Ifeyinwa Rita Ejezie is a chartered stockbroker, and certified commodity trader with the Lagos Commodity and Futures Exchange. She is the 2023/24 Governor of Rotary International District 9110, Nigeria, having excelled in her stockbroking profession and her service to humanity as a Rotarian. Ejezie holds master’s degree in Corporate Governance and Finance from the Liverpool John Moore University, United Kingdom; MBA in Banking and Finance from Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) Business School, Lagos; Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration from Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, and a Diploma in Banking and Finance from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
She is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Pensions Institute of Nigeria, and an Associate Member, Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria, Nigeria Institute of Management, and Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment, United Kingdom, amongst other certifications.
Ejezie served as a director on the board of Capital Market Development Fund of the Securities and Exchange Commission; member of the committee of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that set up the Automated Trading System (ATS). She is currently the Vice Chairman, Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria.
She started out as a Rotarian from her undergraduate days before joining in 2006 as a member of the Rotary Club of Ikoyi Metro. She has been attending all Rotary International Conventions from 2010 and was trained as District Governor-elect at the Rotary International Assembly held in Orlando, Florida in January 2023.
Ejezie is an alumnus of the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) of the Rotary International, a member of Rotary Global History Fellowship, and Life Member of Rotarians for Fighting Aids (RFFA) Action Group, and Chartered Member of Rotarians Fellowship of Public Speakers. In this interview with IJEOMA THOMAS-ODIA, she shares her goal for the year, serving as the second female district governor in 42 years of the district’s existence.

Take us through your career path
When I left school, my first career was as a banker. I must say that from when I was a child, I have always wanted to be a banker and I earned the name, ‘Mother’s banker.’ It was while I was in banking that I was introduced to stockbroking. And I discovered that it was something one can do for a long time and even retire into. So, I went to study, train and eventually took the exams, passed and became a chartered stockbroker. Since then, there has been no looking back. As a woman in stockbroking, we are called Pretty Gentlemen because it is not a turf for women. In fact, it was not until the late 80s that women were allowed to participate.

What informed your passion for philanthropy?
My passion for philanthropy started far back in my university days as a Rotarian. There I learnt the beauty of caring and reaching out to your community through a platform like Rotary. I learnt the value of doing better than you could have done as an individual. I felt, at the time, that there was more to life than looking after yourself alone. And when one saw how people’s faces light up when you touch their lives with a positive project, it was just something that soon became a part of me.

As the new DG of Rotary International District 9110, what would you say prepared you for this role?
My passion for service, the encouragement of district leaders who believed in my abilities over the years and the various training programmes both locally and across the borders by Rotary International prepared me for this position. I will also add that my professional and social contacts prepared me solidly and gave me the confidence to aspire for this position.

What are your major plans and activities for your one-year in office?
My major plan is to grow our foundation’s fund and expand our horizon by admitting or chartering new clubs and members into different zones to grow Rotary, including putting the organisation in the minds of the community through our club projects. We do so much that people don’t know. I intend to carry the message of the many good things we do to all corners of the district. We will also be driving home some points that are dear to us like service, integrity, leadership, fellowship and diversity. Rotary is one of the few organisations that take diversity seriously; we understand that cultivating a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture is essential to realising our vision of a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change. We value diversity and celebrate the contributions of people of all backgrounds, ages, ethnicity, religion, learning style, marital status and languages. By June 30, 2024, I hope that my dreams, district goals and Rotary International’s aspirations would have been achieved.

With the economic situation and high inflation rate, how will you bring your expertise to drive your activities and also make Rotary attractive to prospective members?
Despite the economic situation and high inflation rate in Nigeria at the moment, I believe that what spurs us, as Rotarians, are the joy we feel seeing how our small donations put together has affected lives positively round the world. We know that we have to give our time, talent, thought and treasure to worthy causes and we encourage others to come join us because there is so much gaps that government cannot fill that Rotary has been filling all these years.

I reassure the people of Lagos and Ogun states, which are the states that make up the RI District 9110, that during my tenure as the district governor, there will be continuation of our humanitarian services. We would continue with projects in line with Rotary’s areas of focus which are: peace building and conflict prevention, disease prevention and treatment, water, sanitation and hygiene, basic education and literacy, community, economic development, maternal and child health and protection of our environment. Our over 140 clubs across the two states would be encouraged and supported as applicable to either individually or jointly deliver impactful projects across the states.

Challenges are a part of life. What challenges do you envisage in your tenure and how will you tackle them?
The greatest challenge I am going to face during my tenure is the harmonisation of dollar exchange rate, which will affect the ability of individuals and corporate bodies to donate as much as they could if the CBN official exchange rate adopted by Rotary International remains at N462 to a dollar. Nevertheless, I believe that those with humanitarian heart will still give as intended with little persuasion and heart of appreciation.  

As a woman who has risen through the ranks, what advice do you have for other women seeking to rise up the ladder? 
My advice to women is that they should be steadfast and passionate with service, be good in whatever they know how to do and have confidence in their abilities to deliver. They must never compromise their principles and never give up in the face of intimidation. 

Who are your role models?
Our past Rotary International Vice President, Yinka Babalola, who was elected governor while still working at Shell, inspires me. I approached him to know how he intended to combine work with Rotary. At the end of that Rotary year, he emerged as the best district governor in Nigeria and was honoured on stage during our international convention. I was there to applaud him while noting to myself that it is doable. I do not have to retire, or be old to make my mark in Rotary as an organisation. That was my turning point. 

Can you share your success secrets?
My success secrets are hard work, exuding happiness always and having abiding faith in God to see me through any circumstances, no matter the level.

What is your advice for women who are seeking to climb the leadership ladder, just as you have done; what tips do you have for them?
I will encourage women to join Rotary. Let me explain: Rotary gives you the opportunity for training and learning. Any woman who wants to excel must be ready to learn and train. There is no end to getting an education and equipping yourself with the right skills. You have to be disciplined, you have to be confident and you have to always be ready to go above and beyond your brief to deliver on all assignments given. Women who want to go far in life must be focused. There are too many distractions today, but trust me, if you stay focused and work hard the sky will be that woman’s starting point.

You are obviously a very busy career woman. Tell us how you have been able to maintain a work-home/family balance?
I am able to maintain a work/family balance by allocating time in order of priorities, delegating authority where necessary and not holding on to power to my own detriment. 

What is your life’s mantra?
My life’s mantra is ‘happiness always’. 

How does it feel to be a female in this role and are there things you would be doing differently from your predecessors?
It feels great to be the second female district governor after 42 years of Rotary District 9110, Nigeria, breaking the long-standing jinx. Yes, of course, it does add to the pressure as all the men are standing by watching to see if you will succeed or not.  I will strive to build on my predecessors’ legacies, thereby taking our district to a greater height.