The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has decried that only 18 per cent of the workforce in country’s extractive industry are women.
The which made case for higher level of female participation in the oil and gas sector, also lamented the lack of gender balance in managerial positions as all top high level management positions in the industry are dominated by men.
Executive Secretary/CEO, NEITI, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, made these known on Friday in Abuja at the commemoration of 2024 International Women’s Day (IWD) agency.
The 2024 IWD campaign has its theme as “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”.
The International Women’s Day is celebrated globally every March 8 by advocating for equity, inclusivity, gender justice, wider opportunities for women, career advancement without discrimination and security in work environment.
Orji said in its 2021 oil and gas industry report employment data, from 56 out of 70 oil companies disclosed that out of 19,171 employees, 15,639 or 82 per cent are men while 3,532 or 18 per cent are women.
“The disclosure is far from the national average of 35 per cent. From the same gender balance data, all top high level management positions in the industry are dominated by men.
“And in NEITI, out of five Chairs of NEITI Board so far, one and in-fact the founding Chair is a woman. And of four Executive Secretaries/CEOs so far, one is a woman.
“And to highlight the special accomplishments of women, only the two women that headed NEITI, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili and Dr Zainab Ahmed were elevated from NEITI to Ministers while one landed top positions later at the World Bank.
He said the EITI standards particularly required implementing countries to promote greater diversity in decision making, document and publicly disclose women participation, gender, social, environmental issues in the extractive Industries.
According to him, EITI Reports are also required to highlight the risks that women are confronted with in rural host communities where oil, gas and mining exploration activities take place.
Also at the event was the director general, Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who was the Special Guest of Honour to mark NEITI’s 2024 IWD celebration tagged “Inspired Inclusion’’.
Dabiri-Erewa, in a presentation tagged “Women in the Work Environment – Opportunities, Risks and Challenges” said being a career woman could be very challenging but women should always aim to overcome with determination.
She encouraged women to avoid being held down, inferiority, not to entertain fear in the line of duty rather to uphold integrity, self-respect, discipline and show determination and strength.
Dabiri-Erewa, who urged women to strive for inclusiveness and equitable society said women should deal with principles and should not be afraid of criticism as they pursued their goals in life.
Above all, the NiDCOM boss advised women to create a balance between their careers and family life adding that any women who fails at raising decent children have not succeeded much.
Also speaking, Head, Gas Processing Plant and Installation, Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Falmata Kwaku, called for mentorship, support and building a community that could uplift women and creating inclusive environment.
In her remarks, Assistant Team Lead, Gender and Environment, NEITI Stephanie Etareri, reiterated its commitment to promote gender justice across the value chain in the extractive sector.
Etareri hoped that Dabiri-Arewa’s speech would inspire changes in the dynamics of the gender inclusion.