Advancing Gender Inclusion for Sustainable Development in Nigeria's Oil and Gas Sector

Objective - This study explores the role of women's participation in advancing sustainable development in Nigeria's oil and gas sector, a field traditionally dominated by men. It examines how gender inclusion may influence policy innovation, economic growth, and workplace equity within this critical industry. Methodology/Technique - The research adopts a cross-sectional quantitative design. Data were collected through structured surveys from 358 female professionals across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones. Analytical methods included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis, all of which were performed using SPSS software. Finding - The analysis revealed a weak but statistically significant relationship between women's inclusion and sustainable development indicators. Notably, a stronger association was found between women's influence on decent work conditions and their contributions to policy and innovation. The regression model showed modest explanatory power, suggesting other factors may also contribute to sustainability outcomes. Novelty - This study contributes to the limited body of empirical research on gender inclusion in the extractive industries of Sub-Saharan Africa. By conceptualising inclusion as a driver of innovation and sustainable growth, it highlights the strategic value of women's participation in advancing SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) in Nigeria's oil and gas sector. Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords: Economic growth; innovation capacity; leadership opportunities; Nigeria energy industry; policy development; workplace diversity; and women empowerment. JEL Classification: J16, Q56, O15, L72 URI: http://gatrenterprise.com/GATRJournals/GJBSSR/vol13.3_1.html DOI: https://doi.org/10.35609/gjbssr.2025.13.3(1)