International women’s day: meet Henrietta Yakubu

 

Today is the international women’s day.

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 International Women’s Day 2022, is: #BreakTheBias

In line with the international women’s day, Mamaj Aviation blog is celebrating some leading women holding their own in the Aviation, travel and tourism industry in Nigeria. These are women working assiduously behind the scenes, pushing boundaries and leaving a mark!  Women, whose stories will inspire you…

Former General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN.

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

My name is Henrietta Yakubu. I am Jukun, from Taraba State.

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

I joined FAAN in 1987 as a graduate; from there I rose through the ranks up until when I became the first female General Manager of Cooperate Affairs, FAAN in 2016.

 How many years have you spent in the Aviation industry?

35 years

What is your lowest moment in your Career history?

One thing that characterized most of my lowest moments was when I received calls from Aviation Correspondents on issues on the state of our airports and facilities that had failed, I would get so depressed and sad and thinking of ways to make our airports better.

What is your most memorable moment?

My most memorable moment was when the new International terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport was officially opened.

Whilst in active service, your role, no doubt, was very strategic and quite demanding. And you have been repeatedly commended for your swift reactions to issues. What strategy did you adopted to help you cope with the demands of your role?

Timelines. Being able to swiftly and adequately respond to these issues has really helped me. The need to keep the members of the Public informed on our activities and to stop rumour mongering. Also and most importantly, I was surrounded by an amazing team. Two heads they say are better than one. We were all able to work together for the good of the Agency.

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

Several challenges; infact, one is the fact that Nigerians have more or less given up on our airports and the need to convince them that we are working towards ensuring our airports are amongst the best in the world. Secondly that, what a man can do, a woman can do better.

How were you been able to balance work life and family?

Quite fortunately I no longer have very young Children, so no school runs, my husband too was working in a different part of the Country, and we were able to meet up most weekends, every vacation period and public holidays. So I was able to concentrate on my job and give it the attention it deserved.

With reference to this year’s campaign theme, what is your opinion about bias at the work place against women? How can we change the narrative?

I am really happy about this year’s International Women’s Day theme which is ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’ with so much urgency every woman should know that they are important and special and CAPABLE. We should learn to prove ourselves by working very hard and not reverting to the bottom under power which gives us a very bad name. I want every woman to know she is unique and that we all have something great to contribute towards us having a sustainable tomorrow. Without women it will not happen so we need to put in the work to make this happen.

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

Never give up on your dreams. Study hard, read books, develop yourself, get a mentor, develop yourself and offer to fill in the gaps whenever the need arises.

Congratulations on your retirement. Where do you see yourself in the nearest future?

I may have retired from Public Service  but I assure you I am definitely not tired. 60 is the new 40! I will still remain in Communication but right now I am taking a few months to rest, get myself together, repackage and bounce back.