By AISHA COLE

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has elevated 41 per cent of its female staff to the management cadre in recognition of their immense value to the maritime community.

Dr Dayo Mobereore, Director-General of the agency, disclosed this in Lagos, in commemoration of the 2024 International Day for Women in Maritime.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of this year’s International Day for Women in Maritime celebration is “Safe Horizon: Women Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety”.

Morebeola, who was represented by Executive Director, Labour Cabotage and Services, Alhaji Jubril Abba, said that the agency was committed to fostering a culture of diversity and empowerment.

“Through targeted initiatives, mentorship programmes, and advocacy, we will continue to work towards levelling the playing field and ensuring equal opportunities for all.

“The International Day for Women in Maritime 2024, the IMO has chosen the theme “Safe Horizons: Women Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety”, to celebrate the invaluable contributions of women in the maritime industry and to highlight the importance of ensuring safe and inclusive horizons for all maritime professionals.

“Yet, for too long, the voices and contributions of women in this sector have been overlooked and undervalued.

“Today, as we come together to celebrate the achievements of women in maritime, we also reaffirm our commitment to creating a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive maritime sector for all.

“Let me seize this opportunity to recognize and applaud the incredible achievements of women in maritime: From seafarers and ship captains to engineers and port operators, as well as maritime professionals and trailblazers.

“Women have played a pivotal role in shaping the maritime industry and driving innovation and progress’’, Mobereola said, noting that ‘’their dedication, resilience, and expertise have not only enriched our industry but also inspire a future generation of women to pursue careers in maritime”.

He highlighted some of the challenges confronting the womenfolk in the maritime industry such as gender inequality, discrimination, harassment, and lack of opportunities for career advancement.

The NIMASA boss said that as the agency strives to build a more inclusive and diverse maritime sector, the impediments would be addressed to create a safe and enabling environment for all maritime professionals.

Mobereola implored the womenfolk in the industry to collaborate in harnessing the nation’s blue economy to build a more sustainable and prosperous maritime industry that benefits everyone.

The Director of Finance Service, NIMASA, Mrs Olamide Odunsanya, said in her remarks that closing the gender gap had been the eternal quest of womenfolk since the industrial revolution.

Odunsanya, however, added that significant achievements had been recorded.

She stressed that although there was still a long way to go toward achieving parity, the agency was proud to note that the maritime industry was where great institutions like the IMO had taken formal steps to recognise the uniqueness and potential of women in shipping.

According to her, Nigerian women had successfully held positions of leadership and influence in shipping as well as maritime while exhibiting innovation and strategic prowess in discharging their duties.

“It goes without saying therefore that we must constantly remind ourselves that we must find a way to balance our work-life relationship and ensure that professional development never equates to the destruction of family values.

“We must also create more space, nurture, motivate and develop the younger women in the agency so that they can continue and indeed advance this cause that we have proudly led during our time.

While applauding those elevated to the management positions, she said: “To our male counterparts, thank you for lending your support and amplifying your voices. We remain committed to your success too and prosperity because without you there is no us,’’.

While commending NIMASA management for the recognition of women in the agency, the President, Women International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, Dr Odunayo Ani, extolled the effort of IMO for the celebration.

Ani disclosed that WISTA is a global organisation of female executives and decision-makers from all sectors of the maritime industry which would turn 50 years.

“Currently, we have National WISTA Associations (NWA) spread in 59 countries with a total strength of over 5,100 members including WISTA Nigeria,” she noted.

According to her, the association is, however, looking forward to partnering with NIMASA to provide a sustainable future for the Nigerian shipping industry and worldwide.

The President Women In Maritime Africa (WIMAfrica), Nigeria, Mrs Rollens Macfoy, described NIMASA as a polygamist, supporting the growth of all the women’s associations in the Maritime industry.

Macfoy urged the agency to allocate a budget to all the women’s associations to enable them to achieve their aims and objectives in mentoring and empowering women in the industry.

The Chief Executive Officer, Ocean Ambassador Initiative, “Cash Them Young” Mrs Olaitan Williams, revealed that over 10,000 children, mostly girls, had benefited from exposure to water and shipping.

The President, Women in Maritime West and Central Africa, Mrs Tosan Edodo-Emore, said the association was established in 2021 by the regional body, inaugurated by IMO President Kitwck Lim in Ghana as the eighth newest IMO women in Maritime. (NAN)

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