WIEN Champions Equitable Leadership for Women in Africa’s Energy Sector

Nigeria’s leading voice for gender equity in the energy sector, Women in Energy Network (WIEN), has thrown its weight behind the coordinated demand for enhanced positions that would enable female professionals to contribute significantly to driving innovation in the African energy sector.

The group, which forms the support base for outstanding female professionals and business leaders in the Nigerian energy sector, took a solid stance in demanding equitable leadership and congenial workplace settings that deemphasize gender sentiments and empower excellence.

WIEN, which sent delegates to the Africa Energy Technology Conference (AETC) hosted in Accra, Ghana, restated its resolve to sustain demand for leadership and role opportunities that task women with innovative breakthroughs in resolving Africa’s energy industry concerns.

Executive Secretary of WIEN, Engr. Asanimo Omezi, who participated in a panel discussion on “Empowering Women in Energy, Breaking Barriers and Driving Innovation,” reiterated the group’s support for deliberately balancing leadership roles and providing equitable opportunities across genders in the industry.

She also called on African societies to provide equal exposure for male and female children to the highly essential education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); stressing that primitive stereotypes in the African culture have helped in steering talented girls away from pursuing careers in technical fields.

The panel session explored the critical role of technology in empowering women within the African energy sector, and panelists delved into how access, training, and leadership in technology can break down barriers, foster innovation, and accelerate the transition to sustainable energy solutions.

The debate aimed to highlight successful initiatives, discuss challenges, and propose actionable strategies to ensure women are at the forefront of Africa’s energy technology revolution.

The panel also sought to identify ways to build resilient energy systems, foster intra-African collaboration, and leverage the continent’s global influence to create an enabling environment for sustainable energy transformation.

Engr. Omezi, who spoke in a panel of four eminent African industry professionals and thought leaders, made it clear that the continent is blessed with abundant talents across the male and female gender divide. She pointed out the immense potential for women to make enormous contributions towards evolving innovative industry solutions when properly positioned.

The panel session, which was moderated by Ama O. Sarpong of ENI, also had Tolulope Longe and Adeola Akinrinmade, the Executive Director of Finance at Petralon Energy and a prominent WIEN member.

The Oracle Today reports that the AETC, organized by the Africa Energy Technology Centre and co-hosted by the Association of Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), held in Accra, Ghana, to conduct the Intra-African Energy Dialogue.

The event convened policymakers, industry leaders, tech providers, and financiers to address opportunities and challenges in creating a strong intra-regional energy market. The focus, according to the organizers, was on boosting trade in sustainable energy solutions among African countries, particularly APPO members.

It is widely believed that strengthening underdeveloped intra-African energy trade despite diverse resources is crucial for energy security, economic growth, sustainable adoption, resource optimization, and investment attraction.

Key Objectives of the AETC Event:

• Promoting intra-regional energy resource trade
• Encouraging renewable technology exchange
• Developing regional value chains
• Harmonizing trade policies
• Facilitating cross-border infrastructure investment
• Showcasing African-led energy solutions
• Identifying innovative financing mechanisms

Discussions covered optimizing hydrocarbon trade within Africa, developing regional gas markets, promoting renewable energy trade, establishing quality standards, leveraging digitalization, addressing trade barriers, and exploring sustainable financing mechanisms.