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.
Daisy Danjuma is a Nigerian lawyer, business executive and former legislator who serves as Executive Chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO), an indigenous oil exploration and production company with operations across Africa.
Danjuma holds a law degree from Ahmadu Bello University and is an alumna of Lagos Business School. She began her career as a State Counsel at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice in the Department of Public Prosecutions and later became a pioneer Legal Counsel at the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.
She subsequently worked at Nigerian Acceptances Limited (NAL), an investment banking institution, before spending about a decade as Company Secretary and Legal Adviser at the Nigerian Television Authority.
In 2003, she was elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where she chaired the ECOWAS Parliament Women and Children’s Rights Committee and served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs and Youth Development. After leaving public office, she joined SAPETRO as Executive Vice Chairman and was appointed Executive Chairman in December 2023.
Founded as an African-focused exploration and production company, SAPETRO is involved in the development of oil and gas assets across the continent. In Nigeria, the company holds interests in deep-water blocks including OML 130 and OPL 246, where the Akpo field reached peak production of more than 180,000 barrels per day.
The adjacent Egina field also contributes significant offshore output through a floating production storage and offloading vessel with a storage capacity of about 2.3 million barrels.
Beyond Nigeria, SAPETRO operates assets in West Africa, including a 100% operating interest in the Sèmè oilfield offshore the Republic of Benin, a mature field with decades of production history.
Danjuma also serves as Chairman of May & Baker Nigeria Plc and holds leadership roles in several nonprofit organizations, including the H I D Awolowo Foundation and the Women at Risk International Foundation. She is a member of the International Bar Association, the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Federation of Women Lawyers.
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