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The President and CEO of the National Oil Company of Liberia - NOCAL, Hon. Fabian Michael Lai, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to advancing women’s empowerment and gender equality. Speaking on Day-2 of the International Women’s Day Celebration held in Osaka, Japan, Hon. Lai emphasized that sustainable societal progress is only possible when women are given equal opportunities to thrive.

Underlining NOCAL’s role in driving gender inclusion, the NOCAL President disclosed that the company is prioritizing women’s participation in the energy and hydrocarbon sector through recruitment, training, mentorship, scholarships, and internships. He further noted that NOCAL’s corporate social responsibility programs now place a stronger focus on women’s economic empowerment, building sustainable opportunities and resources for long-term growth. Importantly, NOCAL has committed to dedicating 75% of its corporate social responsibility portfolio to women’s economic empowerment, ensuring sustainable and lasting solutions for gender equality, inclusion, and advancing progress toward global development targets.

On behalf of the company, Hon. Lai is participating in Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. The Expo–2025 is a global event, themed “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, and it’s Osaka’s first World Expo in 55 years. It features more than 80 pavilions representing over 160 countries and is expected to attract 28 million visitors. The Expo seeks to promote sustainability, healthy living, and inclusive development.

Along with NOCAL’s Vice President for Technical Services, Hon. Rixck W. Barsi-Giah, Hon. Lai is using the occasion to network for investment and growth in Liberia’s oil and gas sector.

The International Women’s Day celebration, held under the theme “Connecting Women in the Global Space Par Excellence for an Inclusive Society”, is one of the key events in Japan and a sideline program of Expo 2025, where Hon. Lai was invited as a speaker.

Hon. Lai extended gratitude to the conference organizers, including Liberia’s Ambassador to Japan, praising the event for fostering international collaboration and dialogue. Concluding his address, Hon. Lai called on leaders and institutions worldwide to dismantle barriers and build systems where excellence is fueled by equality.