Maritime Excellence: NPA Celebrates Women Thriving in High-Pressure Roles

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has commended the resilience and dedication of its female workforce, highlighting their vital contributions across the maritime sector.

These professionals are excelling in traditionally male-dominated fields, including firefighting, security, vessel piloting, marine engineering, hydrography, and the maintenance of navigational aids, a statement given to Persecondnews said.

NPA Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, praised the staff for delivering exceptional results in roles previously thought to require “traditional male physical strength.” 

Demonstrating his commitment to inclusivity, Dr. Dantsoho noted that gender balance is now a core priority in his administration, reflected in his recent senior appointments and specialist advisory team.

“Women now occupy 60 percent of these positions while men account for the remaining 40 percent,” he said, adding that the deliberate policy reflects the authority’s firm drive to expand female involvement and achievements right across the maritime field.

The CEO extended warm congratulations to these exceptional women both inside the authority and across the broader industry who keep pushing boundaries, dismantling obstacles and helping create a fairer, more balanced future for the entire sector.

“NPA has embedded gender equality as a practical priority rather than a standalone formal document, using leadership directives, affirmative appointments and targeted staff welfare measures to drive inclusion across its operations.

“Under Managing Director Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, the authority has deliberately advanced women into strategic support roles, assigning them 60 per cent of positions among his personal aides and technical assistants while men occupy the remaining 40 per cent.

“This intentional ratio forms part of a broader drive to expand female participation and leadership success throughout the maritime industry,” Dantosho also said.

Persecondnews reports that the NPA are excelling in operational and technical fields long viewed as requiring traditionally male physical strength. 

It serves effectively in firefighting, security, vessel piloting, marine engineering, hydrographic surveying, administrative coordination and maritime support services including aids to navigation.

Management highlights their resilience and dedication in these demanding positions as proof that capability, not gender, defines performance.

Complementing these placements are concrete human-resource policies that support work-life balance and remove barriers. 

Maternity leave has been extended to a full six months with nursing mothers receiving the flexibility to report one hour after official start time and depart one hour earlier each working day.

Pregnant employees receive all entitlements and continued career support regardless of marital status, ensuring pregnancy never becomes a basis for discrimination or stalled progression.

Dantsoho has repeatedly described gender equality and women’s empowerment as core organisational values upheld since NPA’s founding. During International Women’s Day events themed “Accelerate Action for Gender Equality.”

He said: “As an organisation, we promise to remain unrelenting in supporting the rights and equality for all women and girls while practically creating opportunities for them within and outside the NPA to be empowered in their best abilities.”