Yemisi Izuora
Women in Energy, oil and Gas (WEOG), is establishing stronger partnerships as it urges members to collaborate and explore more opportunities in the sector.
The call was re-echoed At the WEOG 2025 annual membership meeting and inauguration of new executives and members, held in Lagos on Friday, where stakeholders spoke on the theme— Collaborating for Sustainable Energy Future.
National Consultant, Private Sector Partnerships of UN Women, Dr. Hansatu Adegbite, while speaking said there are several initiatives nationally and globally for women to harness and progress in the field.
“There are affirmative procurement policies coming up in Nigeria, especially in Lagos State and Kaduna State. I believe that it will soon be national. Some call it gender-responsive affirmation or supplier diversity. It simply means that a certain percentage of public procurement contracts in the private sector should go to women-owned businesses.
“Currently in Nigeria, over $6.6 billion goes to procurement annually from the private sector, and less than 1 per cent of women-owned businesses benefit from that opportunity.
“The UN Women, World Bank are also helping to train and build the capacity of women to be able to handle procurements, as well as helping them with certifications that they need for that,” she stated.
Dr. Adegbite who is also an advisory board member of WEOG, called on the members and new executives to ensure a sound structure and positioning for the organisation.
Speaking on the significance of collaboration, she urged the women to take action and strengthen their advantage, either as consortiums or as experts in the field.
In her remarks, the immediate past and founding national president of WEOG, Dr Oladunni Owo, expressed confidence in women of the sector doing great works and getting more involved in the male-dominated oil industry.
Dr. Owo noted that in 2025, there would be more collaborations for capacity building, training, mentorship and business growth.
She said, “sustainable energy future for women at large in the industry. We will train them on how to form joint ventures that will last. We are also looking forward to leveraging this theme to also have both local, national and international collaboration. All geared towards closing the gender gap in the energy, oil and gas value chain and closing the energy economic gap.”
On the state of energy in Nigeria, Dr. Owo said the federal government has embarked on initiatives to ensure that Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in generating energy.
“The federal government is trying to increase production at upstream level, increase Nigerian content participation at midstream level. Also increase refining and local production of refined products in Nigeria. It is a work in progress. One day we will definitely get there,” she stated.
In her address, the new national president of WEOG, Engr. Tolu Longe enjoined members of the association to challenge the status quo, break down barriers, and rewrite the narrative of women in energy.
She charged them to support her administration with strengthened mentorship networks and internal collaborations for sustainability and technological advancements in the sector.
At the event, newly elected executives of chapters, sectors and the national level were inaugurated. Also, new members were inducted into the association.