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Women in maritime Africa

Women in maritime get new association in West and Central Africa

 

Diversity and maritime security were in focus at the inaugural event for the Women in Maritime of West and Central Africa (WIMOWCA).

Women in maritime took centre stage at the inauguration of the Women in Maritime of West and Central Africa (WIMOWCA), the newest IMO-supported regional association for women in the maritime sector (WIMA).

“The objective of WIMOWCA is to harness the potential and contribution of women in West and Central Africa to ensure the sustainable development of the maritime industry in Africa,” said WIMOWCA Interim President, Sylvia Asana Dauda Owu.

“Women, as you are all aware, form over 51% of the world population and the same is true for Africa, as such they cannot be left out in any global effort to confront the challenges we face today in the global maritime industry.”

“Women, as you are all aware, form over 51% of the world population and the same is true for Africa, as such they cannot be left out in any global effort to confront the challenges we face today in the global maritime industry. Sustainable maritime development would require inclusive participation of all, men and women, if we are to succeed in our endeavor in that regard,” she said.

“For sustainability and success in the modern world, shipping needs diversity in the workforce and we need women to drive the decision-making processes,” IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said in his keynote speech. “We are on the right path and progress has been made. However much still needs to be done to help the maritime industry progress toward gender equality. WIMOWCA is a welcome addition to the global network of WIMAs. This special event provides a unique opportunity to discuss and celebrate two topics: women in the maritime community, and Africa as a maritime continent.”

Seven other WIMAs have already been established across Africa, Arab States, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific, supported by IMO’s long-running Women in Maritime gender programme.

Between them, the WIMAs count more than 700 participants from across 152 countries. Individuals joining the newest WIMA, which will focus on Anglophone West and Central Africa, will have access to similar collaborative and networking opportunities and access to IMO‑sponsored training through the WIMAs.

Network of Professional Women in the Maritime and Port Sectors for West and Central Africa (NPWMP-WCA), which was launched in February 2007 in Benin focuses on Francophone West and Central Africa. Click here for the total list of WIMAs on the IMO’s Women in Maritime page.

Ghana’s Minister of Transport, the Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, emphasized in his speech the role that women would play in the “African perspective of the Blue Economy”. 

“The blue economy has quite rightly been described as the ‘New Frontier of the African Renaissance’. Our continent is indeed a big island, with 38 coastal countries. Over 90% of Africa’s International trade, imports and exports are conducted by sea. The potential runs into many trillions of dollars and promises to combine enormous economic growth for our respective countries. Inclusive development is one of the surest ways and sustainable means to harness the full potential of Africa’s blue economy. Women must be at the heart of this agenda,” he said.

This article is shared by IMO – the International Maritime Organization.

IMO’s Women in Maritime programme has been running for more than 30 years, supporting women in both shore-based and sea-going roles.  (Read more here:  https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/TechnicalCooperation/Pages/WomenInMaritime.aspx

Narjiss Ghajour

Editor-in-Chief of Maritime Professionals

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