The President of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, Dr. Odunayo Ani, has called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators and industry stakeholders to ensure that Africa’s maritime and Blue Economy policies translate into measurable outcomes that promote inclusive growth, enhanced trade and sustainable development.
According to her, Africa’s Blue Economy presents enormous opportunities to strengthen trade corridors, improve maritime connectivity and unlock economic prosperity through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Dr. Ani made this known at the 8th WISTA Africa Regional Conference, hosted by WISTA Nigeria in Lagos under the theme, “From Policy to Progress: Women Delivering Africa’s Shipping and Trade Energy Future”.
“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 used the opportunity to appreciate 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.
Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola CON called for urgent action to eliminate the barriers that limit women participation emphasising that women are already making significant contributions towards the development of the maritime industry.
Represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry, Hajia Kalthum Ibrahim, Oyetola said “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”.
Also speaking, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to promoting gender inclusion and sustainable growth within the maritime industry.
“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 remain essential to unlocking Africa’s maritime potential,” Mobereola stated.
In his keynote presentation, maritime strategist and former Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, challenged African governments to move beyond policy formulation to practical implementation, stressing that the continent has signed numerous international conventions, regional agreements and maritime strategies but has yet to fully unlock their economic benefits through deliberate execution.
“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,” he said.
Dr. Peterside noted that shipping drives global trade, while trade depends on efficient ports, modern infrastructure, reliable institutions and a skilled maritime workforce.
He described Africa’s transition to a greener maritime industry as an opportunity to modernise ports, strengthen indigenous shipping capacity, develop regional logistics networks, attract green investments and create employment for young Africans.
He further advocated stronger enforcement of maritime policies, greater institutional coordination, increased investment in maritime education and innovative financing models to position Africa for greater 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, stressing that women have consistently played pivotal roles in commerce, entrepreneurship and community development across the continent.
He commended WISTA Africa and WISTA Nigeria for creating a platform that promotes dialogue, collaboration and practical solutions for the maritime sector.
Earlier, Chairperson of the Convention Planning Committee, Dr. Oma Ofodile, while welcoming delegates from across Africa and beyond, described the conference as a historic milestone for WISTA Nigeria.
She commended the organising committee, partners and volunteers for delivering a successful conference and urged participants to ensure that discussions translate into practical actions capable of advancing Africa’s maritime industry.
A high-level plenary session themed “From Commitment to Delivery: Maritime Policy, Net-Zero Transitions and Trade in Africa: Bridging the Gap between What Africa Signs and What Africa Builds,” examined practical strategies for transforming Africa’s maritime commitments into tangible development outcomes.
Panelists emphasised the need for sustained investment in port infrastructure, stronger policy implementation, indigenous shipping capacity, regional collaboration, trade facilitation and climate-resilient maritime systems.
They 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 enhance the continent’s competitiveness in global shipping and trade.
