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Federal government has continued to express the role of women in creating enduring values in the nation’s petroleum industry despite all misconceptions.
Authority Chief Executive (ACE) of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr Farouk Ahmed, declared at the ongoing Oil Trading and Logistics (OTL) conference in Lagos that women have proved to be a strong force in propelling growth in the industry.
He pointed at performance of companies operated by women in the industry as exceptional in compliance to policies driving growth in the industry, adding that professional groups like the Women IN Energy Network (WIEN) continue to provide leadership, policy alternatives and well primes workforce for the industry.
He commended Women In Energy Network (WIEN) for showcasing its initiatives at the on-going 16th edition of the African Downstream Week holding in Lagos, adding that the group displayed appreciable pool of strength at its exhibition stand.
Engr Ahmed who made the remarks in company of other special guests on Monday when they visited WIEN exhibition booth at the three-day showpiece expressed delight at the efforts of WIEN to promote activities that are supportive of the growth of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria and Africa.
The WIEN booth was one of few stands visited by Ahmed and his team as part of the opening ceremony of the event.
The NMDPRA CEO and his team were received by the Executive Secretary of WIEN, Asanimo Omezi, who explained to them the concept behind the emergence of professional women group. She told the visitors that WIEN is an association established to provide a platform for women that work across the energy sector value chain; to network and build confidence and links to progress their careers or businesses.
Omezi thanked them for deeming it necessary to visit the stand, adding that the group’s presence at the Expo is to partner with the organizers.
The WIEN Booth received many visitors, including female and male from within and outside of the industry who wanted to know about the professional women group
Also, while speaking during a short interview with the WIEN DIGEST, Omezi said WIEN’s presence at the exhibition is another opportunity to let the industry operators “know why we exist.”
Also, we are partners with OTL because it is a major element in the oil and gas sector. They approached us to partner with them and exhibit. That is why we are here.
“We do not speak about women alone; men are also part of what we are doing. We talk about inclusivity even though we are focusing on the women inclusiveness because it is the women that have not benefited from the male-dominated sector. We are not just women component, we also need the men component,” she said.
OTL Africa Downstream is dedicated to promoting and developing business, policy and operational relationships in the downstream energy value chain.
It achieves its goal through industry research, advocacy, business-to-business and business-to-government cooperation and capacity-building.
Its flagship initiative, the OTL Africa Downstream Week, holds in the last quarter of every year.
Source: WIEN DIGEST