In continuation of the aims and objectives of Face of Maritime International (FOMI) and in line with the 2019 International Women’s Day celebrations themed ‘Gender Equality’, the FOMI Queens led by Queen Zakama Rachael will next Tuesday flag off their 2019 pet-project tagged Girls Go-To-Sea Campaign (GGOTSEC).
GGOTSEC is a catch-them-young campaign project targeted at secondary school girls with a view to sensitizing and encouraging more girls to study maritime related courses at their tertiary education level in order take up career opportunities in the maritime industry.
The Flag off ceremony will hold next week Tuesday at Osborne School Complex, Ikoyi, Lagos by 11am where about 200 secondary school girls will be in attendance.
Special Guests expected at the occasion are the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside who will speak on the theme, “Career Opportunities for Females in the Maritime Industry”, and the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala Usman who will speak on the topic, “What A Man Can Do, A Woman Can Do Better”.
Other Maritime dignitaries who will be gracing the occasion include, the President of WISTA Nigeria, Mrs. Mary Madu Hamman, President of Women in Logistics and Transport, Aisha Ali Ibrahim, President of WIMA Nigeria and Governor of Women in ANLCA, Hajia Bola Muse, CEO, Ocean Deep Services, Mrs. Rollens Macfoy, Engr. Richard Owolabi of Abuja MOU and other industry practitioners.
Speaking ahead of the occasion, the Project Director of FOMI, Mr. Sylvanus Obasi, said that Girls Go-To-Sea Campaign is a nation – wide campaign with special focus on littoral states. He revealed that after the flag off next Tuesday, the GGOTSEC team would visit other schools in Lagos state before taking the project outside Lagos to other geo-political zones.
According him, “With GGOTSEC, FOMI has chosen to work the talk. We don’t believe in seating in a cozy conference hall to lament and talk about the need for more women to come onboard and participate in maritime professions. We believe in working the talk by taking the campaign to the grass roots, to young girls in senior secondary schools who still have the chance to choose their career path.
“Through GGOTSEC, we aim to sensitize them and encourage them to consider a career at sea. Moving from school to school is not easy but that’s the way to go if you want to achieve a meaningful result in the long run”.
Speaking further, the maritime journalist and promoter of GGOTSEC, called on government agencies, private companies, organizations and interested Individuals to support and partner FOMI towards achieving gender balance in maritime work environment in line with the vision of International Maritime Organization (IMO).
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