The president of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, Eunice Ezeoke, has advocated for increased women’s representation in key positions within the maritime industry.

Ms Ezeoke, in an interview with journalists on Friday in Lagos, was reacting to the recent appointments at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) by President Bola Tinubu.

Mr Tinubu, through his media aide Ajuri Ngelale on Thursday in Abuja, announced the appointments of new executive directors in NPA and NIMASA.

Ms Ezeoke, who observed that one woman was appointed in the NPA and none in NIMASA, said many capable females can hold such positions within the sector.

She further highlighted the expectation for consideration of women during board appointments.

“We have many women who are capable of taking such positions in the sector. The appointment in NPA has only one woman, and none in NIMASA.

“But we are waiting for the board appointment, we hope that women are put into consideration,” she said.

Ms Ezeoke also urged the government to appoint technocrats in the maritime industry to push the industry forward.

“The people that were appointed not too long ago have not gotten a grip of the industry and they are being changed for new people; this means that we are going back to square one.

“It is very important to make sure that people that are appointed to occupy these critical positions can take decisions that favour the industry, as the industry growth must be a top priority.

“That is where my concern is.  I don’t know any of them but I am only interested in the growth of the industry because I am a critical stakeholder there,” she said.

Also, a shipper, Jonathan Nicole, said the industry and the country at large were in a period of change.

Mr Nicole said he believed that Mr Tinubu had got some elements of reports of the individuals appointed.

The former president of the Shippers Association of Lagos State (SALS) said the president did this to make the two organisations more proactive and become better.

“We are hopeful things will work well,” he added.

(NAN)