Dr Victoria Omonigho Ekhomu is the Group Managing Director/CEO of Transworld Security. A physical security and counter-terrorist expert, she is also a security consultant.
Dr Ekhomu holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh USA (1986) and a BA from the University of Lagos. She belongs to several professional associations and was a past chairman of the African Advisory Council of American Society for Information Science (ASIS) Foundation Board of Trustees, a trustee of the Association of Industrial Security & Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), and more. Her expertise has also won her several awards in the industry.
In this interview, she related her life experiences since her husband, Dr Ona Ekhomu, a popular security consultant and analyst passed on in 2021. She also spoke on the security industry, her encounter with kidnappers and more.
By Vivian Onyebukwa
How has it been since your husband died?
It hasn’t been easy to lose one’s lover, husband, friend, partner, boss, and the father of your children, all in one. When I am home, in the office, it’s not easy. He just passed in a flash. I knew he was ill, but the hope was that he was coming out of it later. By the time he came back from the hospital, he was still on the ventilator, on oxygen. In fact, I remember when he was in the hospital, he was accepting different invitations, but by the time he had to come out he was still on oxygen.
I remember one morning, he said I should go to the office, but I didn’t have to go to the office. That was on a Monday. He had a long list. He was getting better but they didn’t have a lab in the hospital. He came out of what the problem was, but his lungs were messed up because he had pneumonia before he went. But by the time he had to go for the lab, because they said he had to be stable before he could come to the lab, and his lungs were terribly messed up. I remember when my daughter, who is a medical doctor saw it, she screamed because she knew how bad it was. I am not a doctor so I really didn’t know the implication, but my daughter knew how bad it was. The lady who also was in charge was very worried. He now had to continuously be on oxygen, though he was discharged and was at home. That was how he had to tell my daughter to draft a letter to Edo State that he could not attend their invitation for a programme because he had accepted to be there. He had a long list of things I should go and do in the office. So I had to rush to the office to attend to them. I was able to attend to all of them, and I rushed back. I even had to pay for a test while I was in the office. The doctor wanted the test.
The doctor advised that we rush him to another hospital, else he would go unconscious because he was just using the energy to stay alive. So we took him to the hospital. But as we just started the car, he became unconscious.
That was how he passed. I was in a trance hoping that he would wake up. That was it. Someone who was able to fight kidnappers and survived. Even the army people, when they called then, were asking him how he was able to survive someone who was holding a gun. And then this one. Death came – just like that! So, it’s not been easy.
My husband was very passionate about work. He would stay here in the office and work, maybe till 10pm. That was like his food.
Even till the end, he had a long list of things he wanted me to do. It was even after that I found out that he interacted with a doctor the night before, and the doctor had told him to go to the hospital in the morning, but he didn’t tell me, instead he sent me to the office. Some people told me that maybe he didn’t want me to be there when it happened, and that it was the reason he sent me away. Even my daughter, he told her to go but my daughter still stayed around. Bu t the nurse was there.
How have you been running the business?
Since the business and Nigeria meant a lot to him, and he was so passionate about the people, I watched how he transformed people’s lives. And then also, the fact that while he was alive, as the Chairman, he made me, his wife, the MD. Not many men get to that stage with their wives. I didn’t want to work with him. I wanted to do my own work, but it’s like he didn’t want me to go and work with another man. At worst, if I had to work, I could go and lecture in the university. That’s how I found myself working with him. I was like, since he made me the MD, trusted me so much, I was in charge of operations, marketing, since he trusted me enough while he was alive, whenever he was gone, I was going to ensure that I kept the legacy. And I was not only going to retain and maintain the company, I was going to grow the company.
Also for my children, focusing on them, making sure that the children would grow perfect and ensure that I am there to support them in whatever they are doing, and then when they are ready they come in and take over the business, and make the business even more attractive to them so that they would want to run the business.
What are some of the challenges you face trying to keep the business afloat?
