The President of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Mrs Despina Theodosiou, says technology disruption has opened opportunities for women in the maritime industry.
Theodosiou made this known at the Nigerian Chamber of
Shipping (NCS) one-day women in shipping and maritime conference on Tuesday in
Lagos.
The conference with the theme: “The Future of Shipping:
Weathering the Storms, Sailing High,” was organised in line with the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5. It seeks to achieve gender equality and
empower all women and girls.
She added that the industry should remain competitive and
women would bring other things to the table while working with men, such as
their carefulness and analytical skills.
According to her " there are many opportunities with
this new technology that emerged and this will lead to great leadership when
emulated but unfortunately, women need to come onboard to be able to utilise
the space provided.
“Key challenges that should be addressed are lack of
awareness, lack of female role models and unemployment,” she said.
She, however, added that shipping had an obligation to share
equal opportunities for both men and women with technology disruption.
Also speaking at the conference, is African Women in
Maritime (WIMAfrica), Mrs Jean-Chiazo Anishere (SAN), said the future of
shipping depend on women.
Anishere added that women must make themselves visible with
requisite knowledge and skills for it to happen.
She noted that "Analysts have postulated that for
Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, 90 per cent is highly dependent on sea trade
which accounts to over 85 per cent of external trade.
“Singapore is known as a maritime hub in the world and this
is due to the contribution of the industry and so Africans having a healthy
blue economy will help its import/export trade.
“And the interesting part is that the theme of the
conference is focused on women to ensure that gaps in the industry are bridged
to have equality in the maritime space,” she said.
The President, WIMA Nigeria, Mrs Eunice Ezeoke, while
speaking on Leveraging Technology Disruption to Improve on Port Operation,
urged the country to embrace smart port.
According to Ezeoke, smart port is where there are reduced
numbers of people, paper, single window where all information can be gotten in
terms of clearance or cargoes.
“Maritime is an international business where different
countries of the world interface in the port and so for us to be at par with
other countries in terms of technology infrastructure, we should strive to
develop our technology.
“Leveraging technology like artificial intelligence,
blockchain will ensure time wastage is reduced, reduce accident, fatigue as a
result of trying to locate where a cargo is,” she said.
In his contribution, Dr Emeka Akabogu, the Principal
Partner, Akabogu Law, speaking on shipping trade challenges, noted that the
challenge African countries faced had to do with logistics and formalities.
According to Akabogu, to achieve a liberalised market across
the region, there is a need to improve, expand and promote intra-African trade
which just stood at 14 per cent.
“It is unfortunate that Africans don’t trade much with
countries within their region and this is attributed to logistics and
formalities.
“For shipping, many years ago, a company was established to
help ship cargo but folded up because trade within the country was not enough
to sustain it, all these should be looked into to boost trade,” he said.
Akabogu urged women to be organically involved in the
maritime industry to be visible.
“Women should be seen for what they can offer and not
because they are women,” he said.
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