The oil and gas sector in Nigeria is characterized by complex operational, regulatory, and market challenges. Managing exploration, production, and distribution in such an environment requires significant technical expertise, strategic oversight, and the ability to navigate both local and international business dynamics.
Over the past few decades, an increasing number of women have assumed leadership roles in the industry, occupying positions that were historically dominated by men.
Forty to fifty years ago, female representation in executive management, boardrooms, and operational leadership was minimal; today, women are actively shaping the sector’s development and growth.
Women in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry now lead indigenous and multinational companies, manage upstream and downstream operations, and influence policy and investment decisions.
They combine professional expertise, governance experience, and strategic vision, contributing to operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and sustainable business practices. Many are also involved in initiatives that promote local content development, entrepreneurship, and workforce capacity building, reflecting a broader impact beyond corporate performance.
This feature profiles 10 women who have achieved notable success and influence across the Nigerian oil and gas sector. From founders and managing directors to board chairs and senior executives, their contributions span exploration, production, distribution, finance, and governance.
Their professional achievements demonstrate both the scale and scope of women’s involvement in the industry, providing insight into the evolving dynamics of Nigeria’s energy sector.
Amy Jadesimi is a Nigerian entrepreneur and energy sector leader, widely recognized for her work in advancing indigenous oil and gas services.
She is Managing Director of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL), Nigeria’s only 100% locally owned offshore fabrication and multi-logistics services hub, where she has driven industrial growth, job creation, and the development of the country as a regional maritime and energy logistics centre.
Jadesimi is the daughter of Oladipo Jadesimi, LADOL’s executive chairman, and Alero Okotie-Eboh. She studied at University of Oxford, earning a BA in Physiological Sciences and a medical degree (BMBCh), before obtaining an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Her career began in investment banking at Goldman Sachs in London, where she focused on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. While at Stanford, she completed an internship with Brait Private Equity in Johannesburg. After business school, she founded a financial consultancy in Nigeria before joining LADOL, first as Deputy CEO and CFO, and later as Managing Director in 2009.
Jadesimi also serves as a commissioner of the Business and Sustainable Development Commission and has received international recognition including the Rising Talent Award from the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society and the World Economic Forum Young Global Leader Award.
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