Some members of WISTA NIGERIA.

 
PRESIDENT’S WELCOME SPEECH

Dear Members and Sisters,

It was a really great honour to be chosen as President of WISTA Nigeria, as l mentioned  in my inaugural speech l recognise and  commend the work done by my predecessors. I promise to put my best to move WISTA Nigeria to the next level especially in the national arena. We intend to make our association known to every relevant Government body, Major Maritime organisations, women in the shipping trade will be encouraged to join the association in order to add strength to our call for more women in places of authority including agencies that affect maritime and shipping business in Nigeria.

We shall be hosting the first African Regional Conference in Lagos on 25-27 May 2010. The objective is to implement the mandate given to us by WISTA international to ensure that there is a WISTA in every country in Africa.

Our quarterely lectures will as usual cover very relevant issues, such as: "The effect of the Swine Flue to the Maritime /Shipping Business"..and others.

I encourage and appeal to you all to please continue in the same zeal you have always had, to give all your support so that we can steer MT WISTA NIGERIA through the navigational waters to success.

God Bless you.

IFY ANAZONWU-AKERELE

PRESIDENT WISTA NIGERIA

   WISTA – NIGERIA is a non- profit making association. It is dedicated to the professional development and advancement of Women in Shipping and trading related businesses.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE OF WISTA – NIGERIA

Our association runs with the vision of empowering women in the maritime sector of the Nigerian economy. That is why we embark on two main projects namely:

 1.      Boat project wherein fisherwomen are provided with fishing boats to aid them in their fishing business.

2.      Training of Cadets in the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Young women who cannot finance themselves in the academy are financed.

WISTA NIGERIA is out to encourage its members in continuous education through lectures, seminars and workshops. The focal points of these Lectures/ Seminars /Workshops are as follows

·        Workshops on new developments in the different Maritime fields.

 ·        Specialized courses called WISTA  - NIGERIA Lecture Series

 ·        Annual Conferences and Business Luncheon

 ·        Social gatherings in major shipping centers nationwide

 ·        Talks by Professional speakers on shipping topics, Publishes Newsletters.

  It is imperative to mention that WISTA NIGERIA encourages and Supports:

·        Networking among its members for their mutual benefit

·        WISTA International Conferences through active participation

·        Complementing government’s initiatives towards achieving some of the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals that relate to Maritime Transport as follows:

MDG1 – Eradication of Extreme Poverty and Hunger e.g. by providing sustainable economic stimulation for fishing, transport services and similar value added undertakings.

MDG 3 – Promote Gender Equality and Empower women e.g. through training, education and knowledge transfer.

In view of the above, WISTA NIGERIA   maintains good relations with the Federal Ministry of Transport, Government, Parastatals, Shipping Companies, Corporate bodies, media, Shipping press and other relevant institutions.