What should the Federal Government do to empower women in the maritime industry?

There should be more female involvement in key positions in the maritime industry. It is not just about saying that women should be involved, it is about giving them sensitive positions to handle. Women have proven many times that they have the capacity to handle delicate positions. A good example is the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), we can see she is doing so much and improving the port industry. Also, women should be trained to be better at the specialized position they handle, then there will be different changes in the sector. Let us not forget the saying that “if you empower a woman, you empower the nation”.

The Federal Government can empower women by giving them scholarships in relation to maritime studies; sponsoring women to international conferences on the basis of specialization to help in career development especially in the areas that government is trying to increase capacity.

Women should be given loan to acquire vessels. For instance, policies should be made for easy access of loan and also scholarship should be given to women who are ready to learn to gain more knowledge about happenings in the industry which they do not know about.

Women should be given audience, be taken seriously. Although the maritime industry as a whole especially in Africa, is a male dominated sector, that does not mean women do not have the capacity to work in the industry. I believe women can even do more in some areas in the industry because even in power, women perform better by putting in their best.

The Federal Government should ensure that women are sent out for training outside Nigeria to enable them gain more knowledge about the industry and also to assign them to authoritative roles because I won’t be surprised if women are the ones to turn this industry around for good than the way it is now.

Women should be encouraged through words that makes them feel important in the sector. Funds should be made available to them through scholarship in order to grow in their chosen career in the industry.

There should be room for more participation in the industry where women should be made to head important roles in the sector and this can only happen if we are open to opportunities in the sector and even outside the country women should be well represented.

Women should be given room to be well learned about the industry and they should be given scholarships to travel outside the country to gain extra knowledge internationally. Women should also be taught on the technical know-how by men who are already grounded in the industry.

I can say for so long women have been denied their rights in the industry, I believe this is the time the Federal Government have to stamp on equal rights for women and men in the industry. The women should be allowed to take their place in the sector, although not in all cases but if it can be a 50/50 thing.

Women should be encouraged in so many ways because we are dynamic and when we are encouraged, we tend to do even better in roles assigned to us. Funds should be given to women to equip them in order to create jobs for unemployed people.

Women should be supported in the area of scholarship. For instance, there are some women who are brilliant but the truth is that there is no one to sponsor them in their chosen career. Also, government should ensure that maritime courses are been mandated in universities in order for students that are female to be more enlightened about the sector.

Federal Government should provide infrastructure in order for women to be trained from the root of their career.I do not see the need training people especially seafarers when there are no facilities for them to work with. Employment should be made available so that they can put to use what they have learnt.