The Nigerian oil and gas industry, before now was filled with male players across all the sectors of the industry. So, it was generally seen as a male-dominated field, with little or very few females found therein. Alas, the game has changed, and the oil and gas sector in Nigeria and across the world is now a multi-gender industry.
Women, have taken centre stage and in some cases have dominated certain departments in the oil and gas sector.
Ikeanumba Africa Magazine, takes a look at these women and their achievements so far in the industry, in this cover story aptly titled, The Black Gold Amazons.
Folorunsho Alakija
The very beautiful and ageless Folorunsho Alakija, is the Vice-Chairman of Famfa Oil Limited, and was at one time named one of the richest black women in the world.
Folorunsho Alakija is not just an entrepreneur, she is also a philanthropist. She is involved in the fashion, oil, real estate and printing industries. She is the Group Managing Director of The Rose of Sharon Group, which consists of The Rose of Sharon Prints & Promotions Limited, Digital Reality Prints Limited and the executive vice-chairman of Famfa Oil Limited.
Folorunsho’s delve into the entrepreneurship world started as an executive secretary at Sijuade Enterprises, Lagos, then she joined the First National Bank of Chicago. Her 12 years banking career metamorphosed into a tailoring company called Supreme Stitches, which she later changed to Rose of Sharon House of Fashion. Her fashion house had a lot of high-profile clients and she eventually became a national president and lifelong trustee of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN).
Alakija’s company, Famfa Limited, applied for the allocation of an oil prospecting license (OPL) and was awarded the licence to explore for oil on a 617,000-acre block called OPL 216 and this was a game changer for her. She had a joint venture agreement with Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited, which is a subsidiary of Texaco where they acted as the technical adviser for the exploration of the licence, transferring 40 per cent of her 100 per cent stake to the company.
They soon struck oil, and then Alakija had to pursue litigation against the Nigerian government, which tried to take a 50 per cent stake in the organisation, she won the case in court.
Through her non-g o v e r n m e n t a l organisation, Rose of Sharon Foundation, Alakija has empowered many widows, orphans and underprivileged people through scholarships and business grants. She has also donated a skills acquisition center to Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), a higher educational institution located in Lagos.
Alakija was born on 15 July 1951 to an upper-middle-class polygamous family; her father Chief L. A. Ogbara of Ikorodu, Lagos State, had 8 wives and 52 children. Folorunsho Alakija went to Our Ladies of Apostles Nursery School, then traveled to the UK at the age seven, where she went to Dinorben School for Girls in Hafodunos Hall in Llangernyw, Wales between 1959 and 1963. after completing her primary education, she attended Muslim High School in Sagamu, Ogun State, and then returned to England for her secretarial studies at Pitman’s Central College, London.
Her career experiences spans, secretarial work, banking, fashion design, and oil and gas.
Folorunsho Alakija has received several awards and recognition’s, such as the Benson Idahosa University, honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration, in 2021, in recognition of her contribution to the business world.
Amy Jadesimi
Amy Jadesimi is the very pretty Chief Executive Officer of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base, a woman of amazing brilliance. She is a medical doctor, entrepreneur and a business executive.
Amy went to Beneden School in the UK and then had a first degree in Physiological Sciences from Oxford University, then Oxford University Medical School, where she bagged a medical degree.
She worked with Goldman Sachs International in London as part of the investment banking division of the company, immediately after her medical school, specialising in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions.
She then went further to Stanford Business School, California, USA, and got a Master’s degree in Business Administration. She also worked as an intern with a firm called Brait Private Equity in Johannesburg, South Africa,before she moved to Nigeria to start a financial consultancy firm, and also . She before joining the joined the management team of LiLe as Managing Director.
She finally joined LADOL in 2004 and her efforts has expanded the company in several ways, as LADOL is saddled with the task of meeting the logistical needs of deep water offshore oil and gas operations and projects, in and around Nigeria.
Amy is also a founding member of the Business and Sustainable Development Commission.
Amy was born in 1976, in Nigeria, her parents are Chief Oladipo Jadesimi and Alero Okotie-Eboh. Her father doubles as the executive chairman of LADOL, while her mother was a former broadcaster turned full-time homemaker.
Amy finally got the chance to practice her profession through LADOL, as she oined the Venture Strategies for Health and Development (VSHD) organization, where she works with other Nigerian doctors and birth attendants to reduce the high rate of maternal mortality in Nigeria.
Now the VSHD provides a more affordable drug that reduces maternal mortality, because the available ones were too expensive for many pregnant women. They even partnered with Emzor Pharmaceuticals, to distribute the drugs through Nigeria. Beyond LADOL, she is on the Prince’s Trust International global advisory board, a founding commissioner of the Business and Sustainable Development and Commission and a Forbes contributor.
Amy Jadesimi has received several awards including the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellow in 2012. In 2013, she was named as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. She was also given the title of Rising Talent by the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society in same 2013. among several others, such as the Financial Times one of the top 25 Africans To Watch.
Dr Jadesimi was recognized as one of the Global Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent in support of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent.
Godrey Ogbechie
Godrey Ogbechie is a definition of beauty and brains, she is a 1988 graduate of Agricultural Economics and Extension of the University of Calabar. She also attended Holy Child Secondary School in Calabar as well. Godrey started her career as a banker with Universal Trust Bank Limited and Fidelity Bank Plc, where she worked in different sectors such as operations, customer service/relationship management, audit and human resource management.
She eventually left the banking industry and joined Rainoil Limited (owned by her husband, Gabriel) as the Group Executive Director. She has made enormous impact in Rainoil, especially in the corporate support services functions of the company, which she oversees.
