WIMA Canvasses Young Females Mentorship For Maritime Participation

As part of efforts to celebrate the International Women’s Day 2020, Women In Maritime Africa (WIMA),Nigerian branch has reaffirmed its commitment to mentor young girls and youths in furtherance to promote the potential of the blue economy and gender equality in the shipping industry.

WIMA Nigeria has been in existence since 2017 , with major objective to promote collaboration among national ,regional and international maritime organisations.

Speaking at the event to commemorate the International Women’s Day 2020 on Tuesday, with the theme, “I am generation Equality : Realizing Women’s Right with campaign; #EqualforEqual, President WIMA Nigeria Branch, Hajia Bola Muse noted that the association was to ensure advancement of gender equality in the maritime industry and to further redress the existing imbalance.

 

Muse said over the years,there was a noticeable imbalance in the maritime industry,hence WIMA is championing the cause of injecting more women into the sector.

According to her , mentorship is key for the sustainability of gender equality adding that grooming of the girl child and youths must be encouraged because the shipping sector has not been effectively promoted to secondary and tertiary schools in the country.

Muse who also doubles as the Financial Secretary, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) stressed that WIMA is currently in eighteen countries of the world and is determined to bring young women into shipping business.

She also disclosed that the number of membership since inception has risen from 35 to 70 in the last two years.

 

The President stated that WIMA would continued to serve as the voice in the forefront of human capacity development, enterprise and employment of women in the maritime sector.

She also recalled that the association has empowered women in some of the shipping communities in Lagos State as part of measures for them to export fish  and earn a living.

Muse said ; “The association had undertaken some empowerment programme including the donation of fish processing and preservation equipment to women in Makoko fishing community in Lagos.

“We have also donated waste bin to National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to support in making our waters clean at all times.

Also speaking at the event , President Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN),Princess Vicky Haastrup called on the youths especially females to seek and participate actively in the maritime sector despite dominance of the males counterpart.

Haastrup who also doubles as the Vice Chairman,ENL Consortium expressed satisfaction over the turn out of youths, especially those from secondary schools and tertiary institution , urged the girls not to marry at a tender age of seventeen to twenty years respectively ,noting that the future of female youth is bright.

The STOAN President who is also the President of Certified Institute of Shipping (CIS) called on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint more women his cabinet , adding that the huge turn out of youths at the event serves as a revolution to the industry.

On her part, Managing Director, Ocean Deep Nigeria Limited, Mrs Macfoy Rollens said “today we are celebrating women days and to give hope to that weak women ,to give hope to those ones that have fear to grow in their careers.

Rollens who is the Vice President of WIMA Nigeria said” the association has helped to sponsor women in their chosen endeavours, we have empowered women and we are try to catch them young .

“We have also noticed that every school has what they call career day and we use that opportunity to introduce them to maritime activities.

 

 

By Roland Ekama