The women’s wing of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, known as the PENGASSAN Women Commission (PWC), has been recognized for their significant contributions to the oil and gas sector.
Speaking at the 4th edition of the PENGASSAN Women Annual Convention in Abuja on Wednesday, President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Festus Osifo, said that the members of the PWC can stand shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts anywhere.
“The PWC have continued to show commitment to building a stronger and more supportive community of women within our Association.
“Your efforts are visible, your impact is growing, and your voice is becoming stronger every year.
“This Commission was established with a clear vision to move beyond the rhetoric of inclusivity and create a tangible, autonomous platform that amplifies the voices of our women.
“As part of our administration’s commitment to supporting and empowering women, we envisioned a structure that would not only advocate for women but also actively empower them to become leaders, innovators, and decision-makers within our union and the oil and gas industry as a whole.
“Your impact extends beyond boardrooms, offices, base and field operations. Your warm embrace is felt by the vulnerable, your arms and feet are strong in driving advocacy for policies,” Osifo explained.
Stressing the impact of the annual convention, he said that it served as a platform that showcases the strength, brilliance, and resilience of women who have contributed immensely not only to the Association but also to the Nigerian oil and gas industry and the country at large.
“The theme of this year’s convention, ‘The Dynamic Woman: Shaping Tomorrow, Influence, Impact and Legacy’, is apt and timely. It reflects not only gender inclusivity but also the contributions that drive the Association’s growth and development through mentorship and capacity building.” The President of PENGASSAN emphasised.
He said the dynamic woman continues to dispel the myth that the oil and gas industry is solely male-dominated.
The President of PENGASSAN further stated that with intellect and foresight, she navigates and manages multiple responsibilities at home and in the workplace while making meaningful contributions to the trade union and the nation’s economy.
He promised that PENGASSAN will continue to do everything possible to ensure that women take and solidify their positions in the Association and national spheres.
Describing the convention as a movement, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, said that the gathering was that of women whose voices shape policy, whose expertise drives productivity, and whose leadership is critical to the future of Nigeria’s energy security.
The Minister said that PENGASSAN must therefore be commended, not just for convening, but for consistently creating a platform that is redefining the place of women within the energy ecosystem.
“This gathering is not only timely; it is strategic, bringing together a formidable bloc of women at the very heart of Nigeria’s economic engine.
“When women rise with purpose, industries evolve; and when women unite with vision, nations are transformed.
“Today, I see more than professionals; I see a movement; a movement of women whose voices shape policy, whose expertise drives productivity, and whose leadership is critical to the future of Nigeria’s energy security,” she stated.
The Minister expressed the hope that the convention marks a turning point not just in conversation, but in action, a shift from engagement to influence, from participation to leadership, and from potential to power.
ILO Country Director, Vanessa Phala, in her address, commended PENGASSAN for consistently giving women in the association a voice.
She said that the ILO will continue to support organised labour in Nigeria to attain its full potential.
For the PENGASSAN Women Annual Convention, Dr Phala said that “the consistency in organising the forum since inception shows that given the opportunity, women can stand out in whatever profession and whatever they set out to achieve”.
The convention ends on Thursday.