In West Africa a female freight forwarder is putting her money where her mouth is. Not only has she made her mark in the male-dominated Nigerian logistics industry, but Hajia Bola Muse is playing her part in educating the youth and empowering the less fortunate. Managing director of Bomarah Investment, Muse is regarded as one of the leading freight forwarders in Nigeria. Speaking to FTW recently on the sidelines of the Breakbulk Africa conference where her charity work was recognised with a donation of $2000 from the proceeds of the conference, she said it was imperative that those who had made it in business took the time to pass on their knowledge and skills to the less fortunate. “There is a lot of poverty in Nigeria and unless each of us works towards making a difference we will never overcome it.” With this in mind Muse founded the Bomarah Foundation, a nongovernmental, non-profit organisation that addresses the needs of vulnerable women and children. Through various fundraising efforts money is raised to pay for the schooling of children from primary school to university level. “We have to educate our youth as that is the only way we are going to empower them in the long run,” says Muse. “The extent to which we successfully do that is where the true future of Africa lies.” Muse knows hardship and put not only herself through school but also her entire family after getting work as a young woman at a local freight forwarding business. Through sheer determination and hard work she worked her way up the ranks, finally opening her own business. CAPTION Nigerian freight forwarder Hajia Bola Muse received $2000 from the proceeds of the Breakbulk Africa conference held in Cape Town last week for her Bomarah Foundation, a nonprofit organisation changing the lives of children in Nigeria by paying for their education.
