The Women International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA Nigeria) on Thursday told the Federal Government to empower women in the maritime industry for faster development of the sector.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello, made the plea in a message at the launch of the WISTA Membership Directory and Quarterly Journal.

The theme of the event is: “Empowering Women in Maritime.”

Bello, who was represented by a Deputy Director in the NSC, Mrs. Ada Okam, described empowerment as a multi-faceted and multi-layered concept.

The executive secretary said that people acquired and possessed power and resources to enhance their decision-making abilities and skills.

“Going down its lane of achievements, WISTA Nigeria has been on the frontline of promoting several policies, programmes and projects designed by the Federal Government for the empowerment of women.

“The importance of women empowerment cannot be over-emphasised. If women are healthy and educated, their families will flourish.

“If women have the chance to work and earn as equal partners in the society, the family will blossom; when families blossom, communities and nations will prosper.”

He that said empowerment of women prepared them for personal wealth, skills, education, information, knowledge, social status as well as giving them equal rights and opportunities.

Bello said the opportunities would go a long way in assisting women in their bid to achieve economic independence in all spheres of life.

Managing Director of Comet Shipping Agencies Nigeria Ltd, Mr. PierLuigi Carrodano made a presentation entitled: “The Rising Profile of Women in International Shipping: The Nigerian Perspective.”

Carrodano said the rising profile of women in international shipping and maritime trade had been facilitated by social, economic and political factors.

He said that recent advancement of the technology of shipping and marine navigation had made it possible for more female workers to be engaged in seafaring, marine engineering and navigation.

“It has been noted that the industry has lost much of its physical attributes in favour of computerisation.

“All these developments have accelerated the rise in the profile of women's participation in very many aspects of international shipping and maritime trade.”

Also speaking, Executive Director of Starzs Investments Company Ltd., Mrs. Iroghana Obuoforibo said she was passionate about current opportunities for female cadets in the maritime sector.

Obuoforibo said her institution had produced four female graduate cadets, saying that she would not relent in continuing to encourage females to join men in tapping the potential in the maritime sector.

She, however, urged women in the industry to put more efforts in encouraging young females to show interest in shipping.

“If women in maritime industry motivate the incoming ones, their names would forever be remembered in the industry and incoming generations will read their history.”

A staff of Access Bank Plc., Mrs. Abiola Nejo, said the bank had provided a lot of programmes for women empowerment.

Nejo said that Access Bank had provided a platform for enlightenment of Nigerian women in technology and created channels to enable women access loans.

She said that the bank had also introduced maternal health services. (NAN)

•Photo shows Sea Vessel

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