As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria has donated a fishing boat to women in Osoroko community in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.
While presenting the boat, the President of WISTA Nigeria, Mrs. Eunice Ezeoke, asserted that the boat is the association’s contribution in the spirit of supporting blue economy which has become prominent in Nigeria.
Her words: “We are here to accomplish one of WISTA Nigeria’s CSR which is the donation of a fishing boat to women in Osoroko community. We chose this community because they are prolific in fishing and also trading snails, prawns, crayfish, among other seafoods.”
“There are lots of resources in marine ecosystem and we are empowering these women to be able to tap into these opportunities. Of course, we are also concerned about preserving the marine environment.”
WISTA Nigeria also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the community in a bid to support the expand the marketing and value-chain of the fishing operators.
“This is simply a draft MoU that will be fine-tuned over the next few weeks because we developed the MoU hurriedly after our visit last Saturday,” Ezeoke said.
While receiving the boat, the Olosoroko of Osoroko Kingdom, Oba Olusegun Ebenezer Oyiri, in company of his beautiful Oloris and community leaders, lavishly thanked WISTA Nigeria for the kind gesture.
Oba Olusegun stated that crayfish is the mainstay of the community’s economy, however, he encouraged WISTA to partner with the women in the community to add value and export crayfish.
“Osoroko can be a hub for crayfish business in Lagos and a center for partnership with WISTA. However, my dream is that our women can be able to export crayfish and we will appreciate if WISTA can extend its partnership to realize this,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Supervisor for Agriculture and Community Affairs, Lekki local council development areas (LCDAs), Hon. Adeleke Olabanjo, described the Osoroko community as a privileged one as the first beneficiary of the WISTA boat among the Lekki LCDAs.
On her part, the Vice President of WISTA Nigeria, Mrs. Anna Akpan, expressed delight that the community women were are already gainfully engaged in fishing.
“You can see that the women here are industrious. What we have done is empower them to do more. Every woman should be encouraged to be better,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the WISTA Diamonds, Mrs. Carol Ufere, stressed that WISTA had done several commendable CSR projects even outside Lagos, but described the Osoroko CSR outing as a climax with the traditional ruler to witness it.
“The donation of the boats also coincides with the end of the tenure of the current President. You can see that the community is alive and brimming with activities including their cultural dance and seafood. The women should put the boats to good use so that the community will enjoy the benefits,” Ufere remarked.
