Evelyn Oghogho Gafaar (née Omoregbee) was born on the 11th of February 1965. She attended the prestigious Idia college, Benin city and proceeded to the University of Benin where she obtained a BSC degree in Accounting in 1986. She also has an MBA from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife. She is a fellow of the institute of chartered Accountants of Nigeria and a fellow of the chartered institute of taxation of Nigeria.
Evelyn is a seasoned professional whose career spans over 36 years and across various industries – Manufacturing, sales, marketing, oil and gas.
She started her career in 1987 as an internal auditor with Michelin Nig ltd, a tyre manufacturing company in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. She was employed in Michelin following her outstanding performance as a youth corper (1986/1987) with the company.
She left Michelin in 1989 to join SCOA Nig Ltd in Lagos as an internal auditor and rose to the post of chief accountant of the biggest division of the company, SCOA Motors. She occupied this position until she left the company in 1997 to join Mobil Producing Nig UnLtd, an affiliate of the American oil giant, ExxonMobil Corporation.
She occupied various positions and held diverse responsibilities over her 26 years at Mobil Producing Nig. UnLtd – Payroll accountant, project accounting supervisor, statutory and government reporting supervisor, planning and operations manager, residential operations manager, office/Tenants services manager, and senior contracts manager in the upstream procurement services department of the company. Evelyn recently retired from ExxonMobil after 26 years of meritorious service.
She is married to Aliyu Gafaar, who is also a chartered accountant and they are blessed with 4 children and 2 lovely granddaughters.
Evelyn is involved in several charity and welfare activities. She has a passion for helping teenagers and young adults develop to their full potential especially in the area of education, and in the empowerment of women and the girl child. She loves traveling and spending quality time with her family.
Tell us about your early educational experiences at Idia College and how it shaped your career path?
Idia college was one of the most prestigious schools in Benin-city and Nigeria at the time, it was in the league of the federal government colleges with very good quality education. So, the high quality of teaching, training, discipline, exposure and environment contributed in no small measure and laid the foundation for me to succeed and thrive. We also had a good and functional career counselling unit. Even though many of us were confused about what professions we wanted to pursue, the counsellors provided guidance
You started your career in internal auditing at Michelin Nigeria. What were some of the key lessons you learnt during your early career?
I learnt a number of lessons considering the way I started my career with Michelin. I was employed into the role just as the chief internal auditor who was a chartered accountant resigned to join another company leaving only an audit clerk in the department. So, here I was, 22 and fresh from school with only a BSC in accounting to fill in as internal auditor, reporting directly to the financial controller. I had to hit the ground running, no hand holding. I learnt resilience and hard work, ability to adapt and learn fast so as to easily grasp the processes and controls in place. Others include embracing the work ethic, reliability and punctuality, ability to take initiative, development of professional and soft skills to navigate the office terrain, effective communication and seeing challenges as learning opportunities. These helped tremendously in shaping my career.
What were some of the challenges you faced as a female internal auditor in the late 1980s and early 1990s?
Generally, most employees saw internal audit as some kind of fraud or fault finding exercise rather than an improvement opportunity and so, were generally a bit hostile and sometimes uncooperative. Some form of gender discrimination where some male colleagues would rather deal with my male auditors. There was gender bias and stereotypes which was subtle but sometimes questioned my capabilities and commitment. Another was work life balance as I had to travel sometimes out of state and work long hours to meet work schedules. However, for the most part, I enjoyed the support of colleagues and superiors during the period.
After your time at SCOA Nig. Ltd, what led you to join Mobil Producing Nigeria, and what were your initial impressions of the oil and gas industry?
I became interested with the oil and gas industry during my youth services initially from stories from fellow corpers working in that sector. However, as my interest developed, I was intrigued by the gigantic multi-million dollar industry, its impact on the economy, job opportunities and competitive salaries. It remained in my line of sight until the opportunity came with Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited in 1997, 10 years after my career took off.
My initial impression was that the industry is very complex and multifaceted, with huge investment in technology and innovation which is constantly evolving. It appeared to be quite difficult to navigate but it turned out to be quite interesting and understandable as I became familiar with the Industry. Another huge shift for me was the materiality concept as applicable in oil and gas. Amounts and transactions which were regarded as material in SCOA were clearly not material in Mobil for obvious reason, and very rightly so.
You held various roles at Mobil Producing Nigeria. Which position did you find most challenging, and why?
I was lucky to have held roles that I consider very important to the organisation during my career however, my statutory and government reporting role was the most challenging. I was responsible for the quarterly balance sheet for four producing affiliates and Nigerian numbers were rolled for global consolidation. The margin of error was zero so you had to painstakingly perform analytical reviews and thorough checks to ensure no errors. At the time, any affiliate with error was penalised and no one wanted to be in those shoes.
Can you share a specific project or achievement at ExxonMobil that you are particularly proud of?
