The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has charged energy companies operating in Nigeria to strengthen efforts to appoint women to top management and board positions.

The call was made during an Industry Partnership Forum held in Abuja.

The forum, which brought together stakeholders from government and the oil and gas industry, focused on gender inclusion and women’s participation in senior roles within the energy sector. The gathering coincided with activities marking International Women’s Day.

The Nigerian energy industry has historically seen lower representation of women in executive leadership and board roles compared with other sectors.

The Commissioner for Corporate Services at NUPRC, Mrs. Mary Noel Ekukinam, urged oil and gas firms to expand their inclusion policies to promote women into senior leadership.

She said gender equity in leadership roles supports workforce diversity and strengthens organisational performance.

Mrs. Ekukinam noted that women’s representation in technical, managerial and board positions remains a key indicator of inclusion across the energy value chain.

She said:

“The industry needs to increase efforts to appoint qualified women into top positions in energy firms in line with global best practices.”

The call for greater inclusion forms part of broader discussion on workforce diversity and equal opportunities within the upstream petroleum sector.

Representatives from various energy companies attended the forum.

The meeting provided a platform for sharing perspectives on gender inclusion policies and strategies that support women’s career progression.

The forum also highlighted initiatives by some firms designed to promote professional development and leadership opportunities for women in the sector.

Officials from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NUPRC emphasised the importance of gender inclusion to sustainable industry growth.

They noted that strengthening inclusion policies at senior leadership levels can enhance organisational resilience and performance within energy companies.