The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola has called for the use of digital transformation as a catalyst for increasing the number of women participation in the maritime industry.
Mobereola stated this at a regional symposium organized by NIMASA in collaboration with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Ghana in Lagos recently.
The symposium with the theme “Digitalization and the Empowerment of Women in the Maritime Sector of West Africa: Opportunities, Challenges and Pathways” and was attended by several women in the maritime3 sector of the economy and beyond.
Mobereola who was represented by NIMASA Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Chudi Offodile noted that digitalization is capable of significantly correcting the imbalance of women under representation in the maritime industry through the creation of new opportunities and removal of traditional barriers.
His words: “Digitalization acts as the great equalizer, shifting the industry’s centre of gravity from physical strength to intellectual agility and technical precision. Through digital platforms and e-learning systems, a young woman in a rural West African town can access the same training modules as anyone in the more advanced parts of the world”.
According to the NIMASA helmsman, our maritime sector is undergoing profound transformation driven by digital technologies, automation, data systems and smart logistics. Across the world, digitalization is reshaping how ships operate, how ports function and how maritime administrations regulate and deliver services.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to inclusive maritime development emphasizing that Nigeria is determined to ensure that the maritime sector becomes a benchmark for gender-inclusivity and digital excellence in the region.
The Deputy Commandant of KAIPTC, Brigadier General Zibrim Ayorrogo Bawah in his remarks at the event highlighted the strategic importance of the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) maritime domain and the need to ensure that women play a greater role in shaping its future, particularly in the era of digital transformation.
“Women’s participation in maritime affairs has historically been limited by socio-cultural and institutional barriers, yet their involvement brings diverse perspectives and solutions vital for holistic maritime governance”, he added.
A statement by NIMASA Deputy Director/Head, Public Relations,
Mr. Osagie Edward stated that the symposium supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the Inter-Regional Coordination Centre for Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea (ICC), brought together senior government officials, maritime professionals, academics, women’s groups and members of the media from across West Africa to deliberate on strategies for strengthening women participation in the maritime industry through digital transformation.
According to the statement which was made available to Maritime Bits, participants at the symposium are expected to examine key issues including digital innovation in maritime governance, gender inclusion in maritime security operations, capacity building for women in digital maritime skills, and policy frameworks that promote gender equality and advance women empowerment across the GoG region.
It added that the engagement is also expected to strengthen collaboration among regional and international stakeholders in advancing inclusive and sustainable maritime development in West Africa.
