Bayelsa State Secretary of Women in Energy, Oil and Gas (WEOG) and Managing Director of Fudons Automobile Nig Ltd, Yenagoa, Nursere Doris Ndoboke has appealed to the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to consider her company for Retainership in automobile repair.
Speaking with journalists in Yenagoa, Ndoboke expressed concerns over delayed retainership agreement with NCDMB after rendering automobile services to the board for about ten years only to be pushed aside from the system for no known reasons. Hence, she is calling on the Executive Secretary to intervene and consider her company for Retainership.
”I am already in the industry and can’t be pushed outside like that. Kindly intervene to restore my only source of livelihood because we have served NCDMB for 10 years as an automotive engineering company certified by COREN.
”We have created several employment opportunities for Bayelsans with over 10 staff on our company payroll. In addition, we regularly engage students on IT attachment/training, Association of Professional Women of Nigeria (APWEN), Niger Delta University (NDU), Federal University Otuoke (FUO), Federal Polytechnic EKOWE, other tertiary institutions and even train apprentices without any state government’s support.
”I ventured into a male dominated business for survival because I have 15 years of working experience in the automotive industry in Port Harcourt. Please, my only source of livelihood can’t be taken away from me in my own state. Please, justice should be done speedily.
”Fudons Automobile has all the certifications to operate in the Oil and Gas industry, e g. NCDMB NOGIC JQS Certifications as Automobile Services Provider, NUPRC LICENSE to operate in the industry of which NCDMB is propagating for Women inclusivity in the Oil and Gas industry, ” she said.
It was learnt that despite much appeals, NCDMB has not responded to Fudons Automobile’s application for a retainership agreement despite meeting the required certifications and qualifications.
Ndoboke believes she is being pushed out of the system due to her gender, as she operates in a male-dominated industry.
She is also worried about her outstanding payments, amounting to over N15 million which she said is affecting her company’s operations.
