Nation
Expert, NAWOJ Urge Speedy Passage Of PIB
An expert in the petroleum industry, Dr Israel Aye, says the two proposed commissions for regulation of the upstream and downstream activities in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will allow transparency and boost nation’s economic growth.
Aye made the assertion on Monday at a workshop organised by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), in conjunction with other organisations in Lagos.
The theme was: “The Implications of the PIB on Gender in Nigeria”.
The two commissions in the Bill are the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NURC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority.
Aye, in a presentation on “Overview of the Global and Local Contexts Underlying the Reform of the Oil and Sector – How Does the PIB Respond”, said the commissions would enable Nigerians to interrogate every process involved in decision making.
He said the commissions would come up with legal frameworks that allow people to be held accountable for their involvement in decision making.
Aye decried the belief that implementation had always been the problem hindering so many policies, saying effective frameworks would deter sabotage.
He enjoined women journalists to support the clamours for quick passage of the PIB.
According to him, PIB should focus more on governance, administration and fiscal in terms of doing business and its effectiveness on the host communities.
The expert said the oil price could collapse in the next 20 years and stopped being an hot commodities just like the era of coal as means of revenue.
He said the countries were putting new acreages on the market due to the looming threat.
“The shock that it can create for the development is what the government should focus on,” Aye said.
According to him, Petroleum industry faces five major challenges, and they are COVID-19, climate change, ever cheap energy storage, ever cheap renewables and green hydrogen.
“How is the world responding? The response is confusing and almost some of the countries are doing bilateral agreement,” he said.
Speaking, Mr Joe Nwakwue, Partner, Zeea Advisory and Consulting, called for some suggestions to be included in the PIB.
Nwakwue, in a paper titled, “The PIB and Opportunities for Addressing Gender-Related Issues”, said the interest and representation of women in the industry were limited in ways that were mostly unplanned.
“Consequently, there must be deliberate efforts to ensure that women’s right and interest are identified, considered and protected across the spectrum of legal policy.
“We need to be very specific; some specific provisions should trigger action toward addressing these challenges,” he said.
Nwakwue said there was need to address this age long inequalities and equalities in the industry.
Also, Vice President, NAWOJ, B Zone, Mrs Bola Akingbehin, enjoined the National Assembly to speedily pass the Petroleum Industry Bill.
Akingbehin also tasked women journalists to support the efforts in ensuring issues that concern female were well canvassed in the PIB.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
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