Head, Clearing and Forwarding, SIFAX Group, Ololade Tifase (centre left); receiving the Distinguished Gender Inclusion Award from the United Nations Consultant on Maritime, Dr. Felicia Mogo (centre right), at the Chamber of Shipping 4th Women in Maritime and Shipping Conference held in Lagos. They are flanked from the left by the Director-General Nigeria Chamber of Shipping, Mrs Vivian Chimezie Azubuike, HSE Officer, SIFAX Group, Ayomide Oluwasanya; and from the right, HR Specialist, SIFAX Group, Ms. Precious Alozie and Head Stevedoring,SIFAX Group,  Mrs. Pat Nwaogwugwu

SIFAX Group has won the Distinguished Gender Inclusion Award at the just-concluded 2025 Women in Maritime and Shipping Conference, organised by the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping on Friday, May 30, 2025. 

The prestigious award, presented during the high-profile event in Lagos, is the only recognition conferred at the annual conference and is reserved for a single organisation that has made significant strides in promoting gender inclusion within the maritime industry.  

According to the organizers, SIFAX Group was selected for its unwavering commitment to bridging the gender gap and creating an enabling environment for women to thrive in the sector. 

“This award recognises the outstanding efforts of SIFAX Group in driving gender inclusivity in maritime space. Their leadership, support, and practical initiatives continue to open doors for women across various levels of the industry,” said the Director-General of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Mrs. Vivian Chimezie-Azubuike during the presentation. 

Receiving the award on behalf of the company, Head of Clearing and Forwarding at Ports & Cargo Handling Services (a subsidiary of SIFAX Group), Ololade Dawodu, expressed gratitude to the organisers and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to gender equity. 

“Wesincerely appreciate the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping for this honour. At SIFAX Group, gender inclusion is not just a concept; it is a core part of our organisational culture. We will continue to champion initiatives that give women equal opportunities to grow and thrive in the maritime sector,” she said. 

The event featured a lineup of esteemed speakers and stakeholders from both national and international maritime bodies. Notably, representatives from the International Maritime Organisation IMO, Lloyd’s Register, the International Chamber of Shipping, and several African maritime associations joined the conference virtually, lending global weight to the occasion. 

SIFAX Group was also specially featured during the conference, with segments highlighting the company’s policies, impact stories, and initiatives that continue to empower women in the sector. 

The award not only affirms SIFAX Group’s role as a trailblazer in gender equity but also reinforces the growing recognition of inclusive practices as key to the sustainable growth of the maritime industry.