Lagos – The Director-General of Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has called for mentoring of more women interested in maritime activities.
Peterside made the call when he met with the leadership of Women in International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) in Lagos on Thursday.
According to him, attracting women to the profession of seafaring is a big challenge in the maritime industry and that it may not blossom if women are excluded.
“Deeping the participation of women in the industry, the industry provides ample opportunity for women.
“There is this saying that what men can do women can do it better and have seen a lot of women who can do better in the industry certainly better than men.
“So there is nothing limiting them getting involved in the industry. So, as an association of women professionals, I want to encourage you, please, please encourage other women that there are a lot of opportunities out there, they can do it; let them come.
“Mentor other women, share knowledge with them, share knowledge with other women, share experience with other women.
“Let them know that the maritime industry is the next big thing that will happen to Nigeria, If we have our women on board we can sail to the peak of the mountain.
“NIMASA will support any initiative that would help us grow the maritime industry, whether by way of giving support for you to participate in your conferences and network with others share experiences, gain knowledge, count on NIMASA’’.
He commended WISAT for participating in the growth of the maritime industry and urged them not to relent because they had been recognised by International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
“I am sure that it is acknowledgement of the work you are doing that the IMO had to institute a special programme to integrate women in the maritime industry.
“It’s called the Women in Maritime initiative by the IMO, and so if IMO recognises the fact that you need to play a very strong role, then who are we being too justly to key into that.
“So you can be sure that you have the support of NIMASA.
“Attracting women into the profession of seafaring is a big challenging because as a seafarer or seaman you have to stay away from home for months, for weeks, for days without your family.
“And so when you see women who are adventurous, women who are daring, they can only get the encouragement’’.
In her remarks, the President of WISTA Nigeria, Mrs Marry Hamman, said that since the establishment of the association in 1994, it had continued to champion sustainable projects to empower women in the industry.
Hamman recalled that the association had given four engine boats and fishing nets to some fisherwomen in both Epe and Oron communities in Lagos and Akwa Ibom states respectively.
“We are here today to solicit for your king collaborations and generous contributions to enable us achieve our objectives, like the purchases of the boats that we have listed earlier.
“And when we want to continue to sponsor the cadets that are in Oron; some of that are very brilliant but they do not have sponsors.
“And to encourage the female cadets in Oron, we have this chair that if you are the best cadet for that year, we will give you an award, which we have been doing over the years.
“Additionally, we have to add that WISTA membership consists of intellectual women within the maritime industry.
“Hence, we will appreciate if you could also consider our members in some of the committees within the industry to enable us to be contributing our quota regarding maritime matters’’.
She added that WISTA Nigeria also organised training to enhance skills acquisition and competency within the industry. (NAN)
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