As the 2020 International Women’s Day is celebrated today, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria says the ocassion should be a platform to raise awareness on the importance of gender equality in the maritime sector.
The President of WISTA Nigeria, Mrs. Eunice Ezeoke, made this known in a press statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Association, Mrs. Sarah Roberts and made available to MMS Plus newspaper.
According to her, WISTA Nigeria joins the rest of women professionals worldwide, especially in 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 at NIMASA in the past, when Barr. 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. There are women in Customs, Immigration, Freight Forwarding, the Media and all aspects of shipping,’’ Ezeoke said.
She stressed that WISTA Nigeria had executed pet projects such as supporting the women in the riverine areas in Aguleri (Anambra), Oron (Akwa Ibom), Lokoja (Kogi) and Epe (Lagos State) with boats and other fishing equipment.
Ezeoke stated that the association 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. We also commend efforts of the Chief Executives of maritime agencies comprising; the Managing Director of NPA, Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman; Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside; and the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello, among others.
WISTA International is a global organisation connecting female executives and decision-makers around the world and serves as a connector for its network of more than 3,000 female professionals from all sectors of the maritime industry.
WISTA Nigeria was established in 1994 but WISTA International started in 1974. There are more than 50 WISTA member countries, each is guided by WISTA International.
The theme for International Women’s Day 2020 is, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights” and the campaign theme is #EachforEqual.
The theme of the International women’s day is aligned with UN Women’s new multigenerational campaign, Generation Equality, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, the Beijing Platform for Action is recognized as the most progressive roadmap for the empowerment of women and girls everywhere.
