By Sam Tasie
The Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, has said, “The Maritime Industry is the blood line for global economy.” She made this assertion at the just concluded, World Maritime Day 2019 with the global theme; “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community.” Adding, “Shipping is an industry that contributes over 90 per cent to the world economy. As of the 1st of January 2018, there were 53,045 merchant ships of seven (7) different types (general cargo; bulk cargo; crude oil tankers; chemical tankers; container ships; Ro-Ro/Passenger ships and LNG tankers) plying all over the world, transferring goods between places, keeping the world economy running. She asserted, “If the maritime sector is truly essential to global trade and opportunities, then it goes without saying that, empowering the Nigerian women in this sector must be vital to our trade and our aspiration for prosperity as a nation.” Observing, she opined, “The maritime sector, world over, is always assumed to be male-centric; no, let me correct that, the maritime sector, world over, is male-centric, but like someone once said, there is something special about women who dominate in men’s world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness and nerve to never take no for an answer.” Gbemisola Saraki lauded the Nigerian women in the maritime industry for their unalloyed commitment and strength in pushing through and breaking glass ceilings, she added, “women whose intelligence have given birth to innovative ad ground breaking ides; women whose fearlessness have eased and sailed through heavy storms; women who have consistently and dauntlessly soared above the odds into positivity and prosperity in the Maritime Industry.”
She advocated, “We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored. We need many Pili Husseins and we have them. Our very own Hadiza Bala-Usman, the MD of NPA is one such Pili Hussein. Her appointment smashed to smithereens the 63-year domination of men as the head of NPA.” The minister posited, “our women can still openly embrace their femininity whilst working and excelling in a male dominated industry. These women have chosen to take the “bull by the horn” and form themselves into very cohesive advocacy groups like WISTA. WIMA, WILAT and others. They continuously drive their objectives fearlessly. They were one of the first congratulatory visits I received before I had sat down on my seat as the Minister of State for Transportation!! Really, we all resumed in the Ministry together. I am so happy to share that with them.”
She continued, “I know that WISTA which stands for Women in Shipping & Trade Association are striving to expand the participation of women in every aspect of economic and commercial activities in the maritime sector. This includes ownership of ships tankers and players in upstream/ downstream operations of the oil & gas sector, deep sea fish trawling, Trawling, Owning Ship building and ship repair yards. “Adding, “WIMA (Women in Maritime In Africa) on the other hand aims to bring together all women in the maritime sector on the Continent of Africa. Women in Logistics & Transport, WILAT, also is working to empower women provide logistic services just as their male counterpart. I am very encouraged and proud of my sisters. I will definitely engage them to ensure that we can explore every avenue available to ensure a noticeable increase in women in the maritime industry in the near future.”
However. She lamented at some challenges confronting women; “Women in our maritime industry, are not free from the inhibiting challenges of gender inequality that is prevalent in the industry, and indeed across many sectors of our national economy.” Adding, “Gender equality as a principle, has not reflected in the structures and operations of our maritime industry, especially in the top echelon of management. I stand to be corrected if my data is not current, but for example, NIWA has just 1 female Director and no Deputy Director; Shippers’ Council – now I know why the gentleman at our last meeting was lobbying for a higher appointment for the ES of Shippers’ Council. The Council has 4 female Directors and at least 8 Deputy Directors, whilst NIMASA has 3 female Directors and over 25 female Assistant Directors. And of course, we are sitting on top of the food chain in NPA.”
The minister stated, “Data from Maritime Academy, Oron showed that 26 of the total 250 students in the school are women, representing 10.4%. Of the 6,039 seafarers on the Nigerian Seafarers’ Register, 567 or 9.3% are women. Some have argued that one of the reasons for the poor participation of women in the industry is due to the fact that jobs across the area of its shipping, ports, marine and business services industries may be more physically demanding than a woman who is a wife or mother may be able to handle. Instead, women employed in the maritime industry, are more involved in the hotel and catering service, while only a very small percentage are in the technical maritime professions. Enter technology. For example, before the arrival of technological advancements, only 1% of the employers in the metal industry were female. Now, due to the presence of new technologies, this figure has increased to 28%.” She frowned at the situation, “our showing is still very low and calls for a concerted effort to improve it. We have seen many countries, adapt systems and ways that work for them, we should follow suit, and find ways that will work for us. I am afraid to say though, with due respect to all the men present here, that our Nigerian men will never get up to give us those seats and positions. Ladies, remember not very long ago, we had men fighting for the position of Commissioner for Women Affairs in a state I won’t mention!! And guess what?!! The Governor gave it to a MAN!!!! So these are the sort of hurdles we face. So what should we do about it? We cannot continue to moan and whine about the unfairness of it all.”
In view of the above, she charged all on finding ways and means of changing the narrative, however, she appreciated the fact that invariably we are role models, agents of change for the next generation of women. We must take this august opportunity to make valuable contributions to the effect of supporting the participation of women in both shore based and sea going posts, something that is in harmony with the goals outlined under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4,5, & 8).” She asserted, “The cause of gender equality will grow when many brilliant girls are encouraged into the maritime academy and special emphasis is placed upon their career paths, including encouragement via mentorship by successful women within and outside the industry. We need to push for more scholarships for girls.” The minister emphasized that, “The critical area we must talk about, is business. We must talk about women being more involved in the business aspect of the maritime industry. President Muhammadu Buhari pledged 35% affirmative action for women in governance, in line with the national gender policy, whilst our party, the APC also promised equitable gender inclusiveness.” Adding, “In line with this, we should also be looking at our own affirmative action within the Maritime Industry if we are not simply here to eat meat pies and have photo ops. Let us take a leaf out of the books of the United States. There, the government’s goal is to award at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars to women owned businesses each year. This is to help provide a level playing field for women business owners, and the government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate in the women category programme.”
