IWD 2023: NIMASA creates more opportunities for women in capacity development…endorses Mentorship Day
The Nigerian maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has given assurances of greater opportunities for women in the agency as well as female cadets under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), for capacity development.
Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, stated this on Wednesday on occasion of the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations observed at the agency’s head office in Lagos.
He encouraged woman to empower themselves through collaborations and support for one another and take good advantage of the opportunities within the sector.
Theme for the year’s celebration is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality,” which highlights the role of innovative technology in promoting gender equality and meeting the health and developmental needs of women and girls.
The International Women’s Day is marked annually across countries of the world, on 8th March.
In his address, Dr. Jamoh said that the management remained committed to women’s career growth in the agency, while he pronounced increased slots for female cadets in the NSDP.
His words: “I use this opportunity to assure the women in NIMASA of management’s commitment to your career growth and development. We want our women to lead and excel in their careers and use technology to enhance the maritime sector.
“The present head of training is a woman. I expect her to come up with capacity-building recommendations aimed at helping the woman and we subscribe to supporting within the limits of the agency’s resources.
“I will like to state that from today, NIMASA will ensure that whatever number of staff we are sending on international or local training, women must have not less than two slots minimum. On the issue of the NSDP, we will consider a quarter of the opportunities to be dedicated to females.”
According to Jamoh, president of the World Maritime University, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, had affirmed NIMASA’s gender inclusiveness, considering the students sponsored for studies. He also said that a female student sponsored by the agency won the best thesis of the year award in 2022.
Responding to an earlier request by Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi, chairman of the Shipowners Forum, the NIMASA DG said: “Also, I will like to endorse the proposal by Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi on dedicating a day for mentorship of women. I will therefore request that the admin and personnel services department should cooperate to develop a concept note to structure this mentorship and the cost for approval.”
Earlier in her goodwill message, Mrs. Orakwusi extolled NIMASA for building staff capacity for relevance even beyond their stay in the agency.
She seized the opportunity to talk on the need to mentor younger people and requested that a day be dedicated for that.
“NIMASA has shown that it prepares its staff for jobs even beyond their service years in the agency. And the young people need to be mentored.
“May I request that in your honour we have a day set aside in the industry and call it NIMASA Mentorship Day or Maritime Mentor Day, to mentor not just our young females but also the males?
“As a mother, I will tell you that we are what we raise. If you don’t raise the men very well they end up being what we would not want, so let us carry them along,” she said.
Goodwill messages were also given by Madam Funmi Folorunso, head of the Transport Group, Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement; Dr. Felicia Mogo, a former director at NIMASA; Hajia Lami Tumaka, a former Director at NIMASA; Mrs Eunice Ezeoke, President of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA); Hon. Olaitan Williams, a board member at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council; Mrs. Rollens Mcfoy, President of Women in Maritime Africa (WIMA) Nigeria, and Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, a director in NIMASA.
A brief history about the IWD was given by Mrs. Rita Uruakpa, while Mrs. Olamide Odusanya had a paper presentation.
