Women all over the world, particularly those in the male-dominated Maritime industry, have been tasked to strive for competency, in order to entrench equality with their me counterparts.
The Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex, Mrs. Funmilayo Bola Olotu stated this, highlighting the importance of women while commemorating International Women’s Day (IWD 2023) with stakeholders at Apapa port on Wednesday.
She commended the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) management, for being gender friendly, adding that in Apapa port alone, there are several women as Head of Departments, who at various times positively influenced Operations, Administration, Logistics, HSE, Security, Fire Services, among other departments at the premier port.
“We acknowledge and celebrate their beautiful footprints in the sands of the maritime path in Apapa, even as we identify with other accomplished women all over the globe,” Mrs. Olotu enthused.
She encouraged women to strive for competency, and not to expect opportunities handed down to them on a platter of gold.
Olotu enjoined women to ensure that they lobby for gender parity in their various organizations.
Urging the audience to help forge a gender-equal world, as sisters, mothers, wives and daughters, Olotu stressed that this begins at home, especially in how female and male children are raised, adding that the idea must be inculcated into children from tender ages.
According to the Port Manager, the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) is to embrace equity, emphasizing that it is not a call for competition, but rather a call for competence.
In her words: “If you are competent, you do not need to struggle to be recognized, acknowledged or given your due place in any of the organizations.
“What some of us do is that we expect things to be given to us on a platter of Gold, it is not so.
“We are here today, joining the whole world to celebrate women’s achievements, educate and raise awareness about equality, and call for positive change in advancing women.
“Lobby for accelerated gender parity, sometimes it is not by fighting, force or argument, my people usually say that there are days that you have something to say, but there is no time to say them, and there are days you have time to talk, but there is nothing to say.
“One of the take-homes I want to you have today is that, however tough the provocation may be, sometimes it is better to keep quiet, my people used to say that, the name you will give to your newborn child is inside of you, and until you pronounce it, the child won’t bear the name”.
She warned women to desist from the pull her down syndrome, saying that the greatest enemy of women sometimes is themselves through envying one another.
The Director General, Chamber of Shipping, Mrs. Vivian Chimezie-Azubuike has tasked Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) women with Mentorship and Prospect Identification.
Mrs. Vivian made this call while appreciating NPA women for their significant impact in the maritime sector.
She explained that women need to be open-minded to mentorship and prospect identification adding that they don’t need to put pressure on themselves but always come with an open mind to learning.
“Your competence does not mean that you don’t have to learn on the job. Always work with the mindset of making success, learn how to keep the life-work balance, and ensure that all aspects are done brilliantly, ” She advised.
