The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, has said Nigeria’s extractives have the potential to lead economic diversification and contribute significantly to development.
Speaking during the fifth edition of the Nkechi Isigwe Annual Lecture (NIAL) organised by the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) in Abuja, Orji noted that the sector had huge potential for entrepreneurs in the extractive sector when they were identified and explored.
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He, therefore, urged women to get involved in the entire value chain of the industry’s exploration, production and refining of crude oil as well as mining of mineral deposits.
He said, “It will interest you to note that extractive resources, when beneficiated, have the potential and capability of unlocking and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) thereby boosting revenue earnings for our country and creating jobs for our teeming youth demographics. NEITI aligns itself completely with these objectives.”
APWEN’s President, Engr Elizabeth Eterigho, said the lecture was an avenue for capacity development for women entrepreneurs as it concerned entrepreneurship.
“Empowering women can promote their self-worth and confidence and enable them to make their choices; set their own agenda, gain relevant skills and encourage their right to influence social changes for themselves and others,” noted Eterigho.
