Maris Trust Council Recounts Last Moment With Shimite Love

The Management of the Maris Trust Council (MTC) has described the death of Mrs Shimite Love as shocking.

MTC in a statement signed by its Secretary, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, issued on Monday in Asaba, observed that Mrs Love who was one of the discussants at the Maris Annual Public Service lecture, a lecture series organised by the MTC, was not only beautiful but intelligent.

“It is with heavy heart that we received the passing of Mrs Shimite Love.

“She died in the early hours of today, Monday, April 21, 2025.

“Though, the cause of her death could not be ascertained as the autopsy result was not yet out, we sympathise with members of her family, her friends, especially, the Moderator in Maris Lecture Series, Prof. Kemi Emina, the Odiega of Ebu where Mrs Love hails from.

“Recall that Mrs Love was a discussant at Year 2022 edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture, held on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba. Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas delivered the Keynote Address at that lecture where he spoke on the topic, ‘Selfless Service, A Phenomenal Virtue.’

“Until her death, she was the Special Adviser to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Trade and Export.”

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Mrs Shimite Love (Nee) Nwakalo was born into the family of late Mr Jacob Okwunudu Nwakalor and Mrs Roseline Nwakalor, married to Mr Richard A. U. Bello.

Shimite Love attended Air Force Nursery School, Legico, Victoria Island between 1979 to 1981.

She attended Air Force Primary and Secondary School both in Ikeja between 1981 to 1986 and 1986 to 1990 respectively, and later obtained her SSCE from Air Force Secondary School, Makurdi in 1992.

In her quest for more knowledge, she obtained her B.Sc in Political Science at the University of Ibadan in 1999 and served her NYSC immediately after.

During her passing out parade in the year 2000, she was awarded a plaque of honour for her work in charity during her once a week Corpers Day (CD), especially with reference to her activities with Modupe Cole Memorial Home for people living with Mental Disabilities.

Mrs Shimite Love gathered so much working experience during her early years.

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She worked with Clapper Board T.V., with Lagos Weekend Television between 1992 to 1994 on a teenage programme, Teeny Boppers as a TV presenter.

She also worked with her elder sister, Mrs Agatha Amata on the Inside-Out TV series throughout her University and NYSC years as programme Coordinator and Marketing Executive.

She ran a travelling Agency “Generations Travel Agency and Tours” between 2005 to 2012. She was also a contributing editor for travel and tourism with Daily Trust Newspaper, Leadership Newspaper and African Travel Quarterly Magazine.

She was an active member of National Tour Operators of Nigeria (NATOP), National Association of Travel Agencies (NANTA), Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) and Association of Nigerian Journalists in Entertainment and Tourism (ANJET).

Shimite later veered into working with grassroots women and youths in financial literacy, gender mainstreaming, financial inclusion in the areas of Agriculture, Solid Minerals, ICT and Agency Banking.

She trained with CIBN, SMEDAN and other DFID interventions in order to expand her knowledge base.

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She joined Women in Public Management, Business and Administration (WIMBIZ), Rural Financing of Nigeria (RUFIN), Association of Non-Bank Micro-Finance Institutions of Nigeria (ANMFIN) and Chartered Institute of Commerce, amongst others.

Her NGO, Quintessential Business Women Association (QBWA), has a United Nations Consultative Status and works with different UN organisations. QBWA has partnered with CBN, BOI, BOA, NDDC, DFID and USAID.

Due to her diligence, Mrs Shimite Bello was appointed by the Delta State Government as the Executive Secretary of Delta Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency from 2015 – 2019.

She was appointed in 2019 as the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Export Initiatives and the Coordinator UNIDO Center.

Notable amongst which is the Delta Food Export Initiative, Job Creation Steering Committee, Agricultural Marketing Board and Delta State Focal Person the Federal Government Intervention: National Social Safety – Net programme ( SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME) that oversees N-Power, Home Grown School Feeding Programme, GEEP, the Social Register and Cash Transfer.

Mrs Shimite Love worked as Technical Adviser on Business Ethics and Values under the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Ethics and Values Mrs Sarah Jibrin. She also served on committees including Steering committee of USAID/NEXTT ( Nigerian Expanded Trade & Transport) – LAKAJI Trade Corridor and the Agric – Business Development and is an active member for policy formulation and amendment for National Assembly Business Environment Round-Table (NASSBER).

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Mrs Love is the group President / C.E.O of Quintessential group, a conglomerate of Non- Governmental Organization, a Social Business Enterprise and Limited Liability Company in Agriculture and Solid Minerals sector of the economy.

Mrs Love is also a media professional, producer and presenter of ” African Pot” and ” African Pot Extra”; a highly regarded Television documentary that promotes Traditional African Cuisine, Tourist attraction and culture as well as investment opportunities in Africa. She has produced to 2 recipes “African Pot Recipe Book ” and “100% Nigerian”. She has infused her leadership quality with a thorough understanding of the African Rural Community, Rural Financing Strategies and the African Marketplace.

Mrs Shimite Love is renowned for her intricate knowledge of Micro Finance, MSME Development, Human Capital Development, Export, Financial Literacy Training, mentorship, Job and Wealth creation, through innovation in the Agricultural and Solid Minerals Value chain, Utilizing grassroots Women and Youth entrepreneurs as drivers of the process.

Mrs Shimite Love is a multiple Award winner in the areas of Community Development, Micro Finance, Youth and Women Development, Media and Agricultural Development.