The Board of Trustees of Women in Maritime and Energy (WIME) Awards, led by its Chairperson, Dr. Chizoba Anyika, paid a strategic courtesy visit to the Executive Director of Pan Ocean, Dr. Bolaji Ogundare, as part of preparations for the landmark WIME@5 celebration scheduled for March in commemoration of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026.

The visit formed part of WIME’s wider stakeholder engagement drive aimed at strengthening corporate partnerships and deepening industry collaboration to advance women’s leadership and participation across the maritime and energy sectors.

As WIME marks five years of recognising, empowering and amplifying women driving impact within the blue and energy economy, Dr Anyika underscored the critical role of institutional and corporate support in accelerating gender inclusion and ensuring sustainable sectoral growth.

Speaking during the visit, she described WIME@5 as more than a celebratory milestone, but a strategic platform for action.
“WIME@5 is not just about celebrating achievements; it is a call to industry leaders to intentionally create pathways for women to lead.

When women are empowered to contribute at decision-making levels, the maritime and energy sectors become more resilient, innovative and future-ready,” she said.

Discussions during the meeting focused on strategic partnership opportunities around WIME@5, strengthening female representation in technical and executive roles, fostering corporate collaboration to develop sustainable talent pipelines, and promoting inclusive growth within the blue and energy economy.

In his response, Dr Ogundare welcomed the WIME delegation and reaffirmed Pan Ocean’s commitment to initiatives that promote diversity, innovation and long-term value creation.

He noted that inclusive leadership remains essential to building a competitive and sustainable energy sector.WIME@5 is expected to be a defining moment, celebrating excellence, leadership and the transformative contributions of women across Nigeria’s maritime and energy industries.