SUSTAINABILITY
WIEN/REAN Make Clarion Call for Corporate Signatories to Gender Charter Margaret Nongo-Okojokwu
Lande Abudu Executive Secretary (REAN)
W
omen in Energy Network (WIEN) and the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) have made a call for advocates of women to openly show solidarity in the signing of the African Gender Charter. The clarion call to sign the prowomen Charter was made by both associations at the recently held symposium themed “Light Up Africa” which was done to commemorate the International Women’s Day. Speaking at the launch of the Charter, Udom Inoyo a member of the Board of Trustee for WIEN said it was important for firms to identify with the aspirations of women in the energy space. He noted that the Charter provides an auspicious platform for companies to move beyond the rhetoric and to show solidarity
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Majorwaves Energy Report
APRIL 2021, Vol 4 No 4
Funmi Ogbue, President (WIEN)
with the women. “Today’s signing ceremony on one hand speaks to the journey of most of you (women) on this platform and your accomplishments and I think you should be proud of yourselves. On the other hand, it is a sad reminder of the state of affairs in our country, especially with students unable to stay in school or concentrate on their studies for fear of being taken by bandits. The call for the girl child was already steep, but now we need to dig ourselves out of the hole and that in itself most be a daunting task, but we should never, never, give up,” he said while publicly committing to the charter. In the same vein, Amina Maina, another member of the Board of Trustee for WIEN committed to an increase in the number of women at the decision-making level of organisations.
She explained that the reason she chose this commitment is because she believes that the more women in position of influence who fight for the cause of other women, the faster it will become for women to achieve their aspirations. “I am committing to champion the increase in the number of women at the decision-making level, within circle of influence and the general society,” she said. Some commitments on the Charter include: to ensure gender equality and inclusion; to contribute to gender inclusion in the transition to cleaner energy; to inspire and sponsor to study STEM related courses; and inclusion of women at the decision-making level, amongst others.
