Abuja, Nigeria — The recent announcement of the newly constituted board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has drawn sharp criticism from the Women in Energy Network (WIEN) over glaring gender imbalance.
In a statement issued on Friday, WIEN President Eyono Fatai-Williams praised the president’s reorganisation of the NNPCL board, acknowledging the credentials of the appointees. However, she expressed serious concerns over the appointment of only one woman to the 11-member board.
“While we commend the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the current makeup of the NNPCL board undermines the 35% gender inclusion commitment outlined in that very vision,” she said.
Fatai-Williams highlighted the contradiction between policy and practice, emphasizing that Nigerian women have made measurable contributions to the nation’s energy landscape and deserve equitable representation at the decision-making table.
“This exclusion reinforces a troubling pattern,” she added. “Our women have consistently led with excellence across the energy value chain, yet they continue to be sidelined when leadership seats are being assigned.”
WIEN called on President Tinubu to align governance practices with his policy promises by ensuring that capable, experienced women are given seats on critical boards such as the NNPCL and across the wider energy sector. The group also appealed to the National Assembly and other relevant agencies to support efforts toward a more gender-inclusive leadership framework.
“True progress in the energy sector must include the active leadership of women,” Fatai-Williams asserted. “Inclusion is not a token gesture , which is essential to sustainable development, effective governance, and innovation.”
While acknowledging the broader vision behind the board’s restructuring which is including the appointment of Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer, replacing Mele Kyari
WIEN stressed that representation must go beyond regional balance and professional merit to include gender fairness.
The group expressed appreciation for the appointment of Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, as the sole woman on the new board. “We celebrate her appointment and assure her of our full support,” said Fatai-Williams.
WIEN also emphasized its readiness to support the federal government by identifying qualified women across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones who can meaningfully contribute to the transformation of the energy sector.
“This is a defining moment,” the group concluded. “Nigeria’s energy future must be inclusive , and we are ready to play our part in shaping it.”
By Taiwo Olatinwo | April 5, 2025
