LAGOS, Nigeria — The head of legal and corporate governance at Nigeria’s state oil firm has urged female executives to take a central role in steering the country’s energy transition, declaring that women are no longer peripheral to the nation’s economic future.
Adesua Dozie, General Counsel and Company Secretary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, made the call during a keynote address at the Fierce Four Women’s Network Annual Lunch, held on Friday, 15 May 2026, in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The high-level gathering brought together senior female executives from Nigeria’s most prominent homegrown independent oil and gas companies—including Aradel Holdings, First E&P, ND Western, and Waltersmith Petroman—to debate strategies for industry collaboration and leadership.
‘Central to the Energy Future’
Speaking on the theme “Give to Gain,” Mrs. Dozie challenged the attendees to look beyond personal corporate successes and actively invest in the next generation of female engineers, geologists, and executives through structured corporate mentorship.
“The women in this room are not peripheral to Nigeria’s energy future. You are central to it,” Mrs. Dozie said, reinforcing that institutional diversity is critical as the country balances traditional fossil fuel production with cleaner energy mandates.
The NNPC scribe added that the state-backed energy firm remains committed to dismantling institutional barriers, fostering inclusive leadership, and building a more robust, gender-diverse talent pipeline across the entirety of the energy value chain.
The Rise of Local Independence
The event highlights the growing influence of the “Fierce Four” network, an alliance representing the vanguard of Nigeria’s indigenous energy sector.
Over the last decade, local firms like Aradel and First E&P have transitioned from marginal field operators into major industry players, acquiring onshore and shallow-water assets divested by international oil majors such as Shell, ExxonMobil, and Chevron.
Delegates at the Lagos summit argued that as local companies inherit a larger share of Nigeria’s daily crude and gas production, female executives within these firms are uniquely positioned to redefine corporate governance, community engagement, and sustainable financing models for the continent’s largest oil producer.
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