Concerns have been raised regarding the gender composition of the newly appointed board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), as only one woman is among the 11 members.
President Bola Tinubu’s recent appointments include Lydia Shehu Jafiya, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, as the sole female representative.
Notably, her position is institutional rather than an independent selection, highlighting a significant gender imbalance.
The Women in Energy Network (WIEN) has expressed disappointment over this underrepresentation. WIEN President, Eyono Fatayi-Williams, emphasized that the absence of women on the NNPC board not only perpetuates gender imbalance but also overlooks the significant contributions of Nigerian women in the energy sector.
She urged the administration to align with the National Gender Policy, which advocates for at least 35% female representation in government appointments.
“Despite the president’s progressive agenda for his administration, the board’s lack of sufficient female representation is a stark contradiction to the commitment of ensuring 35 per cent gender representation in leadership positions, as outlined in his plan,” she stated.
In addition to maintaining a gender imbalance, she claims that the lack of women on the NNPC board ignores the crucial role that Nigerian women have played and now play in the energy industry.
“Women in Nigeria have consistently demonstrated excellence and innovation in energy-related fields, making significant contributions to the industry’s growth and development. Yet, their voices remain under-represented in the key decision-making spaces,” she stressed.
