By Josephine Agbonkhese
It was an evening of glitz and fanfare last Friday in Lagos as stakeholders in the maritime and energy industries gathered to honour both women and men who had contributed to the growth of the sectors across the country.

Organised by the Women in Maritime and Energy Awards, WIME, in partnership with the UN (United Nations) Women, the event was attended by scores of industry top executives.

Chairperson, WIME Awards, Chizoba Anyika, flanked by Abiola Soremekun (left) and the Director-General, Nigeria Chamber of Shipping, Vivian Chimezie-Azubuike (right) at the WIME Awards held recently in Lagos.

According to the Chairperson of, the WIME Advisory Board, Chizoba Anyika, a Deputy Director at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the awards which are in their second year, were designed to recognise and celebrate the sterling achievements of women across the maritime and energy sectors while creating a platform for knowledge sharing to accelerate women’s participation in both industries.

“Our story is simple. We are inspired by the commitment, dedication, brilliance, impact and the change that women have made and continue to make in the maritime and energy sectors, hence the birth of the Women in Maritime & Energy Awards,” Anyika said while delivering her welcome address at the ceremony.

She went on: “These are very critical sectors that are important to our economic transformation and sustainable development as a nation in Nigeria and as a continent in Africa.

“Women over the years have displayed a high level of professionalism, hard work, consistency, tenacity and innovation to bring value not just to their workplaces but to the industry and the world.”

She therefore called on stakeholders to challenge gender stereotypes and biases at all levels, asserting that WIME was, on its part, poised to contribute its quota to accelerating gender diversity, equality and inclusion through profiling and telling the stories of amazing women contributing greatly to the industry.

Among the award recipients were Mfon Usoro and Princess Vicky Haastrup who clinched the Trailblazer in Maritime Excellence Award; Catherine Uju Ifejika and Princess Joy Osifo who won the Trailblazer in Energy Excellence Award category; and Chisom Ajaero, Florence Ilaka, Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel and James Adachukwu Rita who won in the Outstanding Woman in Energy (Upstream) category.

Other awardees included Engr. Chichi Emenike, Sandra Chukwudozie, Dr. Ibilola Amao, Dr. Felicia Mogo, Hajia Bola Muse, Eunice Ezeoke, Oritsematosan Edodo-Emore, Arese Odiase, and Iroghama Ogbeifun.
Folurunsho Alakija also clinched a Lifetime Achievement Award in Energy.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Aminu Umar and Abiodun Adesanya were honoured with the HeForShe Ambassador Excellence Award in Maritime and Energy, respectively.

The awards ceremony also featured keynote speeches by Beatrice Eyong, the Country Representative for UN Women Nigeria and other industry stakeholders, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.