Frontline maritime lawyer, Barrister Osuala Emmanuel Nwagbara has joined stakeholders in the nation’s shipping industry to mourn the late Mrs. Margaret Onyema-Orakwusi.
Nwagbara in a tribute note on Monday and a copy sent to DAILY FOCUS NIGERIA expressed shock over the sad news, even as he added that the maritime industry would miss her guiding motherly hands.
The maritime lawyer maintained that Nigeria has lost the loudest female voice in the global maritime arena , pointing out that” We should take solace that while she lived and worked in the Maritime Industry she was impactful in great many ways. ”
His tribute to the late Amazon reads:
“It was with great pains that I received the shocking and sad news of the passing of Barrister Mrs. Margaret Onyema-Orakwusi.
“Barrister Mrs. Orakwusi was a most appealing advocate of feminine gender mainstreaming in the Nigerian Maritime Industry. She would say it, demonstrate it and invest in it. She was the loudest voice in this regard.
” I first knew her as the President of the Trawler Owners Association Nigeria about 2008. She advocated for the allocation of terminal to fishing trawlers, she advocated for special Naval and Maritime security patrol to protect trawlers while fishing, she advocated for proper packaging and marketing of Nigerian fishes among Trawler Owners.
” And she advocated for acceptability of Nigerian fishes in overseas markets. Some of these missions she achieved in her lifetime.
“For a long time she bestrode the Nigerian maritime industry as an amazon, mentoring and tutorial new female entrants into the industry.
“The Maritime industry would miss her guiding motherly hands. She carried herself with dignity and self esteem wherever she went. She wanted the best for the Nigerian Maritime industry.
” She served in numerous important positions in the industry, including serving as Chairperson, Planning Committee of Nigerian International Maritime Expo & Exhibitions, (NIMAREX) 2014, and Chairperson, Nigerian Shipowners Forum.
“Nigeria has lost her loudest female voice in the global Maritime arena. We should take solace that while she lived and worked in the Maritime Industry she was impactful in great many ways.
“Her foot prints in the Nigerian Maritime industry would remain indelible.
Adieu Barrister Mrs. Margaret Onyema-Orakwusi. May God grant your soul peaceful repose in His abode. Amen.”
