NPCC Congratulates Chief (Mrs.) Chinwe Ezenwa on 40 Years of LeLook & Exemplary Maritime Trade Leadership

The Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC) is honoured to extend our deepest congratulations to Chief (Mrs.) Chinwe F. O. Ezenwa on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of LeLook Nigeria Limited, celebrated on October 1, 2025. This milestone is a confirmation of her entrepreneurial resilience in manufacturing and a reflection of her vital engagement across port operations, trade facilitation, and continental commerce.

For four decades, Mrs. Ezenwa has built LeLook from humble origins into a brand that fuses African cultural identity with global standards. Yet, her achievement is not confined to fashion alone. As a pioneer of trade-compliant export operations, she has forged a bridge between creative industry and maritime trade infrastructure. Under her leadership, LeLook became one of the first Nigerian SMEs to be certified under the Nigeria Customs Service’s Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, thereby earning preferential treatment in port clearance, demonstrating excellence in compliance, and contributing to more efficient logistics flows.

Moreover, she was the first to secure a Nigeria AfCFTA Certificate of Origin under the Guided Trade Initiative—making LeLook a trailblazer in intra-African exportation under the continental free trade agreement. This feat underscores her vision that Nigerian goods should travel not only across oceans, but across African borders.

Beyond LeLook, Mrs. Ezenwa’s roles resonate strongly within the maritime space. She serves as MD/CEO of Ocean Serve & Logistics, giving her deep operational insight into shipping, supply chains, inland logistics, and port services. Her public commentaries have repeatedly emphasized that the maritime sector is an untapped revenue frontier and that strategic leverage of port systems is essential to Nigeria’s growth.

Indeed, prior to her entrepreneurial prominence, she held leadership positions in the Ministry of Transport, including serving as Director of Maritime Services, and once acting Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). These roles enriched her appreciation of the institutional and regulatory dynamics necessary for a robust maritime trade environment.

At the anniversary event itself, Mrs. Ezenwa used the platform not merely to celebrate, but to signal further ambitions. She unveiled Just Bags—a pan-African digital marketplace to unite African bag makers under a common trade platform. In doing so, she reinforced the idea that infrastructural enablers (such as ports, customs, and regional trade protocols) must evolve in unison with enterprise platforms. In her address, she noted:

“There’s no way I alone can produce a million bags at once. But if I train others and we come together… we can meet those demands.”

She also inaugurated the LeLook Fellows mentorship programme, recruited student ambassadors across tertiary institutions, and awarded significant cash prizes to exemplary innovators. These steps affirm her commitment to nurturing youth capacity and ensuring that the next generation links artistry to trade.

Mrs. Ezenwa’s achievements are deeply aligned with the aspirations of the maritime and ports sector. Her ability to mesh manufacturing, logistics, export compliance, and continental trade advocacy reflects the integrated vision NPCC espouses: that our ports must not only move goods, but also enable value addition, market access, and competitive advantage.

On this significant anniversary, NPCC salutes Mrs. Ezenwa’s legacy of resilience, innovation, and patriotism. We pledge our continued support for initiatives—like Just Bags and LeLook’s export expansion—that depend on efficient port systems, harmonized trade protocols, and strong institutional partnerships.

Congratulations once again on 40 years of transformative leadership. May your example continue to inspire new frontiers for Nigeria and Africa in trade, enterprise, and maritime excellence.

Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC)