ABUJA
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has announced plans to set a minimumpercentage of females that must be included in any Human Capacity Development (HCD) programme or initiative that it will approve for the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, EngrSimbi Kesiye Wabote, stated this on Tuesday, last week, at the second Nigerian Women in Oil and Gas Conference.
He said the NCDMB would work on the policy and communicate same to the industry as soon as possible.
The conference was organised by the NCDMB in partnership with the Diversity Sectorial Working Group of the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum (NCCF), which was set up by the NCDMB to advise it on policy directions.
Speaking on the $40m Women in Energy Fund which the NCDMB set up in partnership with the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Wabote disclosed that 15 applications were received with three approved and that the disbursement of funds would soon start.
He pointed out that the online portal for the fund was launched two weeks ago and this would speed up the process and reduce human interface in the application and processing.
Wabote commended the performance ofwomen in various roles in the oil and gasindustry and canvassed for their inclusion in the administration of the various trusts and funds that were established by thePetroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, notablythe Host Community Development Trust, Host Community Development Trust Fundand Environmental Remediation Fund.
The NCDMB boss announced that the Oil and Gas Industrial Parks in Bayelsa and Cross River States would soon be completed and wouldcommence operations next year.
He revealed that the NCDMB had started inviting applicants for allocation of plots to set up manufacturing outfits in the park andencouraged women-owned businesses with workable proposals to apply as they will be given special consideration as part of the NCDMB’s commitment to mainstream women into the oil and gas industry.
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