The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council(NSC), Dr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah was one of the dignitaries who presented papers at the just concluded 2025 MMS Woman of Fortune Hall induction and 2nd International Women’s Leadership Summit which featured Leadership -Impact and SDGs Awards Night. The event was held in Abuja.
He spoke on the title:
“Technology, Women and Shipping Regulations in a Smart Port Regime”, gives insight to the role of women through digital evolution, presenting challenges and opportunities in the new technology age in relation to the blue economy optimisation.
The ES/CEO was represented by the Director, Special Duties, Mr. Moses Abere. Excerpt:
I am honoured to present this paper on “Technology, Women and Shipping Regulations in a Smart Port Regime.”
The landscape of global port operations is changing rapidly due to dramatic technological advancements. Ports that were once driven by manual processes, paperwork, cranes and heavy machinery are now becoming highly digital ecosystems. Automation, artificial intelligence, IoT sensors, drone surveillance and cloud-based documentation are reshaping how ports operate, creating what is now recognized as the smart port regime.
These innovations enable real-time vessel coordination, predictive equipment maintenance, faster cargo processing and more transparent regulatory oversight.
For emerging economies such as Nigeria, this transition represents far more than a technological upgrade; it is an essential step toward strengthening competitiveness, reducing port congestion, enhancing compliance with international standards and expanding opportunities across the blue economy. However, the transformation of ports through digital technology inevitably alters workforce demands and reshapes regulatory expectations. As the maritime industry modernizes, we must confront a fundamental question: will women be active participants in this transformation, or will they be left behind as new systems evolve?
Women have always played meaningful roles across the maritime value chain, contributing in administration, logistics, finance, regulatory services and tourism. Yet their presence in technical and leadership roles remains disproportionately low. The shift to digital and automated systems, however, creates new possibilities. As technology relieves the sector of many heavy physical tasks, port operations are becoming more knowledge-based and analytically driven—areas where women can thrive when granted equal access. New roles such as remote equipment operations, data analytics, cybersecurity management, AI-assisted planning and digital trade compliance reflect the future of smart-port employment. These emerging opportunities demand precision, innovation and problem-solving—competencies that women demonstrate strongly across sectors.
Technology is also improving flexibility and workplace safety. Remote operation centres now enable critical port activities to be managed from controlled environments, reducing exposure to physical hazards. Digital platforms allow tasks previously requiring on-site presence to be performed with greater mobility. For women who have historically faced safety, physical or cultural constraints within port environments, these innovations create new corridors of advancement.
Nevertheless, inclusion cannot be assumed. Without intentional regulatory design, women may find themselves excluded from the very digital opportunities that smart ports create. Access to training, certification, equipment and leadership channels must be consciously structured to ensure fairness.
Even as technology accelerates, gaps within regulatory frameworks present risks that could unintentionally marginalize women. Automation may eliminate job categories where women currently predominate without offering structured pathways into new digital functions. Artificial intelligence tools used for recruitment or performance evaluation may embed historical gender biases if not regularly audited. Digital trade platforms may inadvertently alienate women-led enterprises if the onboarding process requires significant financial investment or advanced technical skills.
Furthermore, technological systems focused primarily on cargo safety may neglect the persistent concerns of workplace harassment or inadequate protection for women working at night or in isolated port locations.
Another critical challenge lies in representation. If women are not included in policy formulation, concession negotiations, port modernization committees or regulatory taskforces, then their needs and experiences will not shape the resulting frameworks. An inclusive smart port cannot be achieved if half of its potential leadership is absent from decision-making spaces.
To build truly inclusive smart port systems, regulation must serve as the bridge between technological innovation and equitable human participation. Gender-responsive regulatory frameworks are essential.
First, there must be deliberate investment in capacity-building programs that prepare women for digital roles. Regulations can require terminal operators, concessionaires and maritime institutions to provide structured digital training, scholarships, apprenticeships, mentorship and flexible learning options. Women transitioning from clerical or manual roles into digital compliance and analytical tasks must be supported throughout the process.
Second, the deployment of advanced technologies must be accountable and transparent. Regulatory frameworks should mandate oversight of AI-driven recruitment and performance tools, ensuring they do not perpetuate gender bias. Data protection standards must also safeguard workers—not only from intrusive monitoring but from the misuse of personal information.
Third, workplace safety must be strengthened through technology. Anonymous reporting platforms, improved lighting systems, secure transportation for night-shift workers and gender-sensitive facility designs should be mandated within port safety regulations. These measures promote not only safety but confidence, thereby enabling more women to take on operational roles.
Fourth, digital trade platforms must be inclusive and accessible. Regulatory mechanisms should ensure that women-owned businesses are not excluded due to complex digital requirements. Simplified onboarding procedures, mobile-friendly systems, community digital centres and multilingual interfaces can help expand women’s participation in logistics, freight forwarding, trucking, warehousing and marine services.
Finally, women must be represented in governance. Their participation on port authority boards, maritime advisory committees, innovation councils and concession monitoring units are essential. When women contribute to the development of rules and oversight systems, outcomes become more balanced, equitable and reflective of real industry needs.
In conclusion, smart ports represent the future of global maritime operations, yet the true measure of progress is not defined solely by automation or digital infrastructure but by how inclusive and empowering these systems become. A smart port that excludes women cannot be considered truly modern. Conversely, a smart port that integrates and elevates women becomes a catalyst for national development.
Nigeria stands at a pivotal moment. By pairing technological innovation with gender-responsive regulation, the nation can build ports that are globally competitive and socially transformative. Women bring creativity, discipline, emotional intelligence and strategic insight—qualities that are indispensable in a rapidly evolving maritime landscape. As technology reshapes our ports, we have the opportunity to reshape the participation of women in ways that strengthen our blue economy.
The future will be smarter and more sustainable when women are placed not at the margins of change but at its very centre.
Thank you.
