-With Career Mentorship Workshop
By Sampat JMB Kpakimah
Women in Maritime for West and Central Africa (WIMOWCA) Liberia Chapter, in collaboration with the National Port Authority (NPA), Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NAFAA), Liberia International Ship and Corporate Registry (LISCR), National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), and partners, has commenced activities marking the 2026 International Day for Women in Maritime.
The observance considered a Career Mentorship Workshop for female senior high school students, as part of a one-day program which was held at the National Freeport Auditorium on Friday, May 15, 2026, brought together more than one hundred female students from 32 senior high schools across Monrovia and surrounding communities.
It was attended under the global theme, “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence,” and the national theme, “Empowering Liberian Women to Navigate Maritime Excellence.”Delivering the opening statement, WIMOWCA Liberia Chapter President Olivia Tah-Johnson said the initiative reflects a collective commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering the next generation of women leaders in the maritime sector.
“It is my honor to welcome you to the kickoff of the International Day for Women in Maritime celebration hosted by the Women in Maritime of West and Central Africa in collaboration with our implementing partners and sponsors,” Madam Tah-Johnson stated. She noted that the maritime career awareness and mentorship workshop was intended to expose young women to the diverse career opportunities available in the maritime industry, including ship navigation, marine engineering, maritime law, ocean science, fisheries, port management, and logistics.
According to her, many young people remain unaware of the vast opportunities within the maritime sector despite the industry serving as the backbone of global trade, transporting between 80 and 90 percent of the world’s goods by sea. “This workshop is designed to open your eyes to these possibilities in line with the International Maritime Organization’s Strategic Goals for 2024-2029, which emphasize sustainability, innovation, and human capacity development,” she added.
Madam Tah-Johnson emphasized that the celebration goes beyond policy discussions and seeks to create practical pathways for women and girls to actively participate and excel in maritime professions.
She further disclosed that under her leadership, the WIMOWCA Liberia Chapter envisions making maritime awareness programs sustainable through partnerships with institutions including UNICEF and UNESCO to introduce maritime education in Liberian high schools.
“This will help children learn about the ocean, understand how to preserve it, and take action against pollution and plastic waste,” she explained.
The WIMOWCA President also extended appreciation to implementing partners including the Liberia Maritime Authority, National Port Authority, Liberia International Ship and Corporate Registry, National Oil Company of Liberia, and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, as well as sponsors such as APM Terminals and Maersk Lines for supporting the initiative.
As part of the Day-One activities, students participated in mentorship sessions, interactive exercises, and a guided tour of the Freeport of Monrovia facilities. During the tour, the students visited APM Terminals where staff provided safety briefings and introduced them to port operations and maritime logistics activities. Speaking at the close of the program, student participant Joel Morgan praised the organizers for providing what he described as an impactful and educational experience that exposed students to new career possibilities within the maritime industry.
Also speaking on behalf of facilitators accompanying the students, Fedell Kofi Thomas, an instructor at Victory Chapel High School in Redlight, thanked the organizers and expressed hope that similar programs would be expanded to rural parts of Liberia to provide equal opportunities for young women outside Monrovia. The celebration indicates that the International Day for Women in Maritime was proclaimed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) through Resolution A.1170(32), adopted during the organization’s thirty-second session.
The observance, celebrated annually on May 18, aims to promote the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the maritime sector while reinforcing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Five on Gender Equality. The 2026 observance seeks to strengthen mentorship and capacity-building initiatives, encourage female participation in maritime professions, bridge the gap between policy formulation and implementation, and increase collaboration among maritime stakeholders.
Madam Tah-Johnson reveals that the overall objective of this year’s celebration is to promote the participation, empowerment, and advancement of women and girls in Liberia’s maritime sector through awareness, engagement, and collaboration while reducing institutional barriers and cultural stigmas affecting women’s participation in the industry.
The two-day celebration continues Monday, May 18, 2026 with with additional engagements involving women professionals, government institutions, NGOs, and international stakeholders focused on advancing gender equality and maritime excellence in Liberia.
