The Federal Government has hailed the Women International Shipping and Trading Association of Nigeria (WISTA) Nigeria for the giant strides it has taken since it was established in the country 20 years ago.
WISTA, Nigeria is an arm of WISTA, International which comprises women in the shipping sector of the world economy. Its members are holding strategic positions in various aspects of shipping worldwide.
The Federal Government stated this in a keynote address by the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Audu Umar at a at a symphony orchestra to commemorate the Nigeria’s chapter 20 years anniversary at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
The symphony orchestra was parts of series of events to celebrate WISTA, Nigeria with the theme “Celebrating 20 Yeas of Dynamism in Shipping”.
Umar said the celebration has given the association an opportunity to proffer useful suggestions on topical issues affecting the Nigerian maritime industry and effective participation by women in the ongoing reform process.
“My ministry has followed with keen interest the laudable efforts of WISTA, Nigeria in areas of human capacity enhancement, information dissemination, networking, and resourceful participation in policy decision-making process nationally and globally, which have in no small measure assisted in actualizing effective maritime service delivery,” the Minister stated in his speech read by the Director, Commercial Shipping Services of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mrs. Dabney Shall-Holma.
He noted the international character and dimension which the association has attained over the years with increasing practical participation in WISTA, International activities.
“The momentum has gradually revealed a visit reservoir of knowledge, abundant skilled manpower in this specialized area and importantly, opened our hearts and minds to the future possibilities of the association as envisioned by those visionaries who constituted the association. The government recognizes the indispensable roles of women in the national development.
“This has been specifically highlighted in the Nigeria Vision 20: 2020 Economic Transformation Blueprint, which inter alia prescribes increasing the number of women in top positions in the workplace to at least 30 per cent by 2015 and put in place reforms to promote the principles of non-discrimination, protection and promotion of gender equality,” the Minister said.
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