The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala Usman and the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside yesterday led other dignitaries to sensitize young girls of Secondary School age on the career opportunities in the nation’s maritime industry.
The event which marked the official take-off of the Girls Go-To-Sea Campaign and which took place at the Osborne Schools Complex, Ikoyi, Lagos was a pet project of the Face of Maritime International (FOMI), a brainchild of Platform Communications.
Speaking in a lecture titled,” What a man can do, a Woman can do better”, the Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman informed the students that there were spaces for women in the maritime industry adding that even if there was no space, they should create the space themselves even as she maintained that gone were the days when the maritime industry was looked upon as men’s world.
Usman reminded them that when they strive to create space for themselves in the maritime industry, they were not doing that only for themselves but for those coming after them just like they who were currently on the stage were doing for young girls who are going to take over from them tomorrow.
“So, don’t be discouraged, when you go for a career in the maritime industry, there are more men than woman in the maritime industry but we are increasing in number and we want you to come and join us. As we are leaving, for every stage I leave, I want ten of you to replace me, not one but for every one of us you see here, you are the next generation and being our next generation, we want you to come in larger number. I am here alone, ten of you should replace me, there should be more women in all organization. So, you all need to know that you are our succession, you are what we are going to leave behind, in everything you do, we are building blocks for you to come and take over.
“I want you to sustain your commitment to your education, build your confidence, know that there are opportunities in the maritime industry and everywhere. There is no career that they will say it is for the men, any career of your choice, pick it up, be dedicated and be committed, that is your success as a woman”, Usman counseled.
Also, in a lecture entitled, “Career Opportunities in the Maritime Industry”, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside recalled that last year marked another milestone for women in the shipping/maritime sector to celebrate particularly as the industry witnessed the first woman Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman.
Represented by the Assistant Director, Shipping Development, Mrs. Mary Madu Hamman, the DG reeled out the names of other high profile personalities in the shipping industry to include a one-time Director-General of NIMASA and Secretary-General of the Abuja MOU, Mrs. Mfom Usoro, the current President of WISTA who is also a Director at NIMASA, Mrs. Mary Hamman, Mrs. Funke Agbor (SAN), Barr. Margaret orakwusi (NIMAREX), Ms Funmi Folorunso, Secretary of African Ship owners Association, Mrs. Uju Ifejika, CEO, Britania Ltd., Mrs. Monica Mbanefo of IMO, Mrs. Ify Akerele, former DG of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping and Mrs. C.O.F Ezenwa, former DG NIWA among others.
“Therefore, it is important at this juncture to encourage you to rise up against all odds that would make you not to become a celebrated woman of success in shipping. It is not only in law, medicine and other fields that success can be achieved, you could be more exceptional by taking this brilliant and great opportunity in the shipping sector. Maritime careers are very profitable and rewarding”, he said.
Peterside categorized the career options in the maritime industry into two namely; seafaring and shore based professionals, while describing the seafaring professionals as those who carry out their jobs on board ships viz; deck officers, engineers and stewards, she described shore based professionals as those who operate from the shore like those in operations and general administration such as shipping companies, ship brokers/insurers, ship builders/naval architects, fleet managers, marine risk management expert, shipping analysts, accountants, lawyers, lecturers and others.
He continued,” Now that you know the career opportunities in shipping, it is also important for you to be aware of the requirements to be able to apply for any of the two careers as indicated. To become a deck officer, one must study nautical sciences in any accredited maritime university or academy. All you need to apply for the maritime university or academy is the following subjects; mathematics, physics, chemistry, geography and English. To also become an engineer, you need to study marine engineering in any accredited maritime university or academy. These are some of the basic requirements needed to be part of the maritime community and future leaders in the industry.
“I have no doubt as a parent/teacher that choosing a career in this industry would be a unique opportunity for all of you. We hope to read about your successes and achievements some day in this enviable industry”.
On his part, the representative of Mrs. Mfom Usoro, Secretary-General of Abuja MOU, Mr. Richard Owolabi recalled that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with headquarters in London, United Kingdom which is an agency of the United Nations and is in in-charge of regulating international shipping had encouraged them to ensure that every young lady who is taking up a career at sea should encouraged.
According to him,”It is not only going to sea, you can be a manager to a shipping company and as a Managing Director who is here, she is a Chief Executive of a maritime organization. So, the avenue is very robust for you, not only going to sea as a marine engineer, as a nautical scientist, technician onboard ship but as an administrator in the maritime industry. So, you are very welcome and I want to encourage you as much as possible to take part and take a career at sea”.
Earlier in her opening speech, the Face of Maritime Queen, Miss Greatestlove Uwadiale, pointed out that they were at the venue to flag off her pet project known as Girls Go-To-Sea Campaign describing the campaign as a catch them young programme targeted at young girls with the intent of empowering them to take up careers in the maritime industry.
In her words, “That was why we didn’t invite any male into this hall because we all know that they always like to feel that they are the boss in any way. This programme is basically to prove them wrong about that opinion. This programme is for us to educate you that what a man can do, we can also do better especially in the maritime industry. So, I hope this programme will educate you guys and you guys will pay attention to what we have to tell you people and also listen attentively and ask questions about things you don’t understand”.
Dignitaries at the event includes; the Managing Director of Bomarah Group and Governor of Women in Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Hajia Bola Muse, Chief Environmental Health Officer, Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Authority, Mrs. Olabisi Iyabo, Deputy Director/Head of Department, Education, Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA, Mrs. Folake Ajayi and a host of others.
Photo: (L-R) The Face of Maritime Queen, Miss Greatestlove Uwadiale and the Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman with the participating school children at the official launch of Girls Go-To-Sea Campaign at Ikoyi, Lagos yesterday.
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