Seplat Energy Plc, a leading Nigerian independent energy company listed on both the Nigerian and London stock exchanges, has launched the Seplat Awesome Women’s Network (SAWN) under its Seplat Gender Diversity programme at an event held in its corporate headquarters in Lagos.
The Special Guest of Honour at the event and Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, congratulated the company on the launch of the Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5) initiative and other social impact initiatives in its strategic communities’ development projects.
The VP said that SAWN iwas poised to drive policy discourse, positive corporate behavior, and will be an important contribution to improving action on gender equality.
He pointed out that the fight for gender equality was not for women and girls alone, but for all those who take the pragmatic view that gender inequality is unaffordable for economic growth and development and advocated that men and women must have equal rights.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Energy, Roger Brown, as the Sponsor of the Seplat Gender Diversity Programme, explained that the women’s network was created as part of the company’s sustainable business approach and to spearhead its contribution towards the achievement of the SDG5 to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
He added that achieving gender equality required intentional action and deliberate policies and that the company was rolling up various policies and initiatives into a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Framework that is benchmarked globally and nationally.
Brown described the Launch of SAWN, as a resource group for women, as the first of many initiatives of the D&I initiative which enjoys the support of the board of directors and management of Seplat Energy.
In her comments, the Director Legal Services/Company Secretary, and the Gender Diversity Champion, Edith Onwuchekwa, said the women’s network remained a gender equality vehicle to help the company and its stakeholders to design, implement and develop programmes to mainstream gender in the company and the energy sector value chain.
She enthused: “With the actualization of SAWN’s vision, Seplat Energy will be recognized as an employer of choice for engaging, retaining, and developing top female talent into various leadership positions across the Seplat value chain.”
The company’s Chairman, Dr. A. Orjiako, explained that as a leading oil, gas, and renewable energy company listed on the Nigerian and London stock exchanges, Seplat Energy remained committed to the actualization of the UNDG and other initiatives to empower women to participate in all areas of the company.
Dr. Orjiako noted that Gender inclusion is a leading indicator of high-performing workplaces, adding that: “Where women are included, you will find better governance, equitable employment practices, flexibility that enhances productivity, greater innovation, more effective risk management, safer operations, and a better value proposition for all stakeholders in financial, social, and environmental terms.”
An Independent Non-Executive Director of the company, Prof. Arunma Oteh, described the launch of the SAWN is a testament to the company’s commitment to achieve gender equality for the benefit of all stakeholders in the workplaces, meet its corporate responsibility and sustainability commitments, encourage economic and social conditions that provide opportunities for women and men, girls and boys; and foster sustainable development in the countries in which we operate.
The company’s Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, Mr. Basil Omiyi, said the inclusion and gender diversity were powerful enablers of business performance, and companies that welcome diverse talents and perspectives are likely to emerge stronger, outperform industry peers on profitability, and creates a more productive, dynamic, and satisfied workforce.
In his remarks, the CEO of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Mr. Oscar Onyema, congratulated the company on the launch of the SAWN, stressing that the initiative has the potential of being an economic game-changer, to lead to higher growth and increased economic stability.
