Page 55 - Nigeria one mag 4 edition en

Through inclusion of women in the workspace –
men would be forced to think differently, men
would be required to collaborate with women –
would be required to listen to women, their
unique insights they bring to solving complex
and difficult business problems.
As women for most part tend to bring soft skills
such as effective communication, self-
awareness, empathy, and emotional intelligence
which are important in enhancing business
performance. In a study published in 2016 by a
global consulting firm Hay Group finds that
women tend to outperform men in 11 of the 12
key emotional intelligence competencies. These
core competencies include conflict
management, empathy, emotional self-
awareness, adaptability, resilience and
teamwork are all fundamental skills for effective
leadership.
Yet, despite the enormous benefits that accrue
from having women involved in the oil and gas
sector, few women hold managerial positions in
the industry, as such it should not come as a
surprise to find that women feel undervalued,
unappreciated and undeserved by the
marketplace. And rightly so, as they feel they
have more to offer, they have more to bring to
the marketplace, but for some reason there
appears to be some glass ceilings that is
hindering them from reaching these heights.
Women face enormous challenges in breaking
through these glass ceilings, while some
measure of progress is made as a number of
industries are showing an emerging trend of
increasing women in the workplace, still the
following industries still remain male
dominated such as engineering, finance,
technology, and oil & gas.
However, some women have been able to take
the bull by the horn and have made remarkable
in roads into some of these male dominated
industries and have made noteworthy progress
in the industry. These women rose through the
ranks, and have become leaders industry.
While there are so many African women who
have done well in the industry, some of the most
outstanding ones include but are not limited to
Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, Catherine Uju-Ifejijka,
Amy Jadesimi, Audrey Joe-Ezigo and Godrey
Ogbechie

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