I recall a lot of achievements but one that stands out was my excellent coordination of the 2009 year end close and balance sheet reporting. The close was achieved in record time with no adjustment to the financial statements for the Nigerian affiliate, thus achieving a perfect score of 4/4 in the ExxonMobil global scorecard. This was a rare feat and well celebrated. That earned me and the team global recognition and commendation.
How did your role as senior contracts manager contribute to the success of your team and the organisation?
I led the team to provide support to the business by effectively stewarding contracting and contracts amendments to ensure no disruptions to the facility management services and the business at large. I provided strategic solutions and facilitated development of business relationships with contractors for provision of services achieving significant cost savings for the company amongst other.
As a fellow of multiple professional institutes, what do you believe are the most important qualities for a successful accountant or finance professional?
Accuracy, integrity and accountability. These form the foundation on which the accounting profession is built and must find expression in the life and work of the accountant. However, there are a combination of technical skills, other personal qualities and adaptability to the evolving landscape of the field that an accountant must possess to be successful. The ability to leverage technology, analyse data, and provide strategic insights is becoming increasingly important for accountants.
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to excel in the fields of accounting and finance?
Hard work, diligence and resilience. The road may be rough at the beginning especially in attaining their professional qualifications and building their careers, but it pays off at the end. They need to be thorough and pay attention to details. Continuous self-improvement is also key so as to be abreast of new development in the field. In today’s world, soft skills are very useful with emphasis on teams rather than individual performance. So, it is about the ability to work effectively with teams and people of diverse cultures and interests. Lastly, I’d advise that they identify and seek mentors who can provide guidance and help them navigate the challenges of their professional and personal lives.
How do you approach mentoring young professionals, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds?
First is to recognise their unique challenges in terms of systemic barriers, cultural biases and communication styles and so on. Then build trust and rapport by emphasising that these challenges and differences should not define them. Create a safe space, be empathic and provide a listening ear while also providing guidance and support for their career, skill and personal development, as well as other areas requiring mentorship and guidance.
I do not believe that background should limit anyone from realising their full potential. Once there is a will, there’s always a way. I was a teen church minister for over 10 years and I used to tell them that all they need to do is play their par., God will use whoever He wills to do the rest. Their part is to be serious with their studies, focus and not be distracted by stereotypes and biases. As many of them that remained focused achieved great results.
How do you balance a demanding career with family life, especially as a mother of four?
I had to be deliberate. I learnt early in my career not to compromise with my family in the pursuit of career because when the chips are down, when you are done with your career, you return to your family. I was deliberate about spending quality time with my children, husband and other family members. Attending the children’s school programmes and participating in their school activities was non-negotiable. Visiting days were not missed when they were in boarding school. Even when they went abroad, I made sure to visit and check on them regularly. When we could afford it, we started taking family vacations which we considered bonding time as we slept and woke up together, rushed for breakfast before they cleared up the restaurants and did fun activities together. I’m very big on spending time with family and I preach it passionately.
What drives your passion for charity work and helping young adults and women?
I guess it stems from just looking at my life and seeing how a little opportunity and focus can transform a life. The more I do it and see the huge impact in the life of the beneficiary and all those around him/ her, the more I’m inspired to carry on. Life is about opportunities. Sometimes, what the young adults need at that stage in their lives is some guidance/direction and support to forge ahead and get on the right path. Same goes for women. An empowered woman is an empowered nation because of who we are; home and nation builders. I believe that women will be less vulnerable in marriage or widowhood or even as singles if they are empowered, they have a job or business.
Traveling is one of your interests. What are some of your favorite travel destinations, and why?
I love a lot of the cities of about 40 countries that I have visited, but the following stand out for me: Geneva, Switzerland because of the Geneva lake. We took a ferry ride across the lake and wowed by the very clear and clean water. Second is Las Vegas, a truly beautiful city with the bling and glitz but it’s also a ‘sin city’. Then there is Singapore for its transformation from nothing to becoming an international hub because of one leader’s vision. I love Paris … I never get tired of visiting Disneyland and enjoying the fantasies.
Now that you’ve retired from ExxonMobil, what are your plans for the future?
Follow my passion. See how I can continue to impact the lives of children/youth adults and women positively through counselling, mentorship and sponsorship. Work with organisations/NGOs that pursue the cause of women and children in collaborations in this regard. I’d also like to contribute my quota to the economic development of the country with my wealth of knowledge and experience by providing strategic leadership if the opportunity presents itself.
What does turning 60 mean to you? What are you grateful for?
Fulfillment on the one hand and more mountains to take spiritually and in the area of welfare on the other hand. I’m grateful to God for life and for family, friends and loved ones that God has put in my corner. I look back over the last 60 years and can only thank God for his faithfulness. As the theme for my 60th birthday goes, ”I am the one that the Lord has helped” culled from 1Samuel 7:12.
Concluding words
I look back on my life and achievements and give all the glory to God. Only God’s mercy and great grace has brought me this far. ”So, then it is not of him that willeth, or of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.” Romans 9:16. There’re more lives to be impacted and let charity begin at home. Let’s pay close attention to our families, they are all we’ve got.
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