Nigeria to bid for 2015 International Women’s Shipping Conference

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Mrs Jean Chiazor-Anishere, the President of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Nigeria, has urged the Federal Government to support its bid to host the global association in 2015.
Chiazor-Anishere told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that the security challenges in the country might have been the reason Nigeria lost the 2013 hosting right for the women’s conference to Canada.
She, however, said that Nigeria might have to contest against China for the 2015 hosting right.
The association’s president said the votes were against Nigeria because some foreign members of the association envisaged that their governments might not give them the insurance to come to Nigeria.
“I can only say that the votes were against us, but I could only speculate that we lost because of the security issues in Nigeria because approaching other members – U.S., Greeks – we were told that the government might not give them insurance should we win.
“You can imagine having to host the world here in Lagos and you just have about two countries or three countries participating in international conference. That would be the poorest attendance.
I think we lost because of that. We are not giving up. We believe that winners don’t quit and quitters never win and in that slogan, we will continue.
“2015 is open. 2014 has been taken by Cyprus. China and Cyprus made presentations, bidded and China lost to Cyprus against 2014. So, all roads will lead to Cyprus in 2014 and we have 2015 that is open.
“I know that china is making proposal to make another bid for 2015 and Nigeria is looking at 2015 as well. I might not be the President of WISTA Nigeria that time but should my predecessors want to take another bold step, I will still be a member of WISTA Nigeria and I will give all support to ensure that we do win the bid.“
Anishere said that for Nigeria to bid for another hosting, it would have to start planning from now.
She pleaded with government to appreciate the efforts being made by the association, adding that the minister of transport, who was among the Advisory Council of the association, had been supporting the association tremendously.
WISTA has chapters in 28 countries and Nigeria is one of the countries.

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