Women in Maritime Africa (WIMAfrica) is determined to explore new and sustainable ways for driving trade improvement in the continent, particularly in the area of its blue economy.
This and other salient matters including the inauguration of a new executive to run the affairs of the body would be highlights of WIMAfrica’s 2nd Continental Conference/ AGM scheduled for Oct. 29
and 30, 2018 at the Lantana Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos.
In an interview with Onepageafrica in Lagos, Head of the event organizing committee, Barrister Jean Chiazor Anishere, who happens to be the in-coming president of the body, said “The crux of the event is to bring together all the chapters of the Women in Maritime in Africa, assemble them as WIMAfrica, and have an AGM where a new executive will be elected.”
She added that of great importance as reflected in the conference theme, which has to do with trade facilitation and integration of trade in the continent, is the fact that the goal will impact positively on the economy of the various African countries.
Her words: “We all appreciate that integration of trade in Africa will promote growth within the economy of every of the African nation and also bring about the unity. That is very key; it is the basis of the African Union and even ECOWAS. It is to unify countries in the West Coast, and
African Union is both North, South, West, and East Africa.
African Union is both North, South, West, and East Africa.
“If we have synergy as regards trade within the borders by rail, by air, by water (by the way, we are water-related, that is how come we have the name WIM Africa), we believe strongly that that will boost our trade.
“There are lots of activities going on within the African Coast, so there is a need for that integration of trade. The West Coast is humongous and the Abuja MoU is trying to promote that, having a uniform port state control.”
As a baby of the African Union, WIM Africa tags along with the Vision 2063 of the Union.
The body prides itself in its mentorship and training programmes to encourage upcoming females in the maritime industry across the continent.
Part of its success stories are recoded in Nigeria, where a female marine engineer trained by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Management (NIMASA) graduated with a first class and WIMAfrica Nigeria was able to make a case for her to be gainfully employed with the
Nigerian Ports Authority.
Nigerian Ports Authority.
In Ghana, the first female marine pilot, Capt. Ama, though retired from going to sea, she is committed full time to teaching at the regional maritime academy in the country.
Another of its practical report recorded in Angola, is that, they have a Blue Economy Committee programme which takes them to schools there to teach the young ones about the job opportunities for girls who want to go to sea.
That initiative is backed with sponsorship to ensure that the girls
achieve their dreams of a career in the maritime industry.
achieve their dreams of a career in the maritime industry.
Onepageafrica reports that WIMAfrica was founded by South Africa’s Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma, who was formally the chairperson of the African Union Commission.
Barrister Anishere will be taking over from Madam Roseanne Sobrinho, who is from Angola.
The two plenary sessions during the conference are to be moderated by Mrs. Monica Mbanefo, a former Technical Director at the IMO, and Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi, Chairman of the Ship Owners Forum.
