Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo and energy experts have said the nation’s oil and gas sector would drastically improve, if women were given more opportunity to play critical role in the sector.
The stakeholders made the statement at the maiden Department of Petroleum Resource Woman-in-PENGASSAN in Abuja.
Tallen, who canvassed for opportunity for women, noted that the roles of women in building the nation must be prioritised.
According to her, there was need for women to be supported and empowered, and that the number of women playing roles in the oil and gas sector could increase.
She said: “One day and very soon, I want to see a woman leading DPR. It is the first time we see women on the board of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. There are more women, who have the capacity to lead different departments.”
Expressing satisfaction at the roles women are playing in the oil and gas sector, Osifo said, “They can do more.”
In his view, women have contributed greatly to the oil sector’s development, as they currently take charge of some oil firms as Chief Executive Officers.
He said: “We have women across board of different oil companies, both private and public. The oil and gas sector is outpacing other agencies in terms of women inclusion in key positions.
“Can we do more? The answer clearly is yes we can. I want to see a situation whereby, if you take 20 oil and gas companies, you will see women leading about 50 per cent of them.”
He, however, admitted that some situations could prevent women in some areas of oil operations, especially in exploration, where people may need to spend almost a month in the field.
“A woman may not want to go to the field to spend 28 days. A woman may not want to even spend 14 days, especially when she has a home to take care of. Women should be deployed to operations for them to visit once in a while,” he said.
The convener, Obioma Uzoigwe, noted that the award was necessary to honour women’s contribution in the oil and gas sector, as well as in national development.
She equally noted that women have been instrumental in training and empowering society to tackle poverty in the country.
“Poverty will end, if you and I decide to help one another. The main focus is to stand up and empower women across the world,” she stated.
The awardees included Auwalu Sarki, Director, DPR, Simon Achuba, former deputy Governor, Kogi State, Abua Owan, DPR Branch Chairman, PENGASSAN, Hajiya Tijani, State Minister of FCT, Wilkie Roselyn Tinuke, DPR Zonal Operations Controller, Abuja, Lilian Nkiru Ifondu, DPR Head Finance and Account, Bassey Dorothy, Former Head of Public Affairs Unit, DPR, and Ijeoma Onyeri, First Female Head, Downstream.
Others are Lady Ada Chukwudozie, Managing Director, Dozzy Oil & Gas Ltd, Dr. Ihezuo Nkeiru, former commissioner of education, Gombe State, Nkechi Obi, Managing Director Techno Oil & Gas Ltd, Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN, Bello Garuba, Former DPR Branch Chairman, Ikegwuonu Patricia, former DPR Branch Chairperson, WIP and Ruth Akali, former DPR Kaduna Zonal, WIP.
SOURCE: guardian.ng