…Pledges
to sponsor delegates to WISTA Africa conference in Accra
to sponsor delegates to WISTA Africa conference in Accra
 |
| Dr, Dakuku Peterside, DG NIMASA |
The Director General of the
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku
Peterside, has expressed the
Agency’s readiness to support initiatives aimed at getting more African women
involved in the industry.
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku
Peterside, has expressed the
Agency’s readiness to support initiatives aimed at getting more African women
involved in the industry.
Dr. Peterside said
this recently when the president of
Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Ghana, Jemilat
Mahamah, paid him a courtesy visit at the NIMASA headquarters in Lagos.
this recently when the president of
Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Ghana, Jemilat
Mahamah, paid him a courtesy visit at the NIMASA headquarters in Lagos.
This interest is
in line with the global focus on enhancing the role of women in
the maritime and shipping sector, the
NIMASA DG stated.
in line with the global focus on enhancing the role of women in
the maritime and shipping sector, the
NIMASA DG stated.
He pledged that NIMASA would
sponsor a high-powered delegation to the 6th WISTA Africa Region Conference
holding in Accra from April 2 to 4.
sponsor a high-powered delegation to the 6th WISTA Africa Region Conference
holding in Accra from April 2 to 4.
According to him, the theme
of the conference, “The role of women in harnessing the potential of Africa’s
blue economy,” coincides with the focus of the International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) this year, which is, “Empowering Women in the Maritime
Community.”
of the conference, “The role of women in harnessing the potential of Africa’s
blue economy,” coincides with the focus of the International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) this year, which is, “Empowering Women in the Maritime
Community.”
The Director General said,
“Globally, the focus in the maritime industry today is how to get more women
involved in the sector, whether as seafarers, ship owners, etc. So every effort
to encourage the participation of women in the sector is supported by NIMASA.
You can count on our support.”
“Globally, the focus in the maritime industry today is how to get more women
involved in the sector, whether as seafarers, ship owners, etc. So every effort
to encourage the participation of women in the sector is supported by NIMASA.
You can count on our support.”
He added, “It is interesting
that this year is dedicated by the IMO to empowering women in the maritime
sector, specifically, shipping. Your conference coincides with the thematic
thrust of the IMO this year. Therefore, it is very easy for us to align with
the global agenda of the international maritime community and support your
initiative of hosting the continent in Accra.
that this year is dedicated by the IMO to empowering women in the maritime
sector, specifically, shipping. Your conference coincides with the thematic
thrust of the IMO this year. Therefore, it is very easy for us to align with
the global agenda of the international maritime community and support your
initiative of hosting the continent in Accra.
“You can count on the support
of NIMASA and, by extension, Nigeria. We believe and support everything that
would give women a role in the maritime sector. There is no sector that would
exclude 50 per cent of the population and expect that sector to thrive. If we
exclude women, we are excluding 50 per cent of our population from benefiting in the economic activities in the maritime sector.”
of NIMASA and, by extension, Nigeria. We believe and support everything that
would give women a role in the maritime sector. There is no sector that would
exclude 50 per cent of the population and expect that sector to thrive. If we
exclude women, we are excluding 50 per cent of our population from benefiting in the economic activities in the maritime sector.”
Dr. Peterside said the focus of the WISTA
conference also agreed with
current efforts by African leaders to create economic activities in the
continent by maximising the benefits of the blue economy.
conference also agreed with
current efforts by African leaders to create economic activities in the
continent by maximising the benefits of the blue economy.
“The blue economy is one
critical sector that will create employment for our people, contribute to
economic growth, and give opportunities to all our people, whether they be men
or women.
critical sector that will create employment for our people, contribute to
economic growth, and give opportunities to all our people, whether they be men
or women.
“So it
is timely and most appropriate that you are focusing on how to get 50 per cent
of the continent’s population involved in the blue economy, be it fisheries,
fishing, or underwater mining, aquaculture or any of the activities that go on
in the blue economy.
is timely and most appropriate that you are focusing on how to get 50 per cent
of the continent’s population involved in the blue economy, be it fisheries,
fishing, or underwater mining, aquaculture or any of the activities that go on
in the blue economy.
“That
totally aligns with our vision of making the blue economy play greater role in
the economic growth of our country and our continent,” Dakuku stated.
totally aligns with our vision of making the blue economy play greater role in
the economic growth of our country and our continent,” Dakuku stated.
Earlier, the president of
WISTA Ghana emphasised the place of the 45-year-old organisation in the
maritime world.
WISTA Ghana emphasised the place of the 45-year-old organisation in the
maritime world.
“We basically promote women in the shipping industry, and we
mentor the young and coming ones,” Mahamah said of WISTA, which got Observer
Status at IMO last year and has a membership of about 3, 500 women in the
maritime industry from across over 40 countries.
mentor the young and coming ones,” Mahamah said of WISTA, which got Observer
Status at IMO last year and has a membership of about 3, 500 women in the
maritime industry from across over 40 countries.
She used the opportunity to
invite the NIMASA Director General to the 6th WISTA Africa Region Conference
and also sought the support of African countries, especially Nigeria, towards
the conference.
invite the NIMASA Director General to the 6th WISTA Africa Region Conference
and also sought the support of African countries, especially Nigeria, towards
the conference.
Mahamah thanked Nigeria for
leading the way in the enactment of relevant cabotage laws to enhance shipping
activities in the continent.
leading the way in the enactment of relevant cabotage laws to enhance shipping
activities in the continent.
President, WISTA
Nigeria, Mary Hamman, was among prominent Nigerian women maritime
professionals that took part in the visit.
Nigeria, Mary Hamman, was among prominent Nigerian women maritime
professionals that took part in the visit.
The 6th WISTA Africa Region
Conference in the Ghanaian capital would be opened by the country’s President
Nana Akufo-Addo.
Conference in the Ghanaian capital would be opened by the country’s President
Nana Akufo-Addo.
It would be attended by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim
and Vice President of Liberia Joseph Boakai, among other prominent leaders
and maritime industry experts from across Africa and beyond.
and Vice President of Liberia Joseph Boakai, among other prominent leaders
and maritime industry experts from across Africa and beyond.
