The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has indicated its readiness to empower women to compete with their menfolks in the nation’s maritime sector through capacity building and networking.
NPA’s Managing Director, Ms Hadiza Usman gave the promise on Friday while receiving the executive committee of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) led by its President, Mrs Mary Hamman, in her office in Apapa, Lagos.
She said the organisation would collaborate with women to promote excellence and efficiency in the sector.
Hadiza noted that the sector had been dominated by men for so many years, adding that it was time women took their place.
“Recent developments through appointments of women at leadership levels of several corporate entities by the government has further brought to the front burner the potential in women.
“The NPA management will ensure that women groups such as WISTA are supported in the area of capacity building and networking,” said Hadiza in a statement signed by Mr Ibrahim Nasiru, the Principal Manager, Public Relations Unit of NPA.
She promised that members of the association would be sponsored to its forthcoming conference to further expose them to
business networking and interaction at the global level.
Earlier, Hamman said the organisation which has branches all over the world, was established in the UK about 34 years ago.
According to her, the Nigerian branch of WISTA which came on board in 1984, has largest membership among the 14 member-countries in Africa.
“As part of its commitment toward empowering women for self-development, the association recently embarked on purchase of fishing boats and nets for women in Epe and Oron.
“Plans are at an advanced stage to do the same for women in Aguleri in Anambra and others,’’ Hamman said.
