Winner. Business Leader of the Year 2023

Iroghama Ogbeifun

Position: Managing Director/CEO
Company: Starzs Investments Company Limited
City: Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Country: Nigeria
Economic/Business Sector: Shipping & Maritime

Iroghama Ogbeifun holds a degree in Biology and Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and a Master of Science degree in Public Health and Health Promotion from Brunel University, London.

She has a Commercial Risk in Shipping certification from Lloyd’s Maritime Academy, a certification in ABC of Shipping from the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, and a management certification from Harvard Business School.

As Managing Director/CEO of Starzs Investments Company Limited (SICL), a position she attained in 2021 after successfully leading the Company’s affairs as its Executive Director and subsequently the Chief Operating Officer, Iroghama Ogbeifun manages its daily operations. In this position, she draws on her expertise and skills to lead strategy and policy, oversees business development, and represents and promotes the Company’s interest, amongst other roles.

Iroghama Ogbeifun has used her platform to drive gender inclusion and representation within the industry, starting with her organization, so they are intentional about admitting female seafarers to their cadetship scheme as well as employing female officers on board their vessels. The Company presently has a female engineer and female vessel captain serving onboard. Iroghama is furthering this agenda using the Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), where she is the Chairman of the Finance and Membership Committee.

Iroghama Ogbeifun strongly believes that her ability to perform is driven by various factors such as the influence of key mentors, implementing a robust learning agenda, developing a sense of resilience, commitment, and focusing on delivering excellence every time.

As the MD/CEO, Iroghama Ogbeifun has maximized the Company’s revenue performance and recorded landslide achievements.

She helped her Company to qualify for $15 million in Mezzanine Debt to expand the company business in 2015.

Under her management, Starzs Investments Company Limited (SICL) has grown its assets base from 3 ships in 2014 to 12 ships by February 2021.

Iroghama Ogbeifun has been awarded numerous honors and awards for her prominent business achievements.

She was a recipient of the Entrepreneur Trail Blazer Award, Quantum Business Project, in 2011 and 2013.

In 2013, she also received special recognition for CSR Projects at Ikota Slum Community, Lagos.

Ms. Ogbeifun was the winner of the Next Titan Entrepreneurial Show in 2013 and a nominee for the Beauty Category for The Future Awards in 2016.

Other awards include:
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year, "Outstanding Female Entrepreneur of the Year" by the Entrepreneur Africa Awards 2021;
• The Most Respected CEO in Nigeria 2022, Maritime Category;
• The Amazon of the Maritime Industry of the Year 2022;
• The Oil Industry Trendsetter Award 2023.