West Africa Maritime Digitalization and Women Empowerment Symposium

A regional symposium was held in Lagos, Nigeria, co-organized by the Nigeria===Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Ghana. The symposium, titled 'Digitalization and the Empowerment of Women in the Maritime Sector of West Africa: Opportunities, Challenges and Pathways,' focused on leveraging digital transformation to increase women's participation in the maritime industry. Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director General of NIMASA, emphasized digitalization as a 'great equalizer' that shifts the industry's focus from physical strength to intellectual agility, creating new opportunities and removing traditional barriers for women. Brigadier General Zibrim Ayorrogo Bawah of KAIPTC highlighted the strategic importance of the Gulf of Guinea and the need for women to play a greater role in its future. The event, supported by the Denmark===Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark) and the Inter-Regional Coordination Centre for Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea (ICC), brought together various stakeholders to discuss strategies for gender inclusion, capacity building in digital maritime skills, and policy frameworks to advance women's empowerment across the West African region.