Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has advised women operating in the maritime sector to collaborate in other to improve leadership opportunities for women in the sector.
Bearing in mind that women are in disadvantaged group and being categorized as minority, hence the need to work together to bring about help and support for one another.
The NPA boss made this clarion call during a courtesy visit to her office in Lagos, on Wednesday by the executives of Women in Maritime Africa (WIMAfrica).
While urging women in the Maritime Industry to work together to improve leadership opportunities for women in the sector, She pledged her continuous encouragement and support in anyway possible.
Congratulating WIMA executives on some of the achievements the association has made within the shorted period of time, Hadiza encouraged them not to rest on their oars but rather to continue as the Nigerian Ports Authority will be willing to render its support.
In her opening remark, the President of WIMAfrica, Nigeria chapter, Hajia Bola Muse, commended the positive impact the present administration of NPA had on the maritime industry.
She said that WIMAfrica was a platform for training, capacity building, cooperate and entrepreneurial development of African women in the maritime sector.
Established in Luanda, Angola in March 25, 2015 to encourage and develop a continental platform for women in Africa.
Musa added that the establishment of the body was a direct response to a request by Dr Nkosazana Diamini-Zuma, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
“WIMAfrica Nigeria is a chapter of WIMAfrica, which adopted the maritime strategy 2050 to contribute to the building of Africa’s Blue Economy.
“Between 2017 and 2018, we have formally registered the association and got recognition at the Ministry of Transportation, the National Assembly and other national bodies.
“WIMAfrica Nigeria has empowered women in Makoko fishing community in Lagos by donating giant ovens for fish processing and preservation.
“We participated in the international activities by providing community service during g the World Ocean Day, while we donated cleaning materials to encourage others in keeping our ocean areas clean,” she quipped
She pleaded with the managing director of NPA to encourage female staff of the authority to join the association to enable them improve women mentorship in the maritime sector.
