The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has increased financial support for women operating in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector as part of efforts to promote inclusion and address funding challenges faced by female entrepreneurs.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Felix Ogbe, announced the expansion during the third Diversity Sectorial Working Group Annual Women in Oil and Gas Conference held on Tuesday.
He said empowering women remains a key part of the board’s strategy for building local capacity in the industry.
Ogbe explained that the board created the Women in Oil and Gas Intervention Fund in partnership with the Bank of Industry to provide financial support for female-owned businesses across the sector.
The initiative was designed to help women gain access to affordable loans and resources needed to grow their companies.
According to him, the programme has already enabled several women-led businesses to acquire equipment, expand operations and play a more active role in the oil and gas value chain.
He noted that beneficiaries include companies involved in logistics and marine services, supply of safety equipment and environmental management services.
Ogbe said the intervention is helping reduce the financing gap that often limits women’s participation in the sector, adding that the support allows female entrepreneurs to move beyond participation and take on leadership roles within the industry.
Beyond financial assistance, the NCDMB has also introduced programmes aimed at strengthening the technical and business capacity of women in the sector. These initiatives include training, vendor development programmes and partnerships with financial institutions to provide both funding and business support.
The board has also partnered with training institutions such as the Petroleum Training Institute and other accredited centres to provide technical training opportunities for women interested in specialised roles within the industry.
One of the initiatives highlighted by the board involves training women in welding and fabrication through programmes conducted with industrial training centres in Rivers and Bayelsa states. Some graduates of these programmes are now working in fabrication yards and contributing to major oil and gas projects in the country.
Ogbe said these efforts demonstrate that empowering women is not only socially important but also critical for the long-term sustainability of the energy sector.
At the conference, which had the theme “Building Bridges, Empowering Women for a Sustainable Energy Future,” the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Michele Branco-Aiyegbusi, said the event was designed to push the industry beyond discussions and toward practical steps that encourage inclusion.
She noted that the theme highlights the need to address structural and cultural barriers that influence who participates and who leads in the oil and gas industry.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the NCCF Diversity Sectoral Working Group, Alero Onosode, said more women are gradually rising to leadership positions across Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
According to her, the industry is witnessing a growing number of female regulators, executives, engineers and policymakers who are contributing to decision-making and shaping the future of the sector.
During panel discussions at the conference, stakeholders called for stronger representation of women at all levels of the industry.
Meanwhile, the Director of the NNPC Academy, Folashade Adekeye, disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is preparing to launch a women-focused group aimed at supporting female professionals within the organisation. She said the initiative is expected to be unveiled on Monday.
