Women International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria has concluded plans to host 4th African Women in Shipping Conference in the country.
WISTA is the umbrella body of female shipping practitioners around the globe with membership cutting across the public and private sectors.
The conference, with the theme Maritime Industry in Africa: Challenges and Prospects is scheduled for the June 26 – 28, 2013, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The hosting of the conference in the country by WISTA – Nigeria has the support of WISTA International which overseas the various chapters across the globe.
President, WISTA Nigeria, Mrs. Jean Chiazor Anishere, who confirmed the development in a statement issued in Lagos, said that the conference provides a unique opportunity for stakeholders in the maritime industry in the continent to network, interact and exchange ideas on the how to advance the development of the maritime industry in Africa in the face of dynamic changes in the global economy.
She disclosed that while the conference is sponsored by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), four banks, including Fidelity Bank Plc, and Sterling Bank Plc, have also thrown their weight behind the continental event.
The four commercial banks were said to have thrown their weight behind the event because of their involvement as the primary lending institutions (PLIs) for the disbursement of the CAbotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF).
Also supporting the event are Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), NAL Group, Comet Shipping, and Genesis Worldwide Shipping Group.
Anishere, who is also a Lagos-based legal practitioner, also revealed that not less than 15 countries have indicated interest to attend the event.
Countries that have confirmed their readiness to attend the conference include Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin, Cameroon, Mauritius, Senegal, Gambia, Kenya and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Speakers at the conference include Secretary-General of West and Central Africa Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control otherwise, otherwise called Abuja MoU, Mrs. Mfon E. Usoro; former Technical Director, International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Mrs. Monica Mbanefo; erstwhile Acting Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa; and Chairman, Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) 2013 Planning Committee, Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi.
Others are the Secretary-General, Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), Mr. Michael Luguje; President of WISTA Ghana, Mrs. Naa Densua Aryeetey; Executive Vice Chairman, ENL Consortium Limited, Princess Vicky Haastrup, Director, Commercial Shipping, NSC, Mrs. Dabney Shall-Holman; Director-General, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Mrs. Ify Anazonwu-Akerele; Chairman, Indigenous Ship owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Chief Isaac Jolapamo; and former Interior Minister, Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho.
Apart from Nigeria’s Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, who will be the Chief Host, other Transport Ministers across the African continent and key players in the shipping world are also expected to grace the conference.
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