Key Points

• President Tinubu’s NNPC board has only one woman, raising gender concerns.

• Nigeria’s oil sector continues to have fewer women in leadership roles.

• Advocates call for laws to ensure more women in leadership positions.

President Bola Tinubu’s new 11-member board for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has raised concerns about gender balance.

Only one woman, Lydia Jafiya, was appointed, and she represents the Ministry of Finance, not as an independent appointee.

This has drawn attention to the ongoing gender imbalance in leadership positions in Nigeria’s oil sector, which is crucial for the country’s economy.

The NNPC board includes men from different parts of the country, but the lack of women on the board has sparked criticism.

Many advocates for gender equality say this is a missed opportunity to bring more women into leadership roles in such an important industry.

Gender inequality in Nigerian leadership

The lack of women in leadership is not new. In 2022, former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed an 11-member board for NNPC, including two women, Margery Okadigbo and Lami Ahmed.

Despite calls for gender equality, leadership positions in Nigeria’s oil sector and other areas still have fewer women than men.

President Tinubu’s appointment of a board with only one woman has disappointed many who were hoping for more progress in gender equality.

It also goes against his earlier promises to give women more roles in government.

The need for change and action

Experts say that having mostly men in leadership positions can lead to policies that ignore issues affecting women, such as rising fuel costs and economic problems.

Mabel Adinya, a gender advocate, says this lack of women in leadership goes against Nigeria’s promises to support gender equality, like the National Gender Policy, which aims for at least 35% female representation in government roles.

Adinya warns that ignoring women’s contributions to decision-making can harm Nigeria’s economy.

Studies show that when leadership includes both men and women, it leads to better decisions and stronger growth.

She is calling for the government to pass laws requiring a set number of women in leadership positions to ensure better balance in decision-making.