• Former Kogi Investment and Property Limited MD honoured for reforms and property management.
By | Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja
Hon. Dr Aisha Ibrahim Adoke (AIA) , former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kogi Investment and Property Limited (KIPL) and a major aspirant for the Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, has received an award for reforms and property management at the African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards (AWESSSA) 2026.
Adoke was among distinguished Nigerians Women honoured at the ceremony held at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
Other award recipients included about 20 officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and the First Lady of Bauchi State, Dr Aisha Bala Mohammed, who was represented at the event by Dr Ladi.
The awards recognised contributions to leadership, institutional reforms, professional service, property management and the advancement of women’s economic empowerment.
Speaking with journalists after receiving her award.
Adoke expressed delight at the recognition, describing it as an unexpected but encouraging acknowledgement of her contributions to public service and society.
“I feel very elated and very happy. It is not something I was expecting, but I am very happy that I am being recognised for what I have done and what I am doing now,” she said.
The former KIPL managing director added that the recognition would motivate her to do more whenever she found herself in a leadership position.
Adoke, who contested to represent the Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, also spoke about the challenges women face in leadership, particularly in male-dominated environments.
According to her, determination, focus and resilience are essential for women aspiring to leadership positions.
“It is not easy to get to where I am today because there is always frustration from the male side. You have to be determined and focused. Whenever you fall, you get up. Do not get discouraged,” she advised.
She urged women to remain committed to their ambitions despite the obstacles they may encounter in their professional and public lives.
Also speaking, Adoke’s son, Architect Abdulmalik Ajanah Suleiman, described the award as a well-deserved recognition of his mother’s longstanding contributions to society.
He noted that Adoke had demonstrated a commitment to service from her early days in the civil service, where she worked as a social welfare officer, before moving into other areas of public service and leadership.
According to him, the award reflects the impact she has made across different sectors over the years.
“We are very happy that she has been recognised with this award because she is someone who has always been impactful in so many areas, even before she entered politics,” he said.
Suleiman urged young women to emulate his mother’s hard work, determination and belief in their ability to succeed.
He explained that balancing professional responsibilities, raising five children and contributing to society required considerable sacrifice and resilience.
He added that Adoke’s journey demonstrated that women could pursue their professional and political ambitions while making meaningful contributions to their families and communities.
On her political future, Suleiman expressed hope that she would continue advancing her political career and pursuing further academic and professional development.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women’s economic empowerment and promoting legitimate trade across the country’s borders.
Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller of the Seme Area Command, A. S. Kaila, congratulated the award recipients and commended the organisers for recognising excellence and service.
Kaila said the recognition of approximately 20 Customs officers should serve as encouragement to personnel across the Service to uphold professionalism, integrity, accountability and effective service delivery.
He stressed that the responsibilities of Customs officers extended beyond revenue generation to include border security, trade facilitation and collaboration with other government agencies to promote lawful commercial activities.
According to him, women play a significant role in formal and informal trade across African trade corridors and deserve institutional support to expand their businesses.
“African women today are major contributors to economic growth, entrepreneurship, innovation and community development,” he said.
He added that empowering women economically would strengthen families, make communities more resilient and contribute to sustainable national development.
The Customs official urged individuals, institutions and government agencies to create opportunities for women to participate in leadership, decision-making and economic activities.
He also disclosed that the Nigeria Customs Service had commissioned a facility at the Seme border to provide support for women traders operating along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.
According to him, the facility was established to assist women traders who might become stranded while conducting legitimate cross-border business.
He said the initiative was part of efforts to improve the welfare of traders and encourage smoother commercial activities along the corridor.
In her remarks, the First Lady of Bauchi State, Dr Aisha Bala Mohammed, who was represented by Dr Ladi, expressed appreciation for the recognition.
She described the award as an affirmation of the efforts made to promote women’s inclusion across different sectors of society.
She said the recognition would further encourage her to intensify efforts towards creating an environment where women could participate meaningfully in social, economic and public life.
“We are very happy to receive this award. It is a testament to all the things we have been doing from the beginning. The intention is to create an environment where women will have inclusion in all spheres of society,” the representative said.
She thanked the organisers for recognising the contributions of women to national development and pledged continued commitment to the advancement of inclusive opportunities.
The African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards 2026 brought together public officials, professionals and other stakeholders to recognise contributions to women’s empowerment, leadership, institutional development and economic advancement.
The recognition of Adoke, Customs officers and the Bauchi State First Lady underscored the importance of celebrating public service and encouraging initiatives that promote women’s participation in leadership and economic development.
