– Celebrates onshore, offshore host communities’ women
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — As the world marks International Women’s Day today, French oil giant, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, has affirmed its commitment to fostering a workplace that is an equal-gender environment, assuring that it will continue to promote the visibility of women.
TotalEnergies’ Deputy Managing Director, JV Asset, Mr Guillaume Dulout, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, at an event organized by the company to celebrate women from its onshore and offshore host communities, on the 2022 International Women’s Day.
Dulout said the theme of this year’s celebration, “Break the Bias”, was apt, as the biases, whether cultural, gender and technology must be identified and confronted.
“Yes, we need to positively contribute to the global development by confronting bias, stereotypes, and discriminations that limit women and their ability to reach their potentials. The glaring challenges that confront women demand that we should explore opportunities to encourage visibility and empowerment of the female folk.
“The theme of this year’s celebration “Break the Bias” is apt as we strive to ensure the recognition of the rights of women. We must identify the biases; be they cultural, gender technology, etc. and take decisive actions to confront them frontally.
“TotalEnergies is fostering a workplace that is an equal-gender environment and continues to promote the visibility of women. In that light, some of our colleagues from the TotalEnergies Women’s Initiative for Communication and Exchange are
participating in today’s activities in solidarity with you.”
Dulout representated at the event by the Manager, Stakeholders Engagements, Strategy and Management, Mr Henry Ehuike, commended its JV Partners, the NNPC, for all their supports which has enabled the company reach out to the communities through various organized programmes and projects.
“As a responsible operator which believes in the United Nations’ affirmative action and
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG GOAL 5: Gender Equality), we are promoting women in technology by challenging more women to explore the ICT possibilities in our skills acquisition training program.”
For her part, the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation in Rivers State, Mrs Inime Aguma, who said all biases against women must be pushed away, explained the need for affirmative action for women.
All biases against women should be pushed away. We must make men to value us, we don’t necessarily need legislation to be heard, all we need is an affirmative action. In Rivers State here we have five female councillors in every local government, that is affirmative action.”
Also, a former lawmaker who represented Port Harcourt Constituency II in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Engr. Victoria Nyeche, who advocated for level playing ground for women in all sphere of endeavour, wondered why women cannot be national leaders of the leading political parties in the country.
Nyeche who spoke in pidgin English, particularly urged parents to provide equal opportunities to their children, as well as break all bias against the girl child.
“Women should be given level playing ground. Allow women to show their skills, give everyone equal opportunities,” she said.
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