The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dayo Mobereola, has called for accelerated digital transformation as a key driver for increasing women’s participation in the maritime industry.
Mobereola made the call in Lagos during a regional symposium organised by NIMASA in collaboration with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Ghana. The event was themed “Digitalization and the Empowerment of Women in the Maritime Sector of West Africa: Opportunities, Challenges and Pathways.”
Represented by NIMASA’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chudi Offodile, the Director-General said digitalisation has the potential to address the persistent under-representation of women in the maritime sector by opening up new opportunities and removing traditional barriers to entry.
According to him, the adoption of digital tools and platforms is shifting the industry’s focus from physical strength to intellectual capability and technical expertise.
“Digitalisation acts as a great equaliser, 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 noted that the maritime sector is currently undergoing significant transformation driven by digital technologies, automation, data systems and smart logistics, adding that these innovations are redefining ship operations, port management and regulatory processes globally.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to promoting inclusive growth within the maritime sector, stressing that Nigeria aims to position the industry as a regional model for gender inclusivity and digital excellence.
In his remarks, Deputy Commandant of KAIPTC, Zibrim Ayorrogo Bawah, emphasised the strategic importance of the Gulf of Guinea maritime domain and the need for greater involvement of women in shaping its future, particularly as digital technologies transform the sector.
Bawah noted that women’s participation in maritime affairs has historically been constrained by socio-cultural and institutional barriers but added that their inclusion is essential for effective and holistic maritime governance.
The symposium, 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 (ICC), brought together senior government officials, maritime professionals, academics, women’s groups and media representatives from across West Africa.
Participants are expected to examine 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 frameworks aimed at promoting gender equality and empowering women across the Gulf of Guinea region.
The forum is also expected to strengthen collaboration among regional and international stakeholders in advancing inclusive and sustainable maritime development in West Africa.
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