Oando Spotlights Data-driven Approach to Women’s Advancement at Maritime Awards

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Oando Plc, one of Africa’s leading indigenous energy solutions providers, has reinforced its commitment to inclusive leadership and talent development as a sponsor of the 5th edition of the Women in Maritime & Energy Awards (WIME Awards), held in Lagos, convening key stakeholders across Nigeria’s maritime and energy sectors.

Delivering the keynote address, Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, emphasised the urgency of rethinking traditional approaches to inclusion.

“We cannot advance with yesterday’s thinking. The future of maritime and energy depends on rejecting outdated limitations and expanding opportunities for women across every level of the industry,” she said.

A statement from Oando, further quoted Eyesan as saying that the commission is strengthening gender inclusion through policy frameworks that promote workforce participation, licensing diversity, and capacity development for women in technical roles, aligning with national priorities on inclusive growth and governance.

Representing Oando during a fireside chat, General Manager, Human Capital Management & Services, Kanyinsola Mba, provided a practical perspective on what measurable investment in women looks like within organisations.

The session, moderated by Vivian Chimezie-Azubuike, Director-General of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, featured Bassey Adie-Oronsaye, Chief Executive Officer of Loyz Marine, as co-panelist.

Speaking during the session, Mba highlighted the need for organisations to address structural and behavioural barriers limiting women’s advancement. “Bias remains one of the biggest barriers to women’s advancement, often showing up as assumptions about what women can or cannot do without even asking them. Organisations must move from assumption to capability when making decisions,” she said.

She further noted that effective investment in women must be grounded in data and organisational context, emphasising the importance of analysing workforce composition, identifying drop-off points, and designing targeted interventions that address specific challenges rather than adopting generic inclusion initiatives.

Reinforcing Oando’s commitment to building a strong female talent pipeline, Deborah Akpedeye, a Reservoir Petroleum Engineer at Oando Energy Resources, was recognised with the Rising Woman in Energy award. Her recognition, according to the statement, reflected the company’s focus on developing women within core technical and operational roles, with measurable outcomes.

“Oando’s participation at the WIME Awards reflects its broader commitment to building a high-performance, inclusive workforce, with a focus on developing female talent across technical, operational, and leadership roles, aligned with its long-term value creation and governance priorities,” the statement noted.