By Diana Omueza
The Women of Fortune Hall of Fame (WOFHOF) Initiative, a women-centric Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has urged for the inclusion of women in the maritime and other scientific sectors.
Mr Lami Tumaka, former director at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), made the call at the 2024 induction and International Women’s Leadership Summit in Abuja on Thursday.
The event is themed, “Gender Equality-Influencing Policies and Up-scaling Capacity in Digital Economy”.
Tumaka emphasised the need to encourage and enable women to pursue sciences, highlighting the importance of projecting successful women as role models for young girls.
He stressed that women should be given opportunities based on their competence, capacity, and ability to contribute, rather than just their gender.
Tumaka urged the government to encourage women’s participation, especially in politics and decision-making positions.
Mrs Mary Mamman, retired deputy director from NIMASA, urged the government to look beyond gender and focus on what women could offer.
Also, Mrs Chizoba Anyika, President of the Voice of Women (VOW) for Peace and Unity, appreciated the NGO’s recognition of her efforts and called for expanding the appeal for women’s involvement in maritime to other sectors.
The event recognised the contributions of at least 15 women across various sectors, inducting them into the WOFHOF 2024 hall of fame.