The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria has said that the commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day will provide a great platform to raise awareness of the importance of gender equality in the maritime profession.
The President of WISTA Nigeria, Mrs. Eunice Ezeoke, made this known in a statement issued in Lagos by the Public Relations Officer of the Association, Mrs Sarah Roberts.
According to Ezeoke, WISTA Nigeria is joining the rest of women professionals worldwide, especially in the maritime industry to celebrate the day to give recognition to women and emphasise gender equality.
“Gender equality is essential for economies and communities to thrive and the year 2020 is a pivotal year for advancing gender equality worldwide. The race is on for the gender equal boardroom, a gender equal government, gender equal workplaces and more gender equality in health and wealth.
“We are happy that Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, emerged as the first female Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). We have also had a female Director-General of NIMASA in the past, when Barrister Mfon Usoro headed the Agency.
“We have many other great women including judges that are our members. We have vessel owners, maritime experts, business moguls, top maritime administrators, among others. We also have women in Customs, Immigration, clearing and forwarding, the media as well as anybody that has anything to do with shipping.
“WISTA Nigeria felicitates with the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi; the Minister of State for Transportation; distinguished Senator Gbemisola Saraki on this occasion of International Women’s Day.
“WISTA Nigeria looks forward to the support of the Federal Ministry of Transportation and other maritime agencies in achieving the noble objective of encouraging effective participation of girls and women in maritime industry,” Ezeoke was quoted as saying.