Photo Caption Mrs Eyono Fatayi- Williams President, Women in Energy Network (WIEN)
WIEN’s resolute on defining true leadership in energy sector __Fatai-Williams
Sopuruchi Onwuka
Frontline gender equity advocate in the Nigerian petroleum industry, Women In Energy Network (WIEN) has declared solid commitment to priming up the knowledge and capacity of female professionals as part of uncompromising drive for diversity, equity and inclusion in the corporate leadership of the industry.
WIEN which hosted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos as part of its end of year events stated that it fostered numerous collaborations with organizations, individuals, and networks in line with its mission of knowledge sharing, empowering women and girls, and provision of value to the industry.
President of WIEN, Mrs Eyono Fatai-Williams, declared at the group’s 2024 Annual General Meeting that fostering growth through knowledge has always been central to its mission; stressing that by sharing knowledge WIEN aims to empower both individuals and communities.
Consequently, she stated, the group had in its programmes within the year emphasized collaborations and initiatives expanded local and foreign learning opportunities to enable members expand their knowledge, gain exposure and benefit from various mentoring programmes lined up across the activity plan.
The learning and mentorship programmes, she explained were conceived to groom global quality female professionals that would contribute to building a more inclusive and diverse energy sector in the country and beyond.
Mrs Fatai-Williams noted that WIEN’s drive to provide members with knowledge sharing opportunities entailed forging collaborations with local and international professional groups and institutions that hold the shared objectives of empowering women and girls with requisite capacity to play in leadership cadre of the industry.
“This commitment shines through our extensive lineup of webinars, masterclasses, health talks, and more. This year alone, we hosted a robust series of virtual events that provided our members with invaluable insights to propel their careers, businesses, and personal lives. Notably, we conducted our first two-part, three-day Masterclass on LPG in collaboration with WinLPG.
“One of the most significant achievements this year has been our vibrant collegiate community supporting young women in STEM, and a partnership with a Professor of the University Of Philippines for a long-term training session for our collegiates, a step forward in our mission to build a more inclusive and diverse energy sector,” Mrs Fatai-Williams told members of the group.
In providing relevant exposure and access to platforms of policy debate, the WIEN president pointed at the groups robust engagement with policy makers, regulators, industry captains and analyst at several local and international conferences within the year.
According to her, WIEN actively partnered and participated in several energy conferences and exhibitions, and industry events in the year, including the Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES), Sub-Sharan African International Petroleum Conference (SAIPEC), and the Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week.
She listed other conferences in which WIEN participated to include the Nigerian Oil ans Gas Opportunities Forum (NOGOF), the Nigerian Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Africa Energy Investment Outlook in London, the Offshore Trading and Logistics (OTL) Africa Downstream Week, and many others.
“WIEN also participated in her first ever international energy conference, Gastech in Houston. We have had the privilege of showcasing our network at these events, connecting with professionals in the field, promoting our women and raising awareness about our mission and the importance of women’s contributions to the energy sector. Our participation in these events has not only increased our visibility but also strengthened our network’s influence in the industry,” Mrs Fatai-Williams buttressed.
In one of its annual signature programmes, Mrs Fatai-Williams stated that WIEN took the lead in the celebration of the 2024 International Women’s Day (IWD), explaining that the group used the event to further expand its learning and experience sharing opportunities for members.
According to her, the IWD 2024 celebrations created the opportunity for WIEN to forge partnership with the American Business School and 100 Women in Finance on breakfast meeting.
Also as part of the IWD, she added, WIEN partnered Starz Investment Company for a career talk; and also partnered Eunisell Nigeria for a pep talk; all in line with the year’s IWD theme of “Inspire Inclusion.”
Madam President stated that the giant strides of WIEN in driving gender equity advocacy the industry and empowering professionals with learning, experience and mentorship opportunities have continued to earn the group plaudits, recognition and new membership within the year; resulting in the admission of several corporate and individual members.
“We welcomed a wave of new members this year, including our first corporate Gold Member, Aradel Holdings, who have joined us in our mission to empower and advance women in the energy sector. This is a testament to the incredible work we have done to foster a supportive community for women in the energy sector,” Mrs Fatai-Williams declared.
“Our dedication to knowledge sharing, empowering women and girls, and providing value to the women within our network and beyond has also fostered numerous collaborations with organizations, individuals, and networks that support our mission,” she added.
She paid glowing tribute to the group’s Board of Trustees (BOT), the Directors and members for playing outstanding roles in the WIEN achievements in the year. She particularly saluted the BOT and Directors of the group for exceptional leadership and guidance at ensuring the “smooth and effective functioning of our network.”
Mrs Fatai-Williams reminded the members of the prevailing challenges, stressing that “the journey to gender parity in energy and beyond is ongoing, and there’s still much work to be done. However, I am confident that with our continued resilience, collaboration, and determination, we will continue to shape the future of this industry, making it more inclusive, innovative, and inspiring for women everywhere.”
In projecting into the New Year, she urged the members to stand bold and draw ambitious agenda in “defining what leadership, empowerment, and success truly look like.”
“Our successes are a testament to what we can achieve when we come together, and I am confident that our future holds even greater promise,” she reminded members of the group, adding that the prime objective if the movement remains “brighter, more inclusive, and sustainable future for all.”
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