Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has underscored the need for accelerated digital transformation as a strategic tool for increasing women’s participation in the maritime industry.
Mobereola made this known in Lagos at a regional symposium jointly organized by NIMASA and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, themed
“Digitalization and the Empowerment of Women in the Maritime Sector of West Africa: Opportunities, Challenges and Pathways.” He was represented by the Agency’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chudi Offodile.
According to him, digitalization has the potential to dismantle long-standing barriers that have limited women’s access to opportunities in the maritime sector.
“Digitalization acts as the great equalizer, shifting the industry’s centre of gravity from physical strength to intellectual agility and technical precision. Through digital platforms and e-learning systems, a young woman in a rural West African town can access the same training modules as anyone in more advanced parts of the world,” he said.
Mobereola added that the global maritime sector is undergoing sweeping transformation driven by automation, smart logistics, data-driven systems and emerging digital tools, trends he said Nigeria is committed to embracing in a gender-inclusive manner.
He reaffirmed NIMASA’s commitment to building a sector that sets a regional benchmark for gender inclusion and digital excellence.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Commandant of KAIPTC, Brigadier General Zibrim Ayorrogo Bawah, stressed the strategic importance of the Gulf of Guinea and the need for women to play a greater role in shaping its future, particularly as digital technologies redefine maritime operations.
He noted that although women have historically faced socio-cultural and institutional limitations, their involvement brings diverse perspectives critical to effective maritime governance.
Supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the Inter-Regional Coordination Centre for Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea, the symposium convened government officials, maritime professionals, academics, women’s groups and media representatives from across West Africa.
Participants will explore key issues such as digital innovation in maritime governance, gender inclusion in maritime security operations, capacity building for women in digital maritime skills and policy reforms that promote gender equality across the Gulf of Guinea.
The engagement is also expected to deepen regional and international collaboration towards building a more inclusive and sustainable maritime future for West Africa.