Interview with Lieutenant-Colonel José-Nicole Kouadio Ake, a woman with a passion for the sea

Today, the lack of awareness of maritime activities, as well as the weight of sociocultural traditions that prevails in careers at sea, which are considered as male bastions, have left little room for women in this environment. So, why did you choose this profession?

José-Nicole Kouadio Ake – When I’m asked this question, I often reply with a smile. What was initially simply an objective, to find a job, became a passion over time. I was inquisitive and ready to open up my mind to a world that few women joined at that time. I felt the urge to discover what this world held.

Your CV is impressive and your career path is equally so. You hold a position with a great deal of responsibility. You didn’t get there by chance: what academic path did you decide to follow?

The National School of Administration of Abidjan, with the option maritime and port affairs. Without knowing it, I was opening the doors to a complex world that is as vast as the ocean. It is a difficult but absolutely fascinating world, made up of both weak and strong people, because you need to be strong to beat the odds and so much more so when you’re a woman. Beyond the academic aspect of my training, I was also attracted by the prestige of the uniform. It must be said that people are intrigued and fascinated by a woman in uniform, especially in an environment where women are underrepresented and where men rule.

Indeed, as you address the issue of women again, how do you view the situation today compared to when you started out in the sector?

Thankfully, the world is changing its course. The time has come for women in their entirety and all their diversity. The maritime world is opening up to women: the UN has made it a Sustainable Development Goal and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), through its programmes and its support for women in the sector, contributes to reducing inequalities.

Tell us a little bit about your activity. Today, what inspires you in your profession?

As Administrator of Maritime and Port Affairs, in a coordination structure for the activities of civil and military administrations with competence at sea, I’m involved in the design, development and implementation of national and international maritime policies for maritime security and safety, the protection of the marine environment, the development of the maritime economy and the intensification of international cooperation. I’ve made it a way of life: my love for my work, my passion for the maritime world, my sadness at the damage inflicted on the marine environment and its ecosystem are the essence of my professional life.

And what about the WeCAPS project in all this?

As part of my activities, I’m required to monitor the implementation of cooperation projects. This is why my line manager appointed me as focal point for the WeCAPS project. This European Union project, which is implemented by Expertise France, provides support to West and Central African countries with the aim of improving port security, safety and governance. Ivorian ports, which are real drivers for the Ivorian economy, are fully committed to the success of such a project, which can only contribute to securing and strengthening their strategic positions.

Supporting the participation of women in the WeCAPS project is a major challenge as women working in the maritime and port sector are also models for gender equality. This encourages women and girls to stand up for their own rights and pursue a career in this sector. Do you have a message to give them in this respect?

For the women of today, our strength again and again lies in getting the job done right, in our professional competence and in the quest for well-being. Beyond this aspect, I nevertheless maintain my role as a woman and mother, concerned about the future of my daughters and goddaughters. I try to instil in them the love of a job well done.

Your final word?

Our fight for women’s empowerment requires us to be strong, resilient and dynamic women. For me, being a woman is far from being a handicap, I’m proud of it. I’m proud to be a woman and proud to be a woman in the maritime and port world.

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Today, women’s empowerment is essential for expanding economic growth and promoting social development. WeCAPS is consequently working to promote development assistance focusing on women and equal opportunities for women, in order to have a strong impact on the economic and social resilience of the partner countries of the project.

To find out more, consult the WeCAPS project sheet

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