IBEDC, USAID Partner on Empowering Women in Power Sector THE Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) is collaborating with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to promote gender equality and empower women in the power sector. This was the focus of the “IBEDC 2022 DISCO for Women Conference” held in Ibadan, Oyo State, with the theme: “Breaking the Glass Ceiling.” Speaking at the event, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IBEDC, Kingsley Achife, said the power industry had long been seen as the domain of the male gender and the reason for the terminologies used in the industry such as linesmen, draftsmen, among many others. NAN reports that Achife, who was represented by the Chief Business Transformation and Strategy Officer, Iranola Ayodeji, said IBEDC has changed the narrative by being the first DISCO to adopt more gender-friendly nomenclatures such as lines worker, and expressed the hope that other companies will follow suit. “It is in view of this that IBEDC partnered with the USAID to push the engendering agenda across the power sector in Nigeria and beyond. “IBEDC has established a team of employees nicknamed, MANBASSADORS, and trained by USAID to engage the male and female gender from all walks of life to embrace the concept of gender equality. Yours truly has been appointed the MenEngage Champion. “Furthermore, IBEDC has plans to improve the gender mix for female employees to at least 20% in the short term and then scale up as time goes by,” Achife said. He said statistics have shown that on average, women in leadership roles performed better than their male counterparts in strategic decision-making. “The gut feeling and instinct that women are known for cannot be overshadowed by cold hard facts and figures that male managers tend to base their decision on,” he said. The Guest Speaker, and Executive Director, EZ 37 Solutions Ltd., Mrs Patricia Akinlotan, said the conference was about empowering women to rise above the limitations placed on them. “Everything starts with you and if you remove the glass ceiling on your mind, you clear all obstacles, and you have intentional focus, then you see what others are not seeing. “You can have access to information, because we live in a digital age and information is power,” Akinlotan said. She enjoined the government to prioritise education for women, “because if you educate a woman, you train a generation.” A gender equality advocate, 14-year-old, Aline Shahimi, said “change starts from the house. If you want a society where we are developed, and men and women are valued equally, then you must start from the home.” In her remarks, Chief Human Resources Officer, IBEDC, Ms Ehi Obaseki, said gender equality has come to stay, and stressed the need to change our thinking and gender stereotypes. “Women need to be more visible and step up to apply for jobs. When we put out job adverts, we noticed men are quicker to apply than women, who have other considerations. “Women need to break that glass ceiling, be visible and pursue careers,” Obaseki said. NAN reports that in 2015, USAID and IBEDC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on engendering utility programmes, a platform to infuse the diversity required to recruit, train, and empower more women into IBEDC workforce. (NAN)
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NESREA Seals 39 Facilities  Over Violation of Environmental Laws

ByIkenna Omeje

NESREA Seals 39 Facilities Over Violation of Environmental Laws The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed 39 facilities in different parts of Nigeria over  violation of environmental laws. The Director General Of NESREA Prof. Aliu Jauro, disclosed this during a press briefing with journalists in Abuja. Jauro said that the facilities…

Shell Nigeria gas
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SHELL NIGERIA GAS COMMISSIONS INDIGENOUS FIRM TO CARRY OUT LARGEST DOMESTIC GAS MARKET SURVEY IN NIGERIA

ByIkenna Omeje

SHELL NIGERIA GAS COMMISSIONS INDIGENOUS FIRM TO CARRY OUT LARGEST DOMESTIC GAS MARKET SURVEY IN NIGERIA Nigeria’s leading domestic gas distribution company, the Shell Nigeria Gas Limited (SNG), has commissioned a far-reaching gas market survey in 33% of the states in Nigeria to gain deeper market insights for entry and to accelerate the achievement of…

Dokubo is Dead

Dokubo is Dead

ByIkenna Omeje

Ex- Niger Delta Amnesty Boss,  Dokubo  is Dead A former Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Professor Charles Dokubo, is dead. This is coming two years after he was sacked in a controversial manner by President Muhammadu Buhari. According to reports, Dokubo, 70, died at a hospital in Abuja on Wednesday night. He was…

NUPRC

NUPRC Proposes Declaration of State of Emergency  to Tackle Oil Theft, Others

ByIkenna Omeje

NUPRC Proposes Declaration of State of Emergency  to Tackle Oil Theft, Others As part of measures to address numerous challenges confronting the Nigerian oil and gas industry such as oil theft, insecurity, ageing and decaying infrastructure, amongst others, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), has proposed the declaration of State of Emergency. The Chief…

Seplat Seeks Clarification on Withdrawal of Ministerial Consent to its Proposed Acquisition of MPNU
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Seplat Seeks Clarification on Withdrawal of Ministerial Consent to its Proposed Acquisition of MPNU

ByIkenna Omeje

Seplat Seeks Clarification on Withdrawal of Ministerial Consent to its Proposed Acquisition of MPNU Seplat Energy, on Thursday, said that it is seeking clarification from the relevant authorities to media report claiming that ministerial consent earlier given by President Muhammadu Buhari to its proposed acquisition of the entire share capital of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited…

Buhari Gives Ministerial Consent to Seplat's Proposed Acquisition of MPNU
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Buhari Gives Ministerial Consent to Seplat’s Proposed Acquisition of MPNU

ByIkenna Omeje

Buhari Gives Ministerial Consent to Seplat’s Proposed Acquisition of MPNU By Ikenna Omeje President Muhammadu Buhari has given ministerial consent to Seplat Energy’s proposed acquisition of the entire share capital of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU). Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina who made the disclosure on Monday, said that  the approval by the president was in…

OPEC will Struggle to Balance Supply and Demand in 2023
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OPEC will Struggle to Balance Supply and Demand in 2023

ByIkenna Omeje

OPEC will Struggle to Balance Supply and Demand in 2023 Despite recessionary fears, members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)  will need to increase their production output in 2023 if they are to balance oil supply and demand. The latest forecasts from the International Energy Agency (IEA), the US Energy Information Administration (EIA)…

South African Fuel Producer Sasol to Restart Refinery by End July
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South African Fuel Producer Sasol to Restart Refinery by End July

ByIkenna Omeje

South African Fuel Producer Sasol to Restart Refinery by End July South African fuel and petrochemical company Sasol Ltd (SOLJ.J) will restart its refinery by the end of July. The company declared force majeure at its second biggest refinery, recently due its inability to get feedstock (crude oil). Sasol is the only producer of petroleum…

Oil Prices Remain Elevated Despite Recession Fears, Covid Related Lockdown in China

Oil Prices Remain Elevated Despite Recession Fears, Covid Related Lockdown in China

ByIkenna Omeje

Oil Prices Remain Elevated Despite Recession Fears, Covid Related Lockdown in China Despite recessionary fears and concerns over Covid-19 related lockdown in China, oil prices remain elevated. Brent crude futures for September settlement rose by $2.14, or 2.1%, to $103.30 a barrel by 1100 GMT, having gained 2.1% on Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI)…

Elcrest Exploration and Production Nigeria limited

Elcrest E&P Donates Relief Items to Delta Community

ByIkenna Omeje

Elcrest E&P Donates Relief Items to Delta Community Elcrest Exploration and Production Nigeria limited has, on behalf of itself and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Operator of the OML 40 JV, presented various relief items to communities in Gbetiokun, Delta state, to ameliorate the effects of an oil spill from MT Harcourt (A mother…