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The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, assured of championing the rights and equality of women and girls, both within and beyond the NPA.
He emphasised that the organisation is dedicated to creating practical opportunities for women and girls to thrive and reach the peak of their potential.
Speaking at the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration, themed “Accelerate Action for Gender Equality,” Dr. Dantsoho highlighted the NPA’s staunch participation in IWD commemorations.
More than just an annual event, he noted that the Authority actively implements systems and structures that promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in Nigeria.
“For us in the Nigerian Ports Authority, we do not see IWD as another day to pay lip service to women’s rights and economic empowerment. Rather, it is a day to reflect on what we have done and to commit to doing even more,” he stated.
Dr. Dantsoho highlighted the NPA’s longstanding dedication to gender inclusivity, ensuring that women’s roles within the Authority are neither diminished nor constrained. He outlined several policies and initiatives that reflect this commitment, including an extended maternity leave period of six months, protection of employment rights for women who become pregnant outside of wedlock, and flexible working hours for nursing mothers—allowing them to resume duty an hour later and close an hour earlier than the official schedule.
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Additionally, the NPA has consistently placed women in key leadership positions. Currently, Mrs. Vivian C. Richard-Edet serves as the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, and in recent years, at least 12 women have held positions as General Managers and Port Managers. Beyond executive roles, Nigerian women play integral roles across various units of the NPA, working as pilots, fire service personnel, security officers, medical professionals, and engineers.
“These are just some examples of the ways the NPA has and is actively recognizing and advocating for women’s rights and equality. We do not put any limit on the capacity of women and the possibilities available to them,” Dr. Dantsoho affirmed.
However, despite these strides, the MD acknowledged that the broader fight for gender equality is far from over. “It is not yet uhuru when women and girls are still being subjected to various forms of discrimination, inequality, injustice, and abuse because of their gender,” he remarked.
Dr. Dantsoho assured that the NPA would remain relentless in supporting the rights of women and girls and in creating avenues for their empowerment. “As an organization, we promise to remain unrelenting in supporting the rights and equality for all women and girls and to practically create opportunities for women and girls within and outside the NPA to be empowered to the best of their abilities,” he said.
Congratulating all women within the NPA on the occasion of this year’s IWD, he reiterated the Authority’s commitment to fostering an environment where women and girls can fully actualize themselves in the maritime industry. “Together, we will accelerate action for gender equality,” he concluded.
International Women’s Day is a globally recognized occasion dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements, assessing progress toward gender equality, and calling for stronger policies and actions to eliminate gender-based violence and discrimination. Since its inception in 1911, first marked in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, March 8—and indeed the entire month—has evolved into a global platform for advocating women’s rights, with individuals, organizations, and governments worldwide participating in its commemoration.
