of event organisers in positioning women at the centre of the core discourse in the energy sector.”

As a champion of women’s rightful place in society and the corporate stratosphere, Ojeaga places a high premium on inclusion.

“It’s all about including men in the discussion. This was something I found at first quite daunting,” says Ojeaga. “But it’s important that men also get to hear our voices and for women to see how we can collaborate and work together more efficiently across companies and within the industry.”

Ojeaga’s trajectory is not paved with gold, emerald, diamond, or jasper. She has often had to walk the tightrope of occupying a space in the so-called man’s world. For Ojeaga, though the path daunting and lonely could be, there is always one way to turn: forward.

“The one thing that stands out is that the logistics of getting into a male-dominated sector were tough, and rising to a position where I commanded respect was even tougher,” Ojeaga admits. “For a long time, it was an old boys’ network. However, I feel I have managed to keep my head high and face whatever challenge came my way.”

She holds the aces in many places. Sublime and successful, Ojeaga, however, does not rest on her laurels. She thrives in taking up challenges and delights in achieving breakthroughs where barriers are erected, especially in business sectors where there appears to be a glass ceiling.

“We need to normalise the concept of women-led departments and women-championed causes,” Ojeaga points out. “Quotas help with this because they make it mandatory for women to be there.”

She adds, “However, quotas work best in tandem with positive action and reorientation. The next step would be to ensure that equal value is placed on the work done and that women and men get to understand, practice, and appreciate different working styles so that they understand the best way to be effective in this industry, sector, and society.”