Saraki, Heads of Maritime Agencies, to Speak at WIMAJ Conference

By Kenneth Jukpor

Senator Gbemisola Saraki, the Minister of State for Transportation will on Thursday, July 30, 2020 at 10am deliver a keynote address and flag off a one day webinar on “Enforcing Policies and Legal Instruments Against Sexual Harassment & Exploitation in the Maritime Industry.”

The webinar being organised by Women in Maritime Journalism (WIMAJ) will hold on Zoom in commemoration of the 2020 Seafarers Day.

An official statement signed by Mrs Ezinne Azunna, Chairperson WIMAJ, said that the webinar “is a wake up call for critical stakeholders/organisations in the industry to candidly declare their position against the criminal act of sexual violence and to flag as priority any incidence until the perpetrator(s) are brought to book.”

“The objective of the virtual conference is to provide a platform for broad- based discussion on issues of sexual harassment and exploitation in the industry, especially with regards to female seafarers, and to proffer solutions that would address the problem and lessen the sufferings of victims”, the statement read.

Speakers include; Ms Hadiza Bala Usman- Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Bashir Jamoh –Director General Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Commodore Duja Effedua- Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Mrs Margret Orakwusi -Chairperson, Shipowners Forum, Nigeria, Otunba Kunle Folarin- Chairman, Seafarers Welfare Board, Nigeria, Barr Mrs Jean Chiazor Anishere –President, African Women in Maritime (WIMAfrica) and Ms Koni Duniya, Ex Seafarer & Voyage Management Advisor, Nigerian LNG.

According to WIMAJ, participation at the virtual conference is open to all in the public sector, critical stakeholders from the private sector- ship-owners, legal practitioners, master mariners, seafarers- to mention a few.

Industry operators can join the Zoom conference using the Meeting ID: 858 1745 5956 and 714171 as Passcode.