Sopuruchi Onwuka

Delegates from public and private sectors have restated their demand for policy and regulatory structures that guarantee gender balance in the leadership of the Nigerian energy sector and the domestic economy.

They also proposed expansion of corporate governance requirements for enhanced gender diversity in boards of government agencies and companies playing across sectors of the economy.

The call for optimization of female talents and gender balance in leadership positions became the conclusion of the first policy debate at the ongoing Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja.

Speakers comprising members of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet, industry captains and top professionals agreed on the urgent need to create more space for women in the leadership of government’s institutions and corporate boards.

They demanded that women should not just be accommodated in leadership positions but must be empowered to lead.

While ruling out any intention to compete with men, the speakers and panel discussants at the first session of NIES 2025 reiterated that gender balance in leadership of the energy industry has become urgent economic and developmental necessity.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Energy, Mrs Olu Verheijen, declared in her keynote address at the event that defining Africa’s energy future has made gender critical for the industry.

According to her, the poor representation of women in leadership of energy sector mirrors the limits of opportunity available for qualified women in the sector.

In seeking the understanding and partnership of men in dismantling biases and stereotypes that stall the growth of women, Mrs Verheijen called for cross gender mentorship that connects women to tall industry experiences.

The Presidential Advisor noted that partnership with men is required to enable the sponsorship and mentorship necessary for women to grow.

She also called for regulations that encourage companies to embrace gender balance in their corporate culture.

Managing Director of Transnational Corporation, Dr Owen Omogiafo, who also delivered a speech at the event, pointed out that women in the country have already proved their mettle by efficiently delivering excellence in their different roles.

Also speaking in a separate keynote address, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, stated that women are critical to Africa’s vision of leading energy transformation.

She added that women would also remain in the forefront of Nigeria’s economic transformation, warning that excluding female capacity might impact Nigeria’s ongoing effort to lead Africa’s economic growth.

In the panel debate session that followed keynote speeches at the event, Managing Director of Aftrac Limited, Ms Patricia Simon-Hart, pointed at some of the challenges facing women in the energy industry; biases and isolation in male dominated sector leave women with limited opportunities.

The need to overcome isolation and create gender specific networking platforms gave reason for creation the Women in Energy Network (WIEN).

According to her, it has remained difficult for male clients to trust women led businesses with efficient delivery of technical services.

She however noted that some women have broken the barriers by bringing real solutions to operating challenges and remaining very professional.

Mrs Ijeoma Bassey of Chevron Nigeria Limited pointed at cultures that deprive women of inheriting properties as crippling, noting that lack of collateral creates impediments to funding access.

Mrs Bassey stated that having access to collateral would allow women access to funding needed to create phenomenal wealth.

Managing Director of Nepal Limited, Barr Ngozi Ekeoma, noted that women have demonstrated enormous capacity in operating across the full industry chain.

She called for policies that would enable women take opportunities and thrive in the industry.

She advised business rookies in the industry to explore funding partnerships, build their credit rating, ship long term loans and earn the partnership of their bankers.