Guided by the words of George Soros, Chairman and CEO, Soros Fund Management; “It is much easier to put existing resources to better use than to develop resources where they do not exist,” as well as those of Albert Einstein; “Logic will get you from point A to B; imagination will take you everywhere,” business tycoon and philanthropist, Zaria Muthoni Aba Mimano, has proved unstoppable.
First stop is the renowned Aba Oil which kicked off six years ago in Abuja, Nigeria. Aba Oil now has its new world headquarters in Knightsbridge, London and operates in African countries including Kenya, South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Libya, Algeria, Eygpt, Angola, Uganda, to mention a few. This is in tandem with Mimano’s dream, as revealed in an interview with Guardian Newspaper, Nigeria on February 23, 2014 where she said; “It is limitless, I see Aba Oil taking care of Africa.”
Speaking on Aba Oil and how far it has come, Zaria Mimano, named after the city in Kaduna State Nigeria disclosed; “Aba Oil was born out of my passion for world energy resources, its effect on whole continents and its management, hence we keyed into Africa’s energy potential. Since its inception, we have continually ensured that Aba Oil is strategically positioned in accessing and securing necessary exploration rights, leasing and servicing for oil and gas block acquisitions both offshore and onshore, while seeing to it that the indigenous people of exploration sites do not suffer.”
Then there is Zaria Mimano Foundation, founded December 2014, with the goal of ending clean water scarcity for over one billion people. The foundation has been carrying this out in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the United States (US). To exemplify her unstoppable love for all life, the Foundation’s focus has expanded their budget to include helping indignant patients in hospitals across Africa offset their bills. So that the doctors and nurses at the hospitals can focus on helping them and others.
This is presently ongoing across all the 36 states of The Federal Republic of Nigeria and debuted at National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos (NOHIL).
On the Foundation, Mimano revealed; “We offer many services and relief to those in need, one of which is freeing those in hospitals caught up in unexpected debt they cannot pay.”
Her philanthropic nature, she says, was borne out of her outlook on life; “I consider reaching out to those in need a bonus in life. Unlike some, I do not take life too seriously, I aim to enjoy life at all stages, after all, working hard does not pay, work
ing smart does. Nonetheless, if I can potentially add some value to people’s lives, then I am fulfilled.”
Zaria Mimano, who was born in West London to a Kenyan father and Ghanaian mother on February 5, 1987, attended Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College where she ran track and field and is a graduate of Law from Brunel University, London, says the sky is our spring board.
To ladies like her, Mimano implores; “Be yourself, believe in yourself, don’t bother about what others are doing, mind your business and concentrate all your forces on achieving your goal. Most importantly, do not be afraid, let go of fear.”
