The Women International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, has donated a fishing boat to Sagbokoji women community in Lagos for empowerment and poverty alleviation.
The President of the association, Mrs Eunice Ezeoke, presented the boat at Sagbokoji community in Lagos on Tuesday.
She said the the association chose to empower women because they believed women were important in building the family, nation and communities.
Ezeoke said that Sagbokoji women were resilient in the operations of their fishery businesses.
She said that WISTA was established in 58 countries with over 4,000 members.
The association had donated a similar facility to Osoroko community to boost the fishing trade in Lagos State.
Ezeoko advised Sagbokoji women against marine pollution, adding that they should stop littering refuse in the waters because it endangered their health and the ecosystem.
“WISTA Nigeria is an arm of the WISTA International Association which exists in over 58 countries as an association of women in management levels in all areas of maritime such as shipping, logistics and trading.
“WISTA is a Non-Governmental Organisation recreated to give a voice to women and support those in riverine areas to excel and be part of contributors to the economy in Nigeria.
“WISTA is sector of the economy formed in 1974. It was established in Nigeria in 1994.
“WISTA Nigeria is passionate about inclusiveness and this entails the economic empowerment of the coastal women in areas of the blue economy, harnessing the ocean’s resources for economic growth and improving the livelihood of coastal communities.
This is done while preserving the health of the ocean’s ecosystem.
” In the past, WISTA-NIG had gone beyond Lagos, to Enugu and other parts of the country to donate boats with engine.”
According to her, WISTA Nigeria has been providing fishing boats for women in the coastal communities for many years.
She said that Sagbokoji women were chosen because of their reputed industry, hard work and resilience, which informed the association’s desire to be in the community.
Ezeoke added that a good testament to that was the women’s readiness to collaborate with WISTA Nigeria in finding market for their sea foods.
Eseoke said the association appreciated the traditional ruler, Baale Anthony Ovime, for allowing the association to empower their women with a fishing boat with engine.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Fishery Department, Mrs Fausiat Saka, said the state was working towards supporting women to get enough fish for everyone in Lagos.
Olusanya urged the women to use the opportunity wisely, to enable the association to do more for them.
She asked them to register their businesses, to enable them to benefit more from the Lagos State Government’s support.
Olusanya assured the community of robust market for fisheries within and outside the state.
Olusanya urged the women to use the boat passionately, to enable them to empower more women in the community.
On behalf of WISTA-NIG Diamonds, Mrs Faithhope Aloysius, commended the WISTA-NIG executive for continuing in the spirit of supporting less privileged women in riverine communities.
She urged the incoming executive of WISTA-NIG not to relent in supporting the government with their kind gesture, to eradicate poverty among women.
The Community Leader of Sagbokoji, Baale Anthony Ovime, thanked WISTA-NIG and Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture for empowering and counselling their women on their businesses.
“I really appreciate the support of WISTA-NIG for choosing Sagbokoji women community to improve more on crayfish and fish businesses.
“The community leaders and my self will ensure proper monitoring of the boat usage through the women leader in the community, Chief Ramotu Badaru in ensuring that the donor will not regret supporting them.”
Sagbokoji comprises of nine communities from Ishekiri, Warri, Cotonou, Ondo and other parts of the country.
WISTA had donated a big fishing boat with engine to Fisher women in Osoroko community on Feb. 28 in Lagos.
