International women’s day: Dana Air station manager, Abuja

In line with the international women’s day today, Sunday March 8, mamaj aviation blog is celebrating some leading women holding her own in the Aviation industry in Nigeria, whose story will inspire women out there…These are women who are the power behind the scenes, pushing boundaries and leaving a mark!

The International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.  The campaign theme for 2020, is #EachforEqual.

Meet the Station Manager, Dana Air, Abuja.

Please introduce yourself, your name, where you are from and age.

My name is Anthonia Ngozi Aneke, and I’m from Enugu City, Nigeria. Just a few months ago, I celebrated my 44th birthday.

What inspired you to venture into this once male dominated Career.

I ventured into the male dominated career because i like taking on and then overcoming challenges while doing so in unique and positive ways. I first came across this opportunity to work in the airport when, at a rather tender age of 17 years, I did a part time job at the Enugu Airport, working as a sales girl for the Nigeria Airport Commercial Venture (NACV). I was impressed with the professionalism, resourcefulness, and resilience of the few women among the many men then working with Okada Airlines and Kabo Air, hence, my reason for venturing into it.

Give us a brief career history. What schools did you attend?

My primary, secondary, and university education were all in Enugu State, Nigeria. Afterwards, I proceeded to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, where I performed the compulsory 1-year service for my country in a program known as National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). After NYSC and in 2006, I joined the Dana Group of Companies and worked under Dana Services, the entity responsible for processing visa applications to the UK, the duties now performed by VFS Global.

On March 1, 2008, I joined another subsidiary of Dana group, known as Dana Airlines Ltd, one of the leading domestic airlines in Nigeria today. I have been with the airline till date, growing from Ticketing and Reservations Officer to Ticketing Supervisor and then from Assistant Manager Ticketing, Duty Manager to my current position as the Station Manager at Nigeria’s second-busiest international airport. As you can see, I have worked with Dana Group for fourteen (14) years, twelve (12) of which is for Dana Airlines. I celebrated my 12th year at the airline on March 1, 2020.

Has it been an interesting journey?

Absolutely! And so much so that I have also written some of the IATA exams and attended so many aviation courses in Nigeria and conferences abroad. Though, I took the initiative to pursue these self-education opportunities, I must acknowledge the support of Dana Airlines in helping me realize them.

Was it a dream actually or you stumbled into it?

It was a dream because; I naturally love the hospitality business just as I naturally love traveling and meeting new people.

What is your most memorable moment?

That was when I was promoted to the position of a Station Manager, Dana Airlines Ltd Abuja Airport. I’m proud to say that I’ve since improved virtually every aspect of the station and turned it into a model of seamless, professional operation.

How have you been able to balance your work life and family?

As much as I’m passionate about my job, I always make out time for my family by using my off days and vacations to spend a quality time with them. Though it’s difficult, I try as much as I can, with some success, to balance both.

What challenges have you encountered on the job and on your journey to the top, especially as a female?

Getting to the top in a male-dominated career has always been challenging because, most time, men seem to want their contributions to be heard first and to assign more weight to male suggestions. Having said that, I could not have gotten here without the support of the management of the company I work with which also are mostly male. I must appreciate my dearest colleagues, the station managers who are all male. I will most especially appreciate my boss, the HGO Mr. Ememobong Ettete for believing in me. Thanks to my then line manager when I was a Duty Manager, Mr Fregene Fregstine for his support. I remain grateful to all the Dana family.

What advice do you have for the aspiring young women out there who may want to tow your line?

I’ll advise them to always believe in themselves and not to allow their gender or bouts of self doubt to deter them. There is a saying that, “what a man can do, a woman can do better”. Though untrue in the literal sense, it can serve as a source of inspiration and drive in moments of uncertainty.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

Five-year visions are tricky partly because of the uncertainty inherent in human life. But i still dream and plan, hence my ambition in the next 5 years is to become a COO of a major domestic or global airline or a Director in a parastatal that oversees the aviation sector.