NCDMB Inaugurates New Women Group, Fund for Women in Oil Sector

…WIEN backs move, seeks support

-By Gideon Osaka

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has inaugurated a Diversity Sectorial Working Group as well as a Fund for women practitioners in the oil and gas sector.

Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote announced the inauguration of the new Diversity Sectorial Working Group as well as a new gas value chain group on June 24, 2020.

Giving reasons for the inauguration of the gas value chain group, the Executive Secretary stated that the Board believes that the future of fossil fuels is in maximizing gas development and utilization.

Engr. Wabote also mentioned that the creation of the diversity SWG was a product from the women in oil & gas workshop organized by the Board in October 2019. He hinted that the aim of the Diversity SWG is to improve the participation of women in the industry as well as to promote an all inclusive gender policies.

He reiterated that by mainstreaming women in the oil and gas industry the sector engenders greater growth of the economy. In his words, ”I am convinced that if we mainstream women in the oil and gas industry, we are going to achieve a lot.”

He announced that a portion of the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCIF) domiciled with the Bank of Industry will set aside fund to support women operating in the oil & gas industry.

Members of the Diversity SWG include Alero Onosode representing Seplat Petroleum Development Company; Patricia Simon Hart, representing Aftrac Limited; Pricilla Thorpe-Monclus, representing MRS Oil Limited and Audrey Joe-Ezigbo, representing Falcon Oil and Gas Corporation Limited.

Others are Michele Aiyegbusi, representing SLC Resources Limited; Nkechi Obi, representing Techno Oil Limited; Margaret Okojokwu, representing Majorwaves Energy Report, Anita Okuribido from Similling Simon Limited and Oladunni Owo, representing Blackgold Authorities.
Reacting to the inauguration, the Women in Energy Network (WIEN), a leading association of women in the energy sector expressed excitement over the inauguration of the Diversity Sectorial Working Group as well as the Fund for women in the oil and gas sector.

President Women in Energy Network (WIEN) & Managing Director Zigma Limited Funmi Ogbue (Mrs.) thanked the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote for approving the addition of the Diversity SWG to the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum (NCCF), where the interests of all practitioners in the oil and gas sector are represented.

“For us at WIEN, the creation of the Diversity SWG not only represents the interest of women in the oil and gas sector but recognizes the importance of diversity to the sector,” Ogbue said in a statement.

“On behalf of the board and members of WIEN, I wish to also appreciate the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva as well as Executive Secretary, NCDMB, for making history with the appointment of Mrs. Peace Oyanbo Owei, representing the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, as the first ever female member of the Governing Council of the NCDMB which was inaugurated on June 11.“