• Super Admin
• 08 Mar, 2026

Nigeria's maritime sector generates billions of naira annually, commanding one of West Africa's most important trade corridors and placing the nation among the continent's economic powerhouses. Yet for a long time, the industry remained overwhelmingly male-dominated, with women relegated to peripheral roles or excluded entirely. Today, the narrative has changed, as a bold set of Nigerian women executives, entrepreneurs, lawyers, regulators, and innovators redefine their positions in maritime. As the world celebrates International Women's Day 2026, these 10 remarkable leaders embody excellence, determination, and traceable impact, and their stories illuminate the fundamental truth that maritime success knows no gender. Mogo spent 34 years revolutionising maritime environmental protection at The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), elevating Nigeria's standing in global sustainability conversations. As Director of Marine Environment Management, she represented West and Central Africa at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s London Protocol Expert Compliance meetings and served as a member of United Nations sustainability groups shaping ocean governance. Her founding of the African Marine Environment Sustainability Initiative (AFMESI) institutionalised continental commitment to sustainable marine resource management. Today, her advocacy for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) frameworks and circular economy principles positions Nigeria at the forefront of blue economy development. As President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, Usoro transformed a struggling institution into Africa's most vibrant professional body. Under her leadership, CILT's revenue surged 242 percent from N7.8 million to N55 million, while liquid assets climbed from N17 million to N123 million. Her tenure as Nigeria's first female NIMASA Director-General broke barriers and set regulatory standards now embedded in the sector. A maritime lawyer with deep blue economy expertise, Usoro understands that professional development drives sector-wide transformation. Her strategic vision expanded CILT's geographic reach across six geopolitical zones, establishing certification standards recognised globally. Through CILT, she has created pathways for thousands of logistics and maritime professionals, ensuring the next generation inherits institutional excellence. Vicky Haastrup co-founded ENL Consortium, now operating Terminals C and D at Lagos Apapa Port, the largest single-berth seaport operation in West Africa. Her company outbid competitors five times over for the concession, testament to her strategic acumen and operational prowess. In 2015, ENL became the first Nigerian terminal operator to win the prestigious Seatrade Award for Best Port and Container Terminal Development. Haastrup earned "Shipping Personality of the Year" three consecutive times (2011-2013) and was honoured as the "Face of Port Concession in Nigeria." Her entrepreneurial journey, from 23 years at Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to founding a sector-leading enterprise, demonstrates that women can build, scale, and sustain successful maritime businesses. As Deputy Director at NIMASA and Chairperson of the Women in Maritime and Energy (WIME) Awards, Chizoba Anyika bridges regulatory authority with women's advancement. Her 25+ year career from Nigerdock to NIMASA's highest ranks demonstrates sustained excellence in Nigeria's maritime establishment. She was instrumental in advancing local content mandates and cabotage protections through inter-agency collaboration, shaping policy that strengthens indigenous maritime capacity. Simultaneously, as Women's International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria Secretary and Women in Maritime and Energy (WIME) Chairperson, she actively mentors emerging women leaders and advocates for gender parity across maritime platforms. Her 2024 MMS Hall of Fame induction recognised her exceptional leadership. As Secretary-General of the African Ship-owners Association and Co-Champion of Transportation for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Funmi Folorunsho operates at Africa's highest maritime policy level. Her leadership of the continent's primary ship-owners network positions her at the intersection of African trade expansion and maritime development. Folorunsho's strategic voice shapes how this opportunity is seized. She hold a position as the Secretary of the NIMAREX (Nigeria Maritime Exhibition and Conference) planning committee, working to revive and position the program as an annual event to showcase Nigeria's maritime potential, and was the pioneer president of the Women's International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) and represents a generation of Nigerian maritime leaders thinking continentally. Jean-Chiazor Anishere stands as Nigeria's most respected maritime attorney, commanding authority across West Africa and the continent. As former Continental President of African Women in Maritime (WIMAFRICA), she helped elevate women's visibility in maritime governance, legal practice, and institutional leadership. Her law firm, Jean-Chiazor & Partners, handles admiralty matters, from vessel arrests and cargo disputes to international maritime law arbitrations. Her Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) designation places her among the nation's elite legal practitioners. Anishere's dual achievement demonstrates that professional excellence and gender advocacy are complementary, not competing. As President of WISTA Nigeria, Odunayo Ani leads the continent's first and longest-established women-in-maritime professional association, now celebrating 30 years of advancing women's careers. Under Ani's leadership, WISTA serves as the institutional home for women maritime professionals. Ani also serves as deputy director and head of revenue at NIMASA. With dual doctorates in Finance and Corporate Governance plus ACA credentials, she brings rigorous financial expertise to maritime leadership. Iroghama Obiefun built Starzs Investments from a 3-ship operation in 2014 to an 11-vessel maritime services company by 2021, securing $15 million mezzanine debt financing for expansion. Her fleet operates tugboats and patrol vessels serving major energy clients including TotalEnergies, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Renaissance. She holds Harvard Business School OPM credentials, degrees from UMass Boston and Brunel University, and certifications from Lloyd's Maritime Academy. She chairs the Technical Committee of the Shipowners Association of Nigeria and serves on NIMASA's governing board. She founded Hairven wellness brand, chairs Women in Energy Network (WIEN), and mentors female entrepreneurs across sectors. Her 11-year maritime trajectory demonstrates women's capacity to scale shipping operations, secure institutional financing, and command respect from multinational energy majors. Rollens Macfoy builds two legacies simultaneously at Ocean Deep Services Limited, a maritime services enterprise, and WIMA Nigeria (African Women in Maritime), where she serves as President. As chief executive of Ocean Deep Services, she demonstrates women's capacity to operate competitive maritime service firms, managing complex operations and building sustainable revenue models. As WIMA Nigeria President, she mobilises women across Nigeria's maritime ecosystem, advocating for representation, mentorship, and policy change. Her leadership recognises women's advancement in maritime requires both individual entrepreneurial success and a collective advocacy infrastructure. As Chairperson of Zoe Maritime Resources Limited and President of Women in Maritime West and Central Africa (WIMOWCA), Edodo-Emore operates at regional scale, spanning 14 West and Central African countries. Her maritime services firm operates commercially in this competitive landscape while her WIMOWCA leadership coordinates women's maritime advancement across the region. She has been vocal about systemic support requirements for women in maritime, addressing work-life balance, community sensitisation, and government intentionality on representation. Her regional platform allows her to amplify lessons learned in Nigeria across West and Central Africa, creating continental momentum for women's maritime inclusion. Her 2024 MMS Hall of Fame induction recognised exceptional leadership. She demonstrates that maritime women leaders have both local impact and regional influence, shaping maritime policy across borders and building continental networks advancing women's economic participation. These women and others like them represent excellence, innovation, and transformative impact across Nigeria's maritime sector. Their achievements serve as beacons for the countless young girls and boys discovering that the maritime sector offers boundless opportunities for those with vision and courage to seize them. Source: https://businessday.ng/maritime/article/iwd-2026-10-women-breaking-barriers-in-nigerias-male-dominated-maritime-sector/