Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Executive Secretary, Simbi K. Wabote has said that the global oil and gas industry still remains one of the least gender-diverse sectors today.
Making this known at the recently completed one-day workshop for women in the oil and gas industry organized by the board which held recently with the theme “Mainstreaming Women into the Oil and Gas Industry”, Wabote said although women comprise quite a considerable number of talent pool that makes up the oil and gas sector, more men occupy within the sector.
“The oil and gas sector as a whole is in need of a better gender balance.
“It is also important to highlight that there is a great need to have a gender-balanced workforce by nurturing female talents in this male-dominated environment. This can be achieved by creating the right culture such as including more women in leadership roles in the industry.” Wabote said in her keynote address during the workshop.
However, talking about the various feats of black in different fields of life especially in the oil and gas industry “History has shown us time and time again how intelligent and powerful women are. They have excelled in various fields; Without Katherine Johnson, Neil Armstrong would not make his historic step on the moon. He did because, Katherine calculated the trajectories that made it possible; Margaret Bourke– White, made treatment and study of cancerous diseases easy. This was due to her treatment innovations and contribution to chemotherapy, that the reduced the need for surgery. Also, without Paula Hammond, soldiers would have been losing their limbs or die of wounds faster, but for her ground-breaking nanotechnology techniques.
“Something is unique about all these women I have mentioned thus far, who can tell us? They are all black women!
“Now let us bring it home to oil and gas; Reba Masterson was a pioneer female geologist and an astute entrepreneur in the oil and gas industry. So hostile was the environment for women in early 1900s, she walked around with a pistol, she was a renowned geologist who used her knowledge of microfossils, to retain her rights for the minerals under the soil, while she sold the surface of the land she bought in Texas.
“Similarly, we have many Nigerian women who have occupied positions in various fields and made us proud. Katherine Shedu, the great machinist, has trained so many people, in a so-called “man’s field”, which has earned her the Iron Lady, with a whopping over 26 years as a machinist in Nigerdock. We were fascinated in her journey and had to run a feature on her in our Local Content Digest quarterly magazine” Simbi Wabote said.
“It’s essential to draw up a “things to do” list on a daily basis and set priorities in executing them, making sure that any unfinished task get posted to the next day’s list” she said taking a cue from Nigeria’s richest woman who also is an active player in the oil and gas industry, Folorunso Alakija.
The Executive Secretary, Simbi k. Wabote said on the global scale, women make up about 15% of the workforce in the oil and gas industry. This is considerably smaller than most major industries; finance, manufacturing, construction etc.
However, despite the low representation, women in the oil and gas industry are making their mark. They also have better representation in the management and CEO levels.
”The time to act is now. I am optimistic that there is a bright future for females in the industry” Wabote Said.
Talking about the role of NCDMB, she said “For us in NCDMB, we are determined to play our role in Human Capacity Development. Part of the Board’s strategy for implementing the NOGICD Act is development and implementation of its Capacity Development Initiatives.
“Our capacity building interventions includes deepening indigenous capabilities in the areas of Human Capital Development, Infrastructure & Facilities, Manufacturing, and Local Supplier Development.
“Out of the total number trained by the Board, women constitute about 20% of the trainees and we hope to increase the number of women trained to meet up the industry skilled labour demand and we will also do more to encourage women to participate more the oil and gas industry across the country”
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