disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to provide
platforms that will encourage more women’s participation in maritime to
boost economic development. The President’s wife stated this on Tuesday
in Lagos at an event to mark the 2019 Day of the Seafarer, with the
theme, “On board with gender equality.”
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) chose the theme, which
resonates with its theme for this year’s World Maritime Day, to
highlight the contributions of women in the maritime industry and
encourage more women to go into the profession of sea transportation.
Dr. Buhari said there was need to promote gender balancing in the
seafaring career, adding that the President is aware of the economic
benefits that come with encouraging the female gender in the maritime
sector.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, spoke in a similar vein, saying
the men should support women, especially in maritime, “towards reaching
their potential and navigating work place challenges.” This was just as
President of the World Maritime University (WMU), Dr. Cleopatra
Doumbia-Henry, applauded Nigeria’s effort to encourage more female
professionals in the maritime industry.
The First Lady, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President,
Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, commended NIMASA’s efforts to promote and
encourage women in the maritime sector. She noted that such was in line
with the President’s aspirations for the sector.
According to her, “Under the current leadership of NIMASA, we have seen
significant strides aimed at making women active players in the blue
economy industry. Mr. President is desirous of seeing more women play
active role in the maritime industry. This celebration focusing on women
seafarers is, therefore, apt.”
She called on “all government agencies, especially those in the maritime
sector, to ensure the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable
Development Goal 5, which is aimed at attaining gender equality and the
empowerment of all women and girls.”
The NIMASA DG, speaking further, called on men to provide the needed
support for women to participate actively in the maritime sector. “We
hope to sensitise the industry operators and players on the significance
as well as economic importance of bridging gender inequality and the
need for men to support women towards reaching their potential and
navigating workplace challenges For us to have more women at sea and
onshore, the men have a major role to play in terms of providing the
needed support.”
He further added that the Agency will continue to pursue policies and
programmes that will accelerate gender equality and empowerment of women
in the maritime sector. “In addition to the 304 female cadets we have
trained in seafaring since the inception of the Nigerian Seafarers
Development Programme (NSDP), greater attention will now be given to the
training of female seafarers in specialised courses and areas to enable
them take up professional responsibilities in specialised vessels and
offshore operations, and maritime sector generally,” Dakuku said.
On the New Cabotage Compliance Strategy (NCCS) that suspends waivers on
Cabotage manning, Dakuku disclosed that placement of women on board
vessels will be given high priority, with greater attention also given
to providing an enabling environment for female seafarers. He disclosed
that the Agency had already recorded success through the NCCS initiative
with about 7,000 Nigerians employed by ship-owners between 2018 and the
first quarter of 2019. He said the Agency was doing everything in its
powers to resolve the issue of armed robbery and piracy at sea.
In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of
Transportation, Sabiu Zakari, said the Federal Government had initiated
policy reviews aimed at promoting gender equality, empowering women in
the maritime sector, and creating conducive work environment for them in
line with the SDGs.
The WMU President, in his goodwill message to Nigeria on the occasion of
the Day of Seafarers, said, “Nigeria is one of our long-standing
partners that has provided funds for our fellowships and we want to
encourage them to continue. Under the MoU with NIMASA, as well as the
support provided by the Nigerian Ports Authority, today, we have 199 WMU
alumni from Nigeria, of which 31 are women. About half of these Nigerian
female graduates were funded by the government. The rest received
funding from other sources and other WMU partners.”
The event was attended by many stakeholders, including Executive
Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Alhaji Hassan Bello; Managing
Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala Usman,
who was represented by NPA’s Executive Director, Marine and Operations,
Dr. Sokonte Davies; Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Commodore
Duja Effedua; Director, Maritime Safety and Security, Federal Ministry
of Transportation, Mr. Danjuma Dauda; and renowned maritime lawyer, Mr.
Emeka Akabogu.
Prominent Nigerian women in maritime also graced the occasion. They
included Director-General of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NSC),
Mrs. Obiageli Obi, and Chairperson, Nigerian Shipownwers Forum, Mrs.
Margret Orakwusi, all of who called for more support for the female
gender in the maritime career.
In attendance also were members of the NIMASA Governing Board, led by
the Chairman, Gen. Jonathan India Garba, and members of the Executive
Management.
The Day of the Seafarer is celebrated all over the world on June 25
every year following the resolution adopted by the 2010 diplomatic
conference in Manila, Philippines, in line with the International
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for
Seafarers (STCW Convention).
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) adopted “On Board with
Gender Equality” as the main campaign theme to celebrate the 2019 Day of
the Seafarer, which echoes IMO’s theme for the 2019 World Maritime Day,
and coincides with the disposition of NIMASA as a gender-sensitive
organisation.
It is expected that throughout 2019 there should be a strong emphasis in
the maritime space on the importance and value of women within the
professional ranks, a campaign driven and targeted at empowering women
in the maritime community with the hope of having a strong and
far-reaching resonance.