Godrey Ogbechie is a 1988 graduate of Agricultural Economics and Extension from the University of Calabar. She also holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration.
Godrey has extensive banking experience, spanning Operations, Customer Service / Relationship Management, Audit and Human Resource Management. Cumulatively, she spent 19 years with Universal Trust Bank Limited and Fidelity Bank Plc, where she managed high profile projects both within and outside the country. As the Head, Human Resources of Fidelity Bank, she was a key member of the Fidelity, FSB and Manny Bank Merger Team.
On how she developed interest in banking, Godrey says she always had it as a childhood dream. She studied Agricultural Economics and they were told that one of the places they could work was an Agric bank. It was always her dream to work at Nigeria Agricultural and Cooperative Bank (NACB) but when she got to Kano for NYSC, the bank refused to take them because they had no space. They then got redeployed to other banks that had space for youth corps members. That was how she ended up at UTB where she did her youth service. After the youth service, they felt Godrey was hardworking enough and retained her. Godrey was in banking for 19 years.
Joining Rainoil Limited in 2009 as an Executive Director, Godrey has been instrumental in growing the business to include an asset base comprising; over 70 service stations spread across the country, a 50 million litre capacity multi-product depot in Oghara, Delta State, a 50 million litre capacity multi-product storage depot in the Free-trade Zone, Calabar, a 50 million litre capacity multi-product depot in Ijegun, Lagos State, a fleet of over 80 tank trucks for product distribution and 1 shipping vessel.
She oversees corporate support service functions which include; Human Resources, Information Technology, Admin and Facilities Management. As Group Executive Director, she also deputises for GMD/ GCEO as often as required.
Rainoil Limited is an integrated downstream oil and gas company. A prominent player in the Nigerian industry, the company’s operations span across the downstream value chain i.e. petroleum product storage, haulage/distribution and retail sales. Their primary products include Petrol (PMS), Diesel (AGO) and Kerosene (DPK).
Rainoil Limited was incorporated in November 1994. Commencing business as a petroleum products marketing company in May 1997, the company’s assets base has grown over the last 20 years.
Her organisation is committed to providing energy products and services in an efficient and sustainable manner while creating superior value for all stakeholders. In alignment with their core values of Respect, Integrity, Teamwork, Excellence and Safety, they endeavour to deliver products and services efficiently, build an enduring business, create an environment that nurtures creativity and establish beneficial collaborations with stakeholders.
Rainoil is passionate about philanthropy. As a company, they are involved with a lot of CSR, and as individuals, Godrey and her husband have foundations through which they reach out to people.
On discrimination against women in Nigeria, where she says a lot of things are defined from the male point of view, she believes it would be difficult to go through life without experiencing it. Godrey will readily tell you she has been working for about 28 years and may not have had many such instances.
Still, on women empowerment, she says she is aware that WIMBIZ (Women in Management, Business and Public Service) sponsored an advocacy on the issue of stopping sexual harassment and creating awareness around it.
Lending from this move, Ogbechie says the paramount thing for any establishment is to have zero tolerance for sexual harassment. In her words, “women should be able to have the freedom to aspire to any position. Decisions around work engagement and appointment should not be viewed from the point of gender; it should be viewed solely from the point of competency.”
Godrey has attended several courses in Nigeria, UK, South Africa and Ghana.
