-By PENGASSAN
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) strongly believes in the protection of the rights of every Nigerian, including those working in the Oil and Gas industry.
On this occasion of the 2021 *International Women’s Day (IWD)*, which is commemorated every year on the 8th of March, I, on behalf of the Central Working Committee of PENGASSAN, together with all Her members, join people from all over the world to celebrate, recognize and appreciate the hard work, dedication and contribution of the female population globally, in building a better world for all humans. We especially celebrate, all female Comrades in the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry for toiling day and night for the growth and development of the industry and Nation at large.
The theme for this year’s IWD celebration, Choose to Challenge, could not be more appropriate as it seeks to encourage each one of us to push for more achievements in the global attempt to attain gender balance and equality in all communities and spheres of our lives. To say that this journey is undoubtedly an arduous one, is indeed saying the least; and those of us in the Labour Unions, keenly understand the power of challenge in bringing about change.
Several years ago, in acknowledgement of the need for diverse representation, inclusivity and progressiveness in the Industry, and particularly, the significant improvements made by women across all industries, PENGASSAN created the role of *“Chairperson, Women in PENGASSAN (WIP)”* in all Her organs. In creating this role, PENGASSAN also sought to ensure an avenue which encourages dialogue and resolutions on key issues that impact female industry workers, a subject which had hitherto been somewhat side-lined, due to the predominance of the male gender in the Industry. From its inception, our female Comrades who have held the position of Chairperson-WIP across board are notably qualified and competent women from different professional backgrounds. These women have consistently exhibited exemplary leadership in the execution of their functions; and the remarkable value they have brought to the leadership of the Association, as well as in their respective roles within their companies, is undeniable. This notable feat has encouraged women to occupy the position of Branch, Zonal and National Leadership.
In celebrating our collective achievements on this journey to gender equity, we must recognise that there is still so much more to be done. This call to *“Choose to Challenge”* is one that must be answered by all persons at every socio-economic level; every society and indeed all countries globally. Several studies have shown that increased female empowerment contributes immensely to economic growth and sustainability.
The need to challenge, for us in Nigeria, could not be more underscored than the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2020, which ranks Nigeria 128th out of 153 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2020 Rankings overall: and 27th out of 34 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Some of the findings of the 2020 Report include:
• Females have approximately 14% representation in key commercial / business management roles; and in political leadership representation, they are about 3.4% (Parliament) and 8% (ministerial).
• In terms of occupations, even though women represent 64.6% of skilled professionals, they hold only approximately 30% of senior positions.
• Despite the above, only about 52.6% of women are literate; and of approximately 58% of girls who get a primary education, 47% go on to get a secondary education, while only about 8.3% get a university degree.
This year’s IWD theme invites each of us to rise in-challenge against repressive systems and archaic laws, customs and practices that discriminate against women, either through gender-based prohibitions and limitations or through lack of inclusion in ensuring certain rights and liberties. These systems that we seek to reform are sometimes enshrined in national and state laws and occasionally propagated by societal standards and expectations; and we have a duty to recognise these when we see them and speak up against them at every opportunity. Beyond speaking, we must also take deliberate steps, through legislative, social lobbying and engagements, to bring about broad-based legal reform that will ensure that women across all industries and within our society are given the same opportunities as their male counterparts.
Some of these laws, which may have been enacted in a bid to protect women (reflecting societal customs at the time), serve to deny them of key opportunities in today’s world, emphasizing the need to challenge the status quo, reiterating the need for change. In the words of Nigerian-born, world-renowned multi-award-winning author, Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie, *“Culture does not make people, People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture.”*
PENGASSAN, under our leadership, aligns with the African adage that says, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.” We are also favourably committed to doing our part in ensuring gender parity and fairness in the Oil and Gas industry and indeed the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We take the opportunity of this year’s celebration to wish all our female members and indeed all Nigerian Women an incredibly happy International Women’s Day.
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