The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho has stated that the management of the authority will continue to support women working in the organization and outside to actualize their aspirations.
He maintained that it will not relent in supporting the rights and equality for all women and girls and to practically create opportunities for them.
According to Dantsoho who spoke against the backdrop of this year celebration of the International Women Day (IWD) celebration maintained that the management of the authority will not relent to empower women and girls within and outside NPA to reach the best of their abilities.
These were contained in his speech to mark the celebration of the 2025 IWD with the theme “Accelerate Action for Gender equality”.
He stated that the authority remains steadfast in participating in IWD celebration and also creating systems and structures that promote women’s rights and empowerment in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the authority has been actively recognising and advocating for women’s rights and equality in the organisation, saying the organization does not put any limit on the capacity of women and the possibilities available to them.
His words: “For us in the Nigerian Ports Authority, we do not see IWD as another day to pay lip service to women’s rights and economic empowerment. Rather, it is a day to reflect on what we have done and to commit to doing even more.”
He affirmed that the authority since its inception has been very devoted to championing women’s empowerment and gender equality.
“Some of our laudable achievements in this regard include extension in the period of maternity leave of women to six months; ensuring that getting pregnant out of wedlock does not stop a woman from getting what is due to her; giving nursing mothers the privilege of reporting for duty one hour after the official resumption time and closing an hour earlier than the official closing time every day; as well as ensuring that women are in charge of key responsibilities at the Authority.”
According to the NPA helmsman, currently NPA has a woman serving as Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mrs. Vivian Richard-Edet and in recent years, have had at least 12 women General Managers and Port Managers. In addition to leadership roles, Nigerian women are embedded into the different units and arms of the NPA. This is as women work as pilots, in the fire service, as security officials, medical personnel and engineers within the Ports Authority.
He maintained that these are just some examples of the ways the NPA has and is actively recognising and advocating for women’s rights and equality.
“We do not put any limit on the capacity of women and the possibilities available to them”, Dantsoho added.
He however said that despite the feats the NPA has achieved as an organisation, it is not yet “uhuru” when women and girls are still being subjected to various forms of discrimination, inequality, injustice and abuse because of their gender.
His words: “As an organisation, we promise to remain unrelenting in supporting the rights and equality for all women and girls and to practically create opportunities for women and girls within and outside the NPA to be empowered to the best of their abilities.
“I congratulate all women in the NPA for this year’s IWD and assure you that we will continue to work with you towards putting the Authority in the lead when it comes to providing opportunities for girls and women to actualise themselves in the maritime industry. Together, we will accelerate action for gender equality”.
Maritime Bits had reported that IWD is a day set aside for recognising and honouring women’s achievements, highlighting the progress made towards achieving gender equality while calling for more efforts towards equitable societies, and advocating for increased laws, policies and actions that will end gender-based violence and all forms of discrimination against women.
Since 1911 when the first IWD was marked in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, March 8 and indeed the whole of March has become widely known as women’s history month with individuals and organisations across sectors and nations partaking in its commemoration.
