Maritime Industry Leaders Call For Collective Action To Empower Women

Mary Nnah

The Women in Maritime and Shipping Conference 2025 has sounded a clarion call for collective action to empower women in the maritime industry.
The conference, themed “Charting New Waters: Women Steering Progress in Maritime and Shipping,” brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss the critical role of women in shaping the future of the maritime sector.

In a stirring goodwill message, Dr. Mrs. Chizoba C. Anyika, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Women in Maritime and Energy Awards Initiative, urged stakeholders to adopt a new compass that points toward inclusive leadership, sustainable innovation, and generational investment in women.
She emphasised that the maritime industry, which carries over 80% of the world’s trade by volume and more than 70% by value, cannot afford to ignore the vast potential of women.

Despite the critical role of women in the industry, they comprise only 2% of the world’s seafarers, and fewer than 1% hold executive decision-making roles in shipping. In Africa, the numbers are even more sobering, highlighting the need for urgent action to address the glaring gender disparities in the industry.
Anyika emphasised that the underrepresentation of women in the maritime industry has far-reaching consequences, including a lack of diverse perspectives, limited innovation, and reduced economic growth.

She highlighted the business case for gender equity, citing a recent World Bank report that doubling women’s participation in shipping could unlock over $1.5 trillion in additional global GDP. Companies with greater gender diversity in executive roles are 21% more likely to outperform competitors on profitability and 27% more likely to have superior long-term value creation.

The conference emphasised the need for collective action to empower women in the maritime industry. Anyika stressed that education and training programs, gender-sensitive maritime training colleges, and port safety protocols designed with women in mind are essential for increasing women’s participation in maritime careers. She also highlighted the importance of gender-responsive industry policies, including maternity protections and harassment-free workspaces, and recognition and awards to amplify role models and inspire replication.

Anyika emphasised that collective action requires the involvement of all stakeholders, including governments, regulators, investors, employers, and academic institutions. Each stakeholder has a critical role to play in promoting gender equity and empowering women in the maritime industry.

She urged attendees to think of legacy not as what we leave behind, but as what we set in motion.
She emphasised the importance of being audacious in policy, intentional in partnerships, and courageous in action. The Women in Maritime and Energy Awards Initiative is working to create a lasting impact by inspiring future generations of women to pursue careers in maritime.

“In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Let us not only dream of a future where women lead in maritime, but let us build it. The time for collective action is now. We must work together to create a maritime industry that is inclusive, equitable, and empowering for women. By doing so, we can unlock the vast potential of women in the industry and create a brighter future for all.

Anyika asked a poignant question that resonated with the audience: “What legacy will we leave for the girl child watching ships from the coast of Calabar or the shores of Badagry?” Will we leave a legacy of exclusion and marginalisation, or will we build a legacy of inclusion and empowerment? The choice is ours, and the time to act is now. Let us work together to create a maritime industry that is fit for the future, an industry that values and empowers women to reach their full potential.