By Sandra Chukwunyere The President of the Women in Maritime Association, Nigeria (WIMA), Dr Theodora Nwaeze, has called for greater inclusion of women in leadership and decision-making, saying women must play a bigger role in shaping Nigeria’s future.
Nwaeze, who is also Group Manager, LTT Coastal & Marine Services Ltd, made the call at the 8th Global Leadership Summit & Awards 2026 held in Lagos on Saturday.
The summit, with the theme, “Transformative Leadership for Sustainable Growth: Driving Innovation, Institutional Excellence and National Development,” brought together stakeholders to discuss leadership, innovation and sustainable national development.
Speaking at the event, Nwaeze said transformative leadership should not be defined by the positions people occupy but by the positive impact they make on individuals, organisations and society.
According to her, effective leaders must be committed to developing people, strengthening institutions and creating an environment where innovation, excellence, transparency and accountability can thrive.
She stressed the need for more women to be given opportunities to participate meaningfully in leadership and decision-making processes across different sectors of the economy.
“As an association committed to advancing the participation and leadership of women in the maritime sector, WIMA Nigeria strongly believes that women must be active partners in shaping the future of our institutions, industries and nation.
“When women are empowered to lead, contribute and innovate, the benefits extend beyond individuals to families, organisations, communities and the wider economy,” she said.
Nwaeze said greater representation of women in leadership would not only promote inclusiveness but also bring diverse perspectives and ideas to the table, helping organisations and institutions make better decisions.
She also highlighted the enormous potential of Nigeria’s maritime sector to contribute to economic diversification, job creation and sustainable development.
According to her, Nigeria’s strategic location, extensive coastline and maritime resources provide significant opportunities that can be harnessed to strengthen the national economy.
She, however, noted that unlocking the full potential of the maritime sector would require collaborative and forward-looking leadership involving government, private-sector operators, academia and civil society.
Nwaeze urged participants at the summit to move beyond conversations and translate ideas into concrete actions that could deliver measurable results.
She encouraged stakeholders to build partnerships, support innovation and develop practical solutions to some of the challenges confronting the country.
The WIMA president also commended the organisers of the Global Leadership Summit for sustaining the initiative as a platform for dialogue, learning, recognition and the promotion of leadership values capable of driving national development.
