Female energy titans proffer solution to talent flight
- Commit to ethical values, high standards in the industry
Sopuruchi Onwuka
The African petroleum industry has the opportunity to harness the abundant capabilities and skills in combating the talent flight that has overwhelmed the sector. Thus, the prevailing need recommends diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as crucial component of operating policy across the continent.
Female industry stalwarts and experience leaders who empanelled a policy debate at an industry conference in Lagos declared that the dexterity of women at work would continue to remain the biggest asset for the African energy industry.
Speakers including Mrs Patricia Simon-Hart, Ibiyemi Asaolu, Elizabeth Rogo, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Funmi Ogbue and Dr Ibilola Amao all agrred that women have become the custodians of professional ethics and high standards in a male dominate industry culture.
Presidential Adviser on Energy, Mrs Olu Verheijen, whose address was delivered at the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC), declared that diversity and inclusion in the industry leadership and labour force have become urgent in the face of opportunities brought on by enhanced fiscal incentives provided for players by governments in the continent.
Mrs Verheijen whose keynote address was delivered by Toju Shobajo stressed that Africa is ready for business while Nigeria in particular is open for new investments.
She noted that the present administration of President Bola Tinubu has churned out a set of fiscal incentives that unlock both investments and jobs for the domestic economy, adding that the incentives form veritable tools that would propel local services providers housed in the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) to spread their reach across Africa and take position in the global space.
Mrs Verheijen who is a prominent member of the Women in Energy Network (WIEN) however pointed at the prevailing talent drain in the continent as youths emigrate in droves, arguing that the situation provides opportunity for the industry to harness the underutilized potential of women in driving the sector forward.
She made it clear that engaging women with critical roles in the industry does not translate to indulgence, asserting that women are eminently qualified for leadership roles and also earn any position they occupy.
In making strong argument for the industry to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in distribution of opportunities, Mrs Verheijen strongly asserted that equity has become of strategic necessity in proposing a business case for the energy industry.
In regretting that its vibrant youth population for which Africa is proud is being lost emigration, the president’s advisor lamented that talent flight has beset the continent at a time government is providing fiscal and policy support to enable Nigeria consolidate its position to lead growth in the industry.
Presidential Adviser on Energy, Mrs Olu Verheijen
She called for intra-continental local content collaboration that harnesses the capacity, skills and experiences of female professionals in realizing policy aspirations for the energy sector.
In proffering solution to the skill gaps in the industry, the Managing Director of Aftrac Limited, Mrs Patricia Simon-Hart, called on the government to provide policy stability to stem the mass emigration causing talent depletion in the domestic energy industry.
In advising women to advance their experience and knowledge base through continuous learning, Mrs Hart stressed the need for professionals to be flexible and adaptable to varying work situations and challenges. He made it clear that preparation makes use of the opportunities that fall into pathways.
She also pointed out the need for employees to acquire versatile experiences by taking workplace challenges, explaining that acquired experiences form critical pedigree in establishing own businesses.
“It is important to be flexible and prepared for opportunities that come,” she advised, adding that it is also important to work smarter that work harder.
For Mrs Ibiyemi Asaolu, women must realize that work place competition is more crucial for career development than external competition. She advised that while ladies to develop healthy workplace culture that focuses on excellence.
Engr Elizabeth Rogo from Kenya who narrated her experiences while growing in the midst of male colleagues made it clear that women earn great respect at workplace when they display competence and resilience.
To be resilient, she advised employees to always put themselves in the shoes of the business owner and become courageous, strategic and assume exceptional responsibilities.
Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan who retired from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited asked younger professionals in the industry to be focused on self improvement and development in order to be prepared for opportunities.
She called on the indigenous players in the industry to collaborate in order to bring more solutions for operators. She pointed at the state of some of the assets recently acquired by some indigenous operators is so deplorable that the future of the industry in the hands of indigenous players is at risk.
Managing Director of Lonadek Limited, Dr Ibilola Amao, called for continuous professional development for players in the continuously changing energy industry. This, according to her, would require the cooperation, sponsorship and mentorship of more privileged male colleagues to achieve.
Dr Amao stressed the need to stick to standards and maximize values along the full industry chain.
In response to a contribution from the founding President of WIEN who raised issues from the floor, the panel agreed on the need for the few women who find themselves in leadership positions to display high ethical values and professional standards in order to stand out in a male dominated industry culture.
They also called on women walking through qualification requirements to also be patient, confident and diligent in checking all the boxes in qualifying for every opportunity that avails in the industry. They made it clear that there are ethical ways of leveraging collaboration and networks in accessing opportunities.
