Gloria Ita-Ikpeme is the Chief Executive Officer at Herald Oil and Gas Limited. Prior to this, Gloria has served in various leadership and management capacities in the financial and oil and gas sectors. Her experience spans through oil and gas, banking, health and safety, management consulting, research, human capital development and international development. Apart from serving as Chief Executive Officer at Herald Oil and Gas Limited, she is the Chief Executive Officer at Tomrald Consulting, a human capital development management firm. Ita-Ikpeme is the President and Founder of Touching Hearts Global Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation which she established in 1996 to serve as conduit for sponsorship and support of orphans and homeless widows. In this interview with Omolara Akintoye, she bares her mind on the initiatives she took to empower women by virtue of her position, and the need for women to be financially responsible, among others
He hailed from Anambra State but her husband is from Cross River State, Mrs. Ita-Ikpeme had a balanced childhood whereby her parents wanted the best for her and her siblings. Despite the fact that she lost her father as a teenager, her mother did not relent as she multi tasked to ensure that Gloria and her siblings reached their goals. Till date, Gloria Ita-Ikpeme could still recollect how her spouse and her siblings still remain her best friend.
Ita-Ikpeme recalled how she was in the banking industry for 20 years where she worked with Continental Merchant Bank, started as the Head of Department and rose to become Senior Manager/Divisional Head. She later left and became the Administration Manager, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Limited. Sharing her experience as a woman occupying such positions, Ita-Ikepeme said though it was challenging and tough, it was fulfilling. “It’s your state of mind and attitude that will determine your altitude. It was easier for me to relate with them because I operated an open door policy. The experience was quite challenging and tough because I worked majorly with men but it was fulfilling. It was easy for me because I had a good support from my husband and my children,“ she said.
Other laudable projects implemented while she worked with LNG included: Coordinated the development of architecture and implement/management of NLNG Leadership Academy. Actively led a team in the review of Nigeria LNG Learning Strategy with Shell Global Leadership Academy and developed and implemented a training framework and L&D Business plans for the company.
Others included: Coordination and management of “Best in Class” Business Logistic support and supplies for the company. Was involved in ensuring hitch-free and effective Contract & Procurement Administration at the Head Quarter and managed of Air/Land travels logistics and ensuring adequacy of fleet for activities across the organisation. “I ensured the provision of adequate/reliable security and excellent HSE for Head Office and official residences of NLNG Management staff,” she said.
With over 35 years experience, Ita-Ikpeme’s areas of expertise include strategic and leadership skills covering banking and financial services, oil and gas, contract and procurement, strategy formulation & evaluation, health, safety and environment, human resource management, learning & development, crisis and business continuity management, risk management, projects & innovations management, process re-engineering, external relations and development communications management, planning & implementation and performance & productivity. “I was the first female Administration Manager and it was that year that was delivered into the country,” she said. She also revealed how she generated a lot of initiatives to empower women while she was at LNG.
A Masters of Business Administration graduate from the Roosevelt University, Chicago, Ita-Ikpeme is the initiator of Oil & Gas Training Managers Forum and presently sits on the boards of various organisations including Herald Oil and Gas Limited and is a member of several local and international professional associations which includes British Psychological Society (BPS), Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (ACIPM) and the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD).
Speaking on how she is able to balance her career and her home, Ita-Ikpeme said her home was her priority. “It is a question of what is your focus? I never allowed my work to take over my home. As a woman, you have to consciously balance your home and your career so as to avoid crisis,” she warned.
As the Executive Director, Touching Hearts Global Foundation (THGF), formerly Orphans and Homeless Widows Fund, she is committed to improving the quality of life and giving hope to identified at-risk population within various communities.
Gloria Ita-Ikpeme’s advise to women is for them start early to be financially independent which will enable them to be wives and respectful.