Lagos bore witness to a historic celebration of women in Nigeria’s maritime sector as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) threw the spotlight on female professionals during International Women’s Day 2026.
At the heart of the celebration was Dr. Dayo Mobereola, the Agency’s Director-General, who urged the maritime industry to embrace gender inclusivity as a non-negotiable pillar for sustainable growth.
Addressing an audience of trailblazing women from across Nigeria’s maritime value chain, Dr. Mobereola noted, “Men cannot exist without women, and the maritime industry can only achieve sustainable growth when both genders contribute meaningfully to its development.”
The DG highlighted the vast opportunities within shipping, logistics, and port management, describing the sector as a strategic engine for national economic development, a sector where women are poised to play increasingly central roles.
According to a statement signed by Osagie Edward, the celebration also served to reaffirm NIMASA’s long-term commitment to mentorship, capacity building, and policy initiatives aimed at increasing female representation in leadership positions.
In her welcome address, Dr. Odunayo Ani, President of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, called for fresh perspectives in compliance, innovation, and leadership that prioritize inclusivity while ensuring sustainable industry growth.
Dr. Ani emphasized that stronger partnerships between institutions, industry players, and women-focused associations are crucial to expanding opportunities for female professionals at every level of the maritime ecosystem.
Representatives of leading women-centered maritime groups, including WISTA Nigeria, Women in Maritime Africa (WIMA), Women in Maritime of West and Central Africa (WIMOWCA), and Women in Logistics and Transport (WILAT), delivered goodwill messages, commending NIMASA for its consistent advocacy for gender inclusion.
A major highlight was the keynote by Dr. Titilayo Enitan-Fowokan, who dissected Nigeria’s tax reforms and their potential to unlock entrepreneurial and professional opportunities for women in shipping, logistics, and global trade.
Dr. Enitan-Fowokan urged women to strategically position themselves to leverage fiscal reforms, explaining that the evolving regulatory landscape offers unprecedented openings for leadership, trade expansion, and economic empowerment.
The celebration also spotlighted NIMASA’s ongoing policies designed to encourage female participation at all levels, from operational roles in ports to executive leadership in shipping firms.
Dr. Mobereola reaffirmed that nurturing female talent is not just about equality, but about unlocking untapped potential that drives efficiency, innovation, and resilience within the maritime sector.
The event drew women professionals across cadres, from entry-level officers to senior executives, demonstrating the breadth of female talent increasingly visible in Nigeria’s maritime space.
Goodwill messages from industry partners highlighted mentorship, cross-border collaboration, and capacity building as essential tools for cultivating the next generation of maritime leaders.
As the day concluded, the celebration stood as both a recognition of women’s achievements and a clarion call for deeper engagement, inclusivity, and institutional support, ensuring that Nigeria’s maritime industry sails into the future with women firmly at the helm.