Stakeholders in Africa’s maritime sector have called for urgent implementation of maritime and Blue Economy policies, stressing that the continent must move beyond policy formulation to practical action if it is to unlock the full benefits of trade, shipping and sustainable economic growth.
The call dominated discussions at the 8th WISTA Africa Regional Conference, hosted by the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria in Lagos under the theme: “From Policy to Progress: Women Delivering Africa’s Shipping and Trade Energy Future”.
Speaking at the conference, President of WISTA Nigeria, Dr. Odunayo Ani, urged governments, regulators and industry stakeholders to deepen collaboration to ensure maritime and Blue Economy policies deliver measurable results for Africa.
According to her, Africa’s Blue Economy offers enormous opportunities to strengthen regional trade corridors, improve maritime connectivity and maximise the gains of 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”, Ani said.
She also acknowledged the support of 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 the successful hosting of 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, called for deliberate efforts to remove barriers limiting women’s participation in the maritime sector.
He said women were already making significant contributions to the industry’s development but stressed that more must be done to create opportunities for them to thrive in leadership positions.
“The challenge before us is to remove the barriers that still limit participation and create 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 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”, Mobereola stated.
Delivering the keynote address, former NIMASA Director General Dr. Dakuku Peterside, challenged African governments to move from signing maritime agreements to implementing them through stronger institutions, infrastructure development and capacity building.
He observed that although Africa has adopted numerous international conventions and regional maritime frameworks, implementation remains weak.
“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 noted that efficient ports, modern infrastructure, reliable institutions and a skilled maritime workforce remain critical to expanding trade and positioning Africa as a competitive global shipping hub.
Peterside also described the continent’s transition to greener shipping as an opportunity to modernise ports, strengthen indigenous shipping capacity, attract green investments, expand regional logistics networks and create jobs for young Africans.
The keynote speaker further advocated stronger enforcement of maritime policies, improved institutional coordination, greater investment in maritime education and innovative financing models to accelerate the continent’s maritime development.
Also speaking, the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal (Abisogun II), described the Blue Economy as one of Africa’s greatest opportunities for sustainable development and commended WISTA Africa and WISTA Nigeria for promoting collaboration and practical solutions for the maritime industry.
Earlier, Chairperson of the Conference Planning Committee, Dr. Oma Ofodile, welcomed delegates from across Africa and beyond, describing the conference as a landmark event for WISTA Nigeria. She urged participants to ensure that discussions at the conference translate into concrete actions capable of transforming Africa’s maritime industry.
A high-level plenary session on “From Commitment to Delivery: Maritime Policy, Net-Zero Transitions and Trade in Africa: Bridging the Gap between What Africa Signs and What Africa Builds” focused on practical strategies for converting policy commitments into tangible development outcomes.
Panelists called for increased investment in port infrastructure, stronger policy implementation, indigenous shipping capacity, regional cooperation, trade facilitation and climate-resilient maritime systems, agreeing that coordinated action among governments, regulators, private sector operators and development partners is critical to unlocking Africa’s Blue Economy potential.