Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, informed journalists that the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, will be leading other dignitaries and stakeholders in the maritime community to campaign and encourage more female participation in seafaring and maritime trade, as the Day of the Seafarers is approaching, June 25.
Specifically, Mr Dakuku noted that his wife’s presence will boost the attempts of women joining the shipping industry, while also will hype efforts to attract more female involvement in the sector.
This year’s event, themed ‘On board with gender equality’ aims to encourage women participate more in the maritime sector in order to take advantage of opportunities in the maritime sector, particularly as seafarers; as Marine Engineers, Nautical Scientists, Marine Surveyors, Deck officers and even grow to become Master Mariners.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
Moreover, the Director General highlighted that this Day of the Seafarer is crucial as it addresses the fact that the seafaring profession is not a career solely preserved for men but one that can accommodate all genders.
Mr Dakuku noted that NIMASA will conduct a one-day sensitisation workshop on Monday in Lagos for over 400 Nigerian female students from all over the country to showcase the benefits of taking a career in seafaring. Also, he noted that NIMASA will plan a robust awareness programme to provide a better insight to Nigerians on the seafaring profession. He said the Agency would also look into creating more avenues for Nigerian students through interventionist programmes and proper education.
Statistics available have shown that only 2% of the total seafarers across the world are females and more disappointing is the fact that majority of this percentage are from the Philippines a country which dominates the profession in huge numbers, raking in huge income / foreign exchange.
… Mr Dakuku added.
Concluding, the Day of the Seafarers will be co-hosted by the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, the Executive Secretary Nigerian Shippers Council Barr. Hassan Bello is also expected to have in attendance the wife of The Lagos State Governor, Dr. Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, members of women international shipping and trading Association (WISTA), members of Women in Maritime Africa (WIMA) other notable Associations that are expected to be part of the event include the various associations of shipowners in Nigeria, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria ((MWUN) and other key players in the sector.
