The Women in Energy Network (WIEN) has formally commended the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) for the performance and continued impact of its Women in Oil & Gas Intervention Fund.
In a statement issued following a strategic engagement with the Bank, WIEN described the facility — backed by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) — as one of NEXIM’s strongest-performing intervention funds, delivering measurable returns while supporting credible women-owned enterprises across Nigeria’s energy value chain.
According to WIEN, the fund has demonstrated that structured financing targeted at women-led businesses can produce sustainable economic and sectoral impact.
Despite commending the fund’s performance, WIEN noted that overall utilization levels remain below optimal capacity. The Network clarified that the issue is not a shortage of qualified women-owned businesses, but rather limited access to bankable contract opportunities required to unlock financing.
“With over 80 verified women-owned businesses in our directory, the challenge is not capacity or interest,” WIEN stated. “The primary constraint is access to qualifying contracts that unlock working capital financing.”
WIEN explained that many women-led firms face a structural bottleneck: although financing exists, access to contracts that meet lending criteria is limited. Without bankable contracts, businesses cannot effectively access or deploy the available capital.
The Network emphasized that structured procurement pathways and greater contract visibility for women-owned enterprises would significantly improve fund utilization and accelerate sector participation.
As part of the engagement, discussions explored the possibility of reviewing the fund’s single obligor limit to accommodate larger transactions. WIEN noted that adjusting transaction thresholds could enable qualified women entrepreneurs to scale operations, acquire critical equipment, and transition progressively toward asset ownership within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
WIEN stressed that aligning structured access to contracts with structured access to capital is essential for sustainable indigenous capacity development.
“Opportunity drives capacity,” the Network stated. “When structured access to contracts aligns with structured access to capital, indigenous women-owned enterprises can scale responsibly and compete effectively.”
In response, NEXIM reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women-owned enterprises that meet eligibility requirements. The Bank noted that disbursements under the Women in Oil & Gas Fund continue in accordance with the facility’s operational framework.
WIEN cited Loyz Marine Services Limited as a success reference under the program, demonstrating how structured financing can catalyze sustainable growth and local content participation within Nigeria’s energy ecosystem.
WIEN also underscored the importance of continued collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to ensure local content implementation remains growth-focused and capacity-expanding.
Both institutions agreed on the need for increased advocacy and awareness to ensure more women-owned businesses understand the procedures, eligibility requirements, and accessibility pathways of the fund.
WIEN reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing collaboration with NEXIM to strengthen access, improve fund utilization, and expand the participation of women-owned businesses in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
