Women In Energy Network Lauds Eyesan’s Appointment As Upstream CEO

An advocate for gender balance in energy sector leadership, the Women in Energy Network (WIEN), has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

In a statement congratulating Eyesan, WIEN president, Eyono Fatayi-Williams said the appointment is both inspiring and historic, noting that, it aligns with the organisation’s mission to advance female leadership and expand opportunities for women across the energy value chain.

She described the appointment as a strong signal of inclusive and forward-looking leadership, stressing that, Eyesan’s professional credentials and track record make her well suited for the role.

WIEN noted that, Eyesan is the first woman in Nigeria’s history to lead the country’s upstream petroleum regulatory agency, calling the development a significant milestone for gender representation in the energy sector.

Eyesan is an Economics graduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) with over three decades of experience at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and its subsidiaries.

She retired in November 2024 after serving as executive vice president, Upstream, where she provided strategic oversight of Nigeria’s upstream petroleum operations.

Her career spans key leadership roles including chief strategy and sustainability officer and group general manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy.

In these positions, she led the development of NNPC Limited’s Sustainability Framework, strengthened financial discipline, improved cost efficiency, guided mergers and acquisitions policy, and coordinated long-term corporate strategy, budgeting, and capital allocation.

She also played a central role in engaging government institutions on capital budgets and national development plans.

One of her notable achievements was leading the commercial dispute resolution of the Escravos Gas-to-Liquid (EGTL) project, which resolved legacy cost issues and secured multi-million-dollar revenues for NNPC and Nigeria.

Fatayi-Williams said Eyesan’s appointment reflects the federal government’s commitment to stronger governance, inclusive leadership, and a more diverse executive pipeline. She added that, appointing a technocrat of Eyesan’s calibre demonstrates a clear resolve to build a modern, resilient regulatory framework for the petroleum industry.

Also commenting, WIEN’s executive secretary, Asanimo Omezi, described the appointment as a major step forward for gender inclusion and future-ready leadership in Nigeria’s energy sector.

“Eyesan’s appointment is a clear commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive leadership structure. We are proud of what this represents for women across the industry and remain committed to ensuring they have the support, visibility, and opportunities needed to rise,” Omezi said.