NCDMB to raise female quotient in oil industry training

Begins disbursement of $40m Women Fund

Sopuruchi Onwuka

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) will formally require operating companies in the Nigerian petroleum industry to increase the proportion women in their regular human development programmes, including courses that prepare employees for executive management positions.

The board is also working with the Nigerian Export Import (NEXIM) Bank and the Diversity Sectoral Working Group of the Nigerian Content Consultative Forums (NCCF) to fine tune processes for optimum utilization of the $40 million credit lines provided for Nigerian female entrepreneurs in the petroleum industry.

Executive Secretary, Engr Simbi Wabote, said the NCDMB would also accelerate already running programmes designed to facilitate education, training, internship and other skills development initiatives that would boost the capacity of young women to advance their careers in the petroleum industry.

The new interventions form part of the key outcomes of the Nigerian Women in Oil and Gas Conference on “Leveraging Opportunities for Women in the Oil and Gas Industry” which was hosted at Eko Hotels and Suites in the week.

The conference was organised by the NCDMB in partnership with the Diversity Sectoral Working Group of the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum (NCCF), which was set up by the NCDMB to advise it on policy directions.

The summit which was organized to address critical cultural issues and workplace practices that hinder the advancement of women towards industry leadership positions featured presentations from high profile delegates including the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nigerian National Petroleum company (NNPC) Limited, Senator Marjorie Chuba-Okadigbo; banking chiefs, industry captains, leaders of professional groups and eminent industry thought leaders.  

The delegates at the conference jointly called for dismantling of cultural and traditional barriers that limit women to subordinate and supportive roles to their male counterparts in the petroleum industry which speakers describe as male dominated.

They pointed out that cultural bias has weighed against women in the country from cradle stages; shaping their viewpoints and life expectations, and shaking their confidence to aspire for greater accomplishments.

In addressing the concerns raised at the conference, Engr Wabote pointed out that government was already aware of the challenges faced by women in the industry and would continue to evolve measures and interventions to create smoother pathways to enhance the capacity of women to contribute to national development.

The determination to address critical concerns regularly churned out by the women, he said, led to creation of gender centric stakeholder working group that would continue to promote diversity and inclusiveness in the industry.

He pointed at statistics that show grim lopsidedness against women in leadership positions in the industry and attributed it to capacity gaps that must be closed through deliberate policies and implementation strategies.

In outlining measures the NCDMB has evolved to address gender balancing in capacity building opportunities, Engr Wabote announced plans to set a minimum percentage of females that must be included in any human capacity development (HCD) programme or any other initiative that the board would approve for firms operating in the domestic petroleum industry.

He said the new regulatory requirement would be worked out with stakeholders and activated for industry application as soon as possible. 

In one of the panel sessions at the conference, eminent industry geologist and Chairman of AA Holdings, Mr Austin Avuru, had pointed at access to capital as one of the greatest challenges for women’s advancement in the industry.

Engr Wabote responded that processes are being worked out with managers of the $40 million Women in Energy Fund which the NCDMB set up in partnership with the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) to provide cheaper and easier dollar denominated credit lines for oil women.

He noted that whereas many applications have been received for loans, only three have been approved for imminent disbursement.  He added that the online portal for the fund launched two weeks ago would speed up and reduce human interface in the application and processing. 

To enhance women’s access to funding, he commended their inclusion in the administration of the various Trusts and Funds established by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021; including the Host Community Development Trust Fund and Environmental Remediation Fund.

Providing an update on the administration of the Women in Energy Fund, the Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Mr. Abba Bello explained that applicants would need to meet set criteria before they can access the fund.

“It is a loan and not a grant and applicants have to meet the conditions, so we can achieve the intended purpose,” he said.

Mr Bello’s remarks at the event were delivered by the Head Specialised Products at the Bank, Mr. Mohammed Aumiz, who explained that it would henceforth take only 22 days process loans for qualified applicants.