The President Women in Maritime Africa (WIMA-Nigeria) Nigerian Branch, Hajia Bola Muse, has called for empowerment of more competent women for effective participation in the maritime industry.
Speaking at a news conference on September 27, 2019 in Lagos ahead of the group’s 2019 conference, Muse said that WIMA-Nigeria, a sub chapter of WIMAfrica, had adopted the maritime strategy 2050 to contribute to the building Africa’s blue economy.
According to her, the conference, with the theme “Empowering Women For Effective Participation In The Maritime Sector” slated for Oct. 15, was aimed at improving women participation in the industry.
She said the association provided a platform for training, capacity building, corporate and entrepreneurial development of African women in the maritime sector.
“WIMAfrica was established in Luanda, Angola on March 25, 2015 in response to the request made by Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, then Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), during her inaugural speech.
“Between 2017 and 2018, we have formally registered the association and got recognised by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the National Assembly and other national bodies,” she said.
Muse added that the association had undertaken some empowerment programmes, including the donation of fish processing and preservation equipment to women in Makoko fishing community in Lagos.
“The conference will feature well established maritime professionals who will speak on areas of maritime business they can develop themselves in.
“The conference will showcase participants from maritime regulators, private sector who will enlightening participants on how to run maritime business without having difficulties.
“Participating in the conference will be time well invested for numerous opportunities in the maritime industry which is yet untapped’’, she said.
She stressed the need for more Nigerians participation in the maritime sector, adding that a lot of foreigners were making money from the country shores in through maritime business.
