Meet 9 prominent women in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector

In this post, News360 Nigeria enumerates 9 successful women who are making waves in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Over time, women have achieved great success and built a solid reputation for themselves in a variety of economic sectors.

The home is no longer the exclusive domain of a woman’s ultimate duty, unlike earlier times.

Various women have become recognized as world-renowned individuals.

In a country where men predominate in the economy, such as Nigeria, some women have made an impact and transformed the oil and gas industry in particular by their creative thinking and admirable leadership.

These nine women are making waves in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

1. Folorunsho Alakija

She is currently regarded as one of the richest women in the world and serves as vice-chairman of Famfa Oil Limited.

Famfa Limited, Alakija’s company, was given permission to investigate for oil on OPL 216, a 617,000-acre area.

In a joint venture agreement she signed, she gave Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited, a Texaco subsidiary, forty percent of her total ownership and designated them as technical consultants for exploration.

The government tried to purchase a 50% stake in the company after it discovered oil, but Alakija filed a lawsuit and prevailed.

In 2014, Forbes magazine ranked her as the 96th most powerful woman in the world.

Alakija also founded the Rose of Sharon Foundation, through which she has given many widows, orphans, and disadvantaged people empowerment.

2. Winifred Akpani

Northwest Petroleum and Gas Company Limited, a company engaged in the exploration, production, and marketing of petroleum products, is led by Winifred Akpani as its managing director and CEO.

With time, Northwest Petroleum has grown to become a significant force in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. The company is well-represented in the downstream sector of the industry, operating in the distribution, retail, and storage of petroleum products.

She is also a philanthropist, specializing in education, and she has helped many underprivileged Nigerian children receive an education.

3. Bola Shagaya

Bola Shagaya is the managing director of Practoil Limited, a company that imports and sells base oil in Nigeria, as well as the founder of Voyage Oil and Gas Limited, an exploration company.

Prior to launching her own company, she was employed by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s audit department.

She initially worked for a while importing and selling photographic supplies in Nigeria and West Africa.

She received her accounting degree from Armstrong College in California, USA, and her economics degree from Ahmadu Bello University in Kaduna.

4. Catherine Ifejika

At Britannia-U, an indigenous integrated business offering subsurface engineering, exploration and production, and consulting services in the energy sector, Catherine Ifejika serves as chairman and CEO.

Her career in the oil and gas industry started in 1987 when she was promoted to the post of secretary for public and government affairs for West Africa from her position as junior counsel in Texaco’s legal department.

From 2001 to 2002, she was also a member of the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture’s board of directors.

5. Amy Jadesimi

The CEO of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL) is Amy Jadesimi.

Following her graduation from medical school, Jadesimi worked in the investment banking division of Goldman Sachs International in London, specializing in corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions.

She went to Stanford Business School in California, USA, to expand her knowledge by earning a Master’s in Business Administration.

She received her first degree from Oxford University in the psychological sciences and her second degree from Oxford University Medical School in medicine.

In 2004, she became a part of LADOL, a logistics base created to cater to the unique requirements of deepwater offshore oil and gas operations in and around Nigeria.

As one of the original members of the Commission on Business and Sustainable Development, she was named one of “The 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa” by Forbes magazine in 2014.

6. Godrey Ogbechie

Godrey Ogbechie is the group executive director of Rainoil Limited.

She graduated from the University of Calabar with a degree in Agricultural Economics and Extension.

She started out in the banking industry, holding a number of positions at Fidelity Bank Plc and Universal Trust Bank Limited.

Her time in the banking sector allowed her to gain significant experience in operations, customer service, audit, and human resource management.

She has been essential to Rainoil Limited’s management and operations thanks to her extensive knowledge and experience.

7. Audrey Ezigbo

As a co-founder of Falcon Corporation Limited with her husband, Audrey Ezigbo has played a significant role in the growth and success of the company.

She holds positions at Falcon Corporation Limited, where she was president of the Nigeria Gas Association, and at Falcongaz Limited, where she serves as managing director and chief strategist.

The Oil and Gas Corporation provides a range of services, including real estate, engineering, procurement, construction, and natural gas distribution.

8. Victoria Samson

Victoria Samson works as a dealer for Texaco Nigeria Limited. For her outstanding work, she was given the company’s Best Dealer Award.

She co-founded the Bovas Group in 1980 alongside her husband, Bamidele Samson, and the company opened its first filling station in Oshogbo, Osun State, in 1991.

The business was established as a stand-alone petroleum marketing company. Now operating 119 service stations across Nigeria, the company has grown since then.

About 20 gas skids are currently operated by Bovas Group, which opened a liquefied petroleum gas facility in 1995.

9. Moroni Adedoyin-Adeyinka

Executive director Moroti Adedoyin-Adeyinka of the Nigerian energy and infrastructure company Sahara Group oversees operations in more than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. She is a former CEO of Asharami Synergy, a subsidiary of Sahara Group.

From 1998 to 2001, she was employed by KLM as an accountant. She went on to work for Sahara Group in 2002.

She became Group Treasurer in 2006 after being promoted from Finance Manager. In 2009, she was named CEO of the trading division of the company.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Lagos in 1991, she enrolled at Harvard University in Boston, USA. In 2008, she earned her certification in general management there.