R-L: Former Directors-General/Chief Executive Officers of the Nigerian maritime administration and safety agency; Ade dosumu, Temisan Omatseye, WISTA President Nigeria; Dr. Odunayo Ani, Former Director General; Mrs Mfon Usoro, Present Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and safety agency Dr Dayo Mobereola, Former Director General; Dakuku Peterside during The 8th WISTA Africa Regional Conference held in Lagos on 25–26 June 2026.
The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Africa has called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators and industry stakeholders to ensure that maritime and Blue Economy policies across the continent translate into tangible results that drive inclusive economic growth, trade expansion and sustainable development.
The call was made by the President of WISTA Nigeria, Dr. Odunayo Ani, during the 8th WISTA Africa Regional Conference hosted by WISTA Nigeria in Lagos. The conference, themed “From Policy to Progress: Women Delivering Africa’s Shipping and Trade Energy Future,” brought together maritime leaders, policymakers and industry experts from across Africa to chart a path for the continent’s maritime future.
Dr. Ani said Africa’s Blue Economy holds immense potential to strengthen regional trade corridors, improve maritime connectivity and unlock new economic opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Policy must translate into measurable impact, while collaboration must drive innovation. Together, we can build a more resilient, competitive and inclusive maritime industry for Africa,” she said.
She also expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), WISTA International and other partners for supporting the conference.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, represented by the Ministry’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Hajia Kalthum Ibrahim, stressed the need to eliminate barriers limiting women’s participation in the maritime sector.
According to him, women are already making significant contributions to the industry’s growth, but greater efforts are needed to ensure they can fully participate and assume leadership positions.
“The challenge before us is to remove the barriers that still limit participation and to create the partnerships that enable women to enter, thrive and lead within the industry. We must invest in skills development, strengthen institutions, leverage technology, deepen regional cooperation and create conditions that allow women and young people to contribute meaningfully to the sector’s goals,” he said.
Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to promoting gender inclusion and sustainable maritime development.
“NIMASA remains a proud partner of WISTA and will continue to support initiatives that promote gender inclusion, professional excellence and sustainable maritime development. Collaboration among governments, industry stakeholders and professional associations remains essential to unlocking Africa’s maritime potential,” he stated.
Delivering the keynote address, maritime strategist and former Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, challenged African governments to move beyond policy formulation to effective implementation.
He observed that although many African countries have signed international conventions, regional agreements and maritime strategies, the continent has yet to fully harness their economic benefits due to weak implementation.
“Africa must deliberately move from signing policies to building institutions, infrastructure and capacity. We must also create greater opportunities for women to participate in maritime leadership because experience has shown that women bring stability to decision-making and are indispensable to the future of Africa’s maritime industry,” Peterside said.
He described the global transition to greener shipping as an opportunity for Africa to modernise its ports, strengthen indigenous shipping capacity, develop regional logistics networks, attract green investments and create employment opportunities for young people.
Peterside further advocated stronger enforcement of maritime policies, improved institutional coordination, increased investment in maritime education and innovative financing models to enhance Africa’s competitiveness in global shipping.
In his goodwill message, the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, CON, Abisogun II, described the Blue Economy as one of Africa’s greatest opportunities for sustainable development.
He noted that women have consistently played vital roles in commerce, entrepreneurship and community development, and commended WISTA Africa and WISTA Nigeria for providing a platform that promotes dialogue, collaboration and practical solutions for the maritime sector.
Earlier, Chairperson of the Conference Planning Committee, Dr. Oma Ofodile, welcomed delegates from across Africa and beyond, describing the conference as a landmark achievement for WISTA Nigeria.
She praised the organising committee, partners and volunteers for delivering a successful event and urged participants to ensure that the conference discussions translate into concrete actions that will advance Africa’s maritime industry.
A major highlight of the conference was a high-level plenary session titled “From Commitment to Delivery: Maritime Policy, Net-Zero Transitions and Trade in Africa: Bridging the Gap Between What Africa Signs and What Africa Builds.”
Panelists explored practical strategies for transforming Africa’s maritime commitments into sustainable development outcomes. They emphasised the need for greater investment in port infrastructure, stronger policy implementation, indigenous shipping capacity, regional cooperation, trade facilitation and climate-resilient maritime systems.
The experts agreed that unlocking the full potential of Africa’s Blue Economy will require coordinated action by governments, regulators, the private sector and development partners to strengthen the continent’s competitiveness in global shipping and trade.
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