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| MD NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman |
The
Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman,
has voiced her thoughts that though women are most disadvantaged in the world,
they play very important role in building a nation.
Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman,
has voiced her thoughts that though women are most disadvantaged in the world,
they play very important role in building a nation.
In
that vein, she advocated for the establishment of a “network or association in
every industry” which should provide a platform for women “to share experiences,
encourage one another and battle their challenges with one voice.”
that vein, she advocated for the establishment of a “network or association in
every industry” which should provide a platform for women “to share experiences,
encourage one another and battle their challenges with one voice.”
The
Managing Director was speaking while presenting a paper titled “Improving the
Participation of Women in the Ports” at the just concluded 3rd World
Maritime University Conference, with the theme “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community.”
Managing Director was speaking while presenting a paper titled “Improving the
Participation of Women in the Ports” at the just concluded 3rd World
Maritime University Conference, with the theme “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community.”
Talking
extensively on women’s position and gender diversity in work places globally, Ms
Bala Usman stressed the need for gender equality as a serious tool in nation
building, in order to check the problem of gender imbalance, which cuts across
almost all professional spheres.
extensively on women’s position and gender diversity in work places globally, Ms
Bala Usman stressed the need for gender equality as a serious tool in nation
building, in order to check the problem of gender imbalance, which cuts across
almost all professional spheres.
On the theme of her paper, she emphasized the
need to encourage young girls to take interest in Science and Technology
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) so they could pursue careers in shipping,
marine, operations and engineering sub-sector and advised that nations with
maritime endowments should fund specialised institutions and provide incentives
for girls to take courses in these areas.
need to encourage young girls to take interest in Science and Technology
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) so they could pursue careers in shipping,
marine, operations and engineering sub-sector and advised that nations with
maritime endowments should fund specialised institutions and provide incentives
for girls to take courses in these areas.
“Women who have broken through the barriers in
this sector must institute a mentoring system that encourages young ladies to
take careers and create a
this sector must institute a mentoring system that encourages young ladies to
take careers and create a
pipeline for succession in the maritime sector,”
she added.
she added.
She also advocated that government agencies
and private sectors investors be deliberate about increasing the number of
women in the sector, explaining that “last year for instance, TCIT, one of our
Terminal Operators recruited the first set of female crane operators in
Nigeria. We have assured all stakeholders of our readiness to partner with them
on this front.”
and private sectors investors be deliberate about increasing the number of
women in the sector, explaining that “last year for instance, TCIT, one of our
Terminal Operators recruited the first set of female crane operators in
Nigeria. We have assured all stakeholders of our readiness to partner with them
on this front.”
The Managing Director said the NPA had
initiated the maternity leave and entitlements programmes, as well as the
establishment of a crèche facility at the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC) to
encourage and motivate women in the course of their career in the Authority.
initiated the maternity leave and entitlements programmes, as well as the
establishment of a crèche facility at the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC) to
encourage and motivate women in the course of their career in the Authority.
She encouraged industry networks and
associations to create platforms for women to share experiences and support one
another in times of challenges.
associations to create platforms for women to share experiences and support one
another in times of challenges.