Security service is a man’s world, but somehow I have been able to develop myself even while he was alive. I had the right foundation, from secondary school, University of Lagos, travelled to the US for my Masters. Also I have the highest security certification that you can have in the world. I have acquired a whole lot of knowledge from certifications, and then from various security trainings. Also, every time we are going for security conferences oversees, I was with him. I don’t just go to enjoy. A lot of wives accompany their husbands, and they go to see the seas, go shopping, and have fun. But while he is attending the classes and checking the seminars out, I am also checking them out and equipping myself so that I can perform better since I was in charge of marketing. So I have been doing that. So I have the right education, certification, information .
So would it be right to say that your husband prepared you for this?
He prepared me. We were growing together. I was recognised as being a leader in the industry. So by the time he passed, of course there were other challenges, but in the industry they know me as a leader. My husband gave me wings to fly. He supported me. So when I look at it, I am like since he gave me all these opportunities, I would do everything to make sure that I make him proud wherever he is and my children.
You once survived a kidnap incident. How do you feel each time you remember that?
It was traumatic. It’s awesome what God has done for me because it is God that has preserved my life. Because I was the one that was taken away, even though they tried to shoot him. It was around Warri that I was rescued. It was quite traumatic, but I give God the glory for having the task force – the Navy and Airforce joint task force – rescue us. I didn’t know that the navy were so fired up and dynamic. It was only the army that I knew. I didn’t even know that the navy is something else. It was the navy that rescued me even despite the threat to their lives. One of the vehicles that was sent to pursue them, because the navy used two vehicles to pursue them, one of the Hilux that was coming was disabled in the shoot-out. They riddled one of the vehicles with heavy bullets. Thank God none of us died. Even with the disabled vehicle, the other one kept coming. They were able to shoot the tyre of our vehicle. While the two were still shooting at them, one helped the other and they rescued me.
They could have shot me even before leaving. God has just been faithful and merciful to preserve my life till this day, because you know I had some near death experiences, but God has been there. Even when my husband was alive. But God has been faithful. I believe God preserved me for a purpose. So I have to ensure that my workers all over the country are able to feed their families from what we pay. Then people that come to our school will come and we are able to transform them and their careers, change their lives significantly. I want to be able to help humanity in any way that I can help.
As a security expert, what are some security tips you can give out to people?
Whenever you can, avoid travelling by road, especially if it is interstate. You are advised to fly if you can to reduce the probability of being a victim. But it is not everywhere that you can avoid that, such as from Benin to Esan. We flew into Benin airport, but it was from the airport to Esan that we had the encounter. It was like a normal day. We even tried to take some precautions. Instead of going with an SUV, trying not to be flamboyant, we went in a Corolla. We were supposed to also come with the Hilux. It was the Corolla and the Hilux that was supposed to pick us from the airport. But unfortunately the head driver called to say that he had a flat tyre. So knowing that he could not make it because of time, he drafted the Corolla driver to come and pick us.
So, don’t be flamboyant. Even that day, I was wearing jeans trouser and a shirt on top, looking normal, not knowing that these people were not police officers, but they were wearing police uniform. I dint know they were not police. They were just standing there. They asked me to introduce myself and I told them Chief Mrs Victoria Ekhomu. If I knew they were not police, I wouldn’t have introduced myself as chief. They now went to our briefcases. We had money there and they took them. We had a party we were going for, but I didn’t dress from Lagos. I was supposed to dress from the house in Esan, but somehow, I don’t know how they noticed us. They were allowing other vehicles, they didn’t stop them. So till date, I’m still thinking, why did they target us? There were people going in SUVs and other things and they were allowing them to go. My husband was not in my own Corolla. He was in his friend’s car. He left our vehicle and went in his friend’s Corolla, and they asked them to go. It was my black Corolla they took. So, when they saw that they stopped us, they went to park in front. They would have gone free. So they asked them whom they were waiting for, they said they were with us. That’s how they got connected because it would have just been me they would have taken.
Also, moving around the state at night can be dangerous. When you are driving, your transport can be ambushed. Be swift while driving within the city, because you could be blocked. Don’t let all the cars pass you. Reduce flamboyant lifestyle. Even the vehicle that you use, don’t be so predictable. Don’t use the same vehicle that you are known for. Vary your routes. Don’t be so predictable with the routes, in case they are waiting for you. The ‘cashless policy’ has helped. When travelling, watch out. Notice the vehicles that are following you. If you suspect that you are being followed, look for a safe place and park. Then pray. Beware of your environment.