INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION
April 1, 2020
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2020: WISTA NIGERIA ADVOCATES FOR GENDER BALANCE IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY
The Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria joins the rest of women professionals worldwide, especially women in the maritime industry to celebrate the International Women’s Day 2020 in recognition of women’s contribution to global economic development with emphasis on gender equality.
All over the world, March 8 is usually set aside by United Nations to celebrate International Women’s Day. The theme for this year’s event is “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights’’ with hashtags #EachforEqual.
The theme aligns 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 all over the world.
In 1995, the UN’s Fourth World Conference on women adopted a resolution to empower and advance the course of women around the world. The Beijing Declaration therefore advocates for gender parity and women empowerment.
Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) International, founded in 1974 in London, is a global organisation connecting female executives and decision-makers in the maritime, shipping trade and logistics sector around the world.
WISTA International serves as a connector for its network of more than 3,000 female professionals with 50 countries represented through National WISTA Associations.
Nigeria became a member of WISTA International in 1994 and its membership is drawn from ship owners, charterers, ship brokers, Maritime lawyers and administrators, finance, ship Chandlers and sundry transport interests. The aim of the Association amongst others is to encourage and promote the involvement of women in the development of the Maritime Industry in addition to supporting best female students in Maritime institutions in the country.
WISTA Nigeria plays an active role in the economic development of the nation advancing the course of industry women.
We support and mentor young WISTA Nigeria members who graduate as the best student in Maritime Institutions a case of one from Maritime Academy Nigeria (MAN) Oron, was widely publicized as we assisted in ensuring she gained a profitable employment in a Federal Government Agency.
In commemoration of the International Women’s Day therefore, WISTA Nigeria as a voice for the women in Maritime, share the joy of today.
We are happy that Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman emerged the first female Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). The first WISTA Nigeria President Barr. Funmi Folorunso is key to African Ship Owners Association and Nigerian Maritime Handbook. We also had Barr. Mrs. Mfon Usoro, a former WISTA Nigeria President, who was Director-General of NIMASA and Barr. Funke Agbor, also a former WISTA Nigeria President and Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The former Director General, Nigeria Chamber of Shipping, Mrs. Ify Akerele worked tirelessly as WISTA Nigeria President and DG Chamber of Shipping.
Many great women like our former President Barr. Jean Chiazor ensured women went onboard ocean going vessels for sea- time experience. The roll call of accomplished women like our current personality of the year, Barr. Magareth Orakwusi, Princess Vicky Haastrup of ENL, Chief Mrs. Vivian Amadife of VGC water, former Acting MD Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority, Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa is to name a few.
Fishing, is a source of livelihood for most women in the rural area of coastal states and WISTA Nigeria keyed into this viable area for women empowerment.
We developed programs and pet projects to support women in the Riverine areas of Aguleri Anambra, Oron Akwa Ibom, Lokoja Kogi, Epe Lagos State and
Enugu State providing them with boats and other fishing equipment for ease of their business.
WISTA Nigeria felicitate with and commend the Minister of Transportation, the Minister of State for Transportation, distinguished Senator Gbemisola Saraki on this occasion of International Women’s Day.
We shall continue to partner and collaborate with relevant Ministries, Agencies and Organisations towards achieving the noble objective of encouraging effective participation of women in the maritime industry.
We also appreciate the efforts of Industry Chief Executives in supporting our Association over the years with special recognition to the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Barr. Hassan Bello for hosting WISTA Secretariat. We could not have achieved successful milestones without their support.
EUNICE EZEOKE,
PRESIDENT – WISTA NIGERIA
