PENGASSAN advocates inclusion of more women in core leadership
PENGASSAN advocates inclusion of more women in core leadership positions
By Chukwuma Umeorah
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called for the inclusion of more women at decision-making levels in the country for national development.
The National Chairperson of PENGASSAN Women Commission (PWC), Ada Mbanaso during a familiarization tour to PWC Lagos Zone last Monday said that the PWC since it was inaugurated in 2022, has been at the fore of encouraging women and providing them with the opportunity to vie for leadership positions at union level and to work hard to assume the highest leadership roles in the oil and gas sector.
She said, “Our main aim is to bring leadership to the grassroot because in the past, other national leadership relates with their members from the top, but we have decided to go beyond that by relating with them, identifying their challenges while making sure that there is increase in women participation in all zones.”
She however emphasized the relevance of women in the society saying that the advocacy by PWC goes beyond women becoming leaders in the oil and gas sector alone but extends to elective leadership roles in government at national and sub-national level.
“The union firmly believes that the progress of women is intricately linked to the progress of the society as a whole,” she stated.
She expressed that the PENGASSAN women leadership recognizes the immense power and potential that lies within the members across board.
“We have witnessed the unyielding determination of women to break barriers by rising to position of leadership and excel in previously male dominated field and contributed significantly to the economic, political and social fabric of the society,” she added.
According to her, these remarkable feats has been a source of inspiration for other women in the society, giving them a platform to contest for other positions women were hitherto scared to contest.
On her part, the Chairperson of PENGASSAN Women Commission, Lagos zone, Nikki Duru while welcoming the national chairperson reiterated the commitment of the Lagos zone at upholding the values and visions of the commission.
She added that the activities of the group so far have had great positive impact as there have been a paradigm shift from the stereotype of ‘just being a women’ and has set the pace for women to achieve greater things.
