The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dayo Mobereola, has identified digital transformation as a critical driver for increasing women’s participation in the maritime industry across West Africa.
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 symposium, themed “Digitalisation and the Empowerment of Women in the Maritime Sector of West Africa: Opportunities, Challenges and Pathways”, brought together key stakeholders to explore strategies for expanding opportunities for women in the maritime domain.
Represented by NIMASA’s Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Chudi Offodile, the Director General said the rapid digitalisation of the maritime sector presents a unique opportunity to address the long-standing gender imbalance in the industry.
According to him, digital technology is transforming the maritime landscape by shifting operational demands away from physical strength toward intellectual capability and technical expertise.
“Digitalisation acts as the 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 automation, data systems, smart logistics and emerging digital technologies that are reshaping how ships operate, ports function and maritime administrations deliver services.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive maritime development, stressing that the country is determined to position its maritime industry as a benchmark for gender inclusivity and digital excellence in the region.
Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Commandant of KAIPTC, Zibrim Bawah, highlighted the strategic importance of the Gulf of Guinea and the need to ensure that women play a stronger role in shaping the future of maritime governance in the region.
Bawah noted that women’s participation in maritime affairs has historically been constrained by socio-cultural and institutional barriers but stressed that their involvement brings diverse perspectives that are essential for effective 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), attracted senior government officials, maritime professionals, academics, women’s groups and media representatives from across West Africa.
Participants are expected to deliberate on key issues including digital innovation in maritime governance, gender inclusion in maritime security operations, capacity building for women in digital maritime skills and policy frameworks that promote gender equality within the maritime sector.
The engagement is also expected to strengthen collaboration among regional and international stakeholders working toward inclusive and sustainable maritime development across the Gulf of Guinea region.