WorldStage Newsonline– Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS) has said that the potentials in the Nigerian blue economy may not be realised without the active participation of women in the maritime sector, especially at the managerial level.
The President of NCS, Mr Aminu Umar, said this at a summit organised by the chamber on Thursday in Lagos.
The theme of the event is: “Safe horizons: Women Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety”.
Umar was represented at the conference by a Governing Board member of NCS and Principal Partner, Jean Chiazor and Partners, Mrs Jean Chiazor Anishere (SAN).
“The maritime sector is a cornerstone of global trade and economic growth.
“There are numerous benefits accruable from the maritime industry but these benefits can’t be realised without active women participation, especially in leadership roles,” the NCS president said.
The NCS president expressed delight and gratitude to the special guests and speakers, including the President of WISTA International, Mrs Elpiniki Petraki; the Managing Director of NLNG Ship Management Ltd., Mr Abdul-Kadir Ahmed; the Executive Secretary, WISTA International, Mrs Jemilat Mahamah, among others.
Also, the President of WISTA International, Petraki, stressed that beyond the accomplishment of having the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a day could be dedicated to women in maritime.
According to her, such a day event should be for strategising for increased women participation across all facets of the maritime sector.
Petraki noted that the challenges confronting women in the industry were similar across frontiers and national boundaries, stating that gender balance remained a setback globally.
“Only 29 per cent of the entire maritime workforce, globally, are women, but the states drop to 24 per cent for women engaged in maritime administration.
“Sadly, in seafaring, the ratio is less than two per cent for women and this profession has over 1.8 million people,” the WISTA International president said.
She, however, encouraged Nigerian women in maritime and other industry stakeholders to participate in the ongoing IMO/ WISTA maritime survey, to get the up-to-date representation of women in the sector.
According to her, the survey which runs till December, will be strategic in promoting diversity and women inclusion in the maritime sector.
Meanwhile, during one of the panel sessions, a maritime psychotherapist, who also experienced the ordeals of seafaring, Mrs Pam Kem, harped on the need to increase awareness of psychological safety in the maritime industry.
Kem said that female seafarers were exposed to varying psychological challenges, having experienced storms, turbulence, violence, fire outbreaks and other vices, leaving adverse effects on their behaviours.
“Physiological safety has been a concept known in most sectors for a long time, but I’m happy to see it come into play in the maritime space.
“However, if we have strong and inclusive leadership teams at the top level like captains and chief engineers, the awareness trickles down to other workers in the rank and file,” Kem said.
The Director General of NCS, Mrs Vivian Chimezie-Azubuike, stated that the programme was the 3rd edition by NCS, organised as part of activities to commemorate the 2024 International Day for Women in Maritime
