To address the challenge of funding for women participation in the oil and gas industry, the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with the Nigerian Export Import (NEXIM) Bank, has earmarked a total of $40million intervention fund for the purpose.
Its Executive Secretary, Simbi Wabote, made this known yesterday in Abuja at the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) second Annual General Meeting/Lecture Series.The theme of the meeting was: “Diversity & inclusiveness in human capital development.”According to Wabote in a virtual goodwill message, there is no gender bias at the NCDMB.
He added that activities in the board are all-inclusive, stressing that it provides genders equal opportunities.
The Executive Secretary said: “At the NCDMB there is no gender bias as it is all inclusive and provides equal opportunities for applicants and beneficiaries.
“The Board has also initiated and executed other interventions to promote diversity inclusiveness.
“These interventions are done in partnership with the Bank of Industry. Others are facilitated by the Nigerian Export Import Bank. One of the challenges of the participation of women in the oil and gas could be the non-availability of funds. It was in the bid to address this challenge that the board established the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund.
“Furthermore, to provide the same chance for women in the oil and gas industry, the board partnered with NEXIM bank to establish a $20million fund that was matched with additional $20million by NEXIM bank to provide better fund, bringing the funds available to women in oil and gas industry to $40million.”
On the theme, Wabote recalled that to address issues of diversity at the agency, it established the diversity sectoral group.
He noted that the Board has organised several events targeted at women and the community to promote women inclusiveness.
He pledged that the Board will continue to promote human capacity development across various spheres of the energy sector.