Godrey and her husband have continued to enjoy a symbiotic relationship as a couple and co-founders of Rainoil.
Godrey has over 28 years working experience, and she has continued to shrug off all associated work related challenges.
One of the dreams of Rainoil is to build a refinery in Nigeria, though the constraints of costs play out, as well as the state of the economy is a huge challenge as well. Then also the regulation policies of the government, also pose a huge challenge in the plan.
Rainoil is also positioning itself for a future where renewable energy will be very important, in other words, Rainoil is geared for any new innovations the future holds.
Godrey is also very passionate about philanthropy, both through the Rainoil CSR and also owns a foundation, along with her husband through which they proffer help to people.
The Gabriel Ogbechie foundation sponsors students in tertiary education and also engages in community development. Also Rainoil built schools and also pays some teachers salaries.
Victoria Samson
Victoria Samson is one woman who moved from the retail end in the oil and gas to the distribution end. She started her career in the oil and gas industry as a dealer with Texaco Nigeria Limited, and made so much impact that she was awarded the Best Dealer Award.
Victoria later co-founded the Bovas Group with her husband, Bamidele Samson, in 1980 and they started operations as an indigenous independent petroleum marketing company, before opening their first filling station in 1991 at Osogbo, Osun State. Presently, Bovas Group operates 119 service stations around Nigeria.
Bovas Group also opened a liquefied petroleum gas plant in 1995 and has a total of 20 operational gas skids.
Dr. Victoria. A. Samson has a cumulative experience of over twenty-five (25) years in the Oil and Gas industry, and even won the highly competitive Texaco Latin America West Africa (LAWA) Award for Best Overall Dealer, in 1990, for the highest sales in both regions combined. She was the first Nigerian to win this award.
Victoria is the Matron of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), NNPC/PPMC Satellite Depot, Ejigbo, Lagos State and Apata Depot Ibadan, Oyo State. She also doubles as a consultant to various companies in the oil and gas sector, and has literally taken her magic wand which she has used to grow Bovas Group to also grow the companies and the investors’ wealth.
Today, Bovas Group, not only has 119 service stations across the country, but also owns a Liquefied Petroleum Gas Plant, which was added in 1995 to cater for the domestic gas customers.
Victoria has a nickname in the oil sector, which is Mama BOVAS and that is because she caused a revolt in the oil and gas sector by disrupting the activities of the oil cabals. She stood up to them and insisted on selling PMS at the normal official rate, despite the artificial scarcity
Audrey Joe-Ezigbo
The very beautiful Audrey Joe- Ezigbo co-founded Falcon Corporation Limited with her husband, Joe, many years ago. Their company provides services such as engineering, procurement, construction, real estate and natural gas distribution, to which Audrey has used her experienced and hands-on approach to contribute to the company’s success.
Audrey is a motivational speaker, and trainer, and also doubles as the Managing Director and principal strategist of Falcongaz Limited. She is also a board member of various companies and is the immediate past president of the Nigeria Gas Association. caused by the cabals with the intention of hiking the fuel prices, so as to milk Nigerians dry.
Mama Bovas ensured that all Bovas filling stations across Nigeria had regular fuel supply and also sold at normal rates. Her actions created a huge relief to Nigerians at that time.
And she did not do it because she wanted to be praised, but she was only holding onto her business principles, which is to ensure that the financial situation and satisfaction of their customers is paramount to their business.
Falcon Corporation was founded by Audrey Joe Ezigbo and her husband in 1994, she has a very global approach to her business enterprises. Under her watch, Falcon Corporation grew from a minor services company, to becoming a major player in the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry as a licensed distributor of Natural Gas and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), in dedicated distribution zones with annual revenues of several billions of Naira currently.
Audrey’s education history is made up of several Masters’ degrees in Finance, Marketing and Business Administration from the Lagos Business School, University of Nigeria, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University. She also has executive certifications in Management, Leadership and Governance from Harvard Business School, IE Business School, and the WIMBOARD Institute.
Audrey, as the immediate past President (2018-2021), of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), was also the first woman to be the NGA President in the over 22 years history of the association.
A seasoned energy expert, Audrey is a Fellow of the Energy Institute UK (FEI), the global body for energy experts. She is the Vice Chair of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria’s Energy & Power committee. She is a founding member of Women in Energy Network (WiEN); a member and global role model for Women in LPG (WiNLPG) Nigeria chapter; and a member of the Nigeria Content Development; Monitoring Board (NCDMB) NCCF Diversity Sectoral Working Group.
She was recognized as one of Leading Ladies Africa 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria 2019, listed on the 2021 PowerWoman 100 list in the Oil; Gas category, and recognized as one of top 100 Outstanding Female Executives in the African Oil and Gas Industry 2021.
In testament to her contributions to Falcon Corporation, Falcon Petroleum Limited, a subsidiary of the group, has received several awards for its role in facilitating the commercial and industrial exploitation of the Natural
Bola Shagaya
The name Hajia Bola Shagaya is not new to Nigerians, especially because of her social activities. Shagaya is perhaps known more as a socialite, however, what many may be unaware of is Bola Shagaya’s business acumen.
Bola Shagaya is the Managing Director of Practoil Limited, a base oil importation and distribution company, which serves local lubricant blending plants in Nigeria. She is also the founder of Voyage Oil and Gas Limited, which deals in oil exploration.
Bola Shagaya started out as an auditor with the Central Bank of Nigeria, before venturing into business as an importer and distributor of photographic materials (Konica) in Nigeria and West Africa. She also owns a real estate, banking and fashion business as well.
Bola Shagaya is known as one of the richest women in Africa. She was born on 10 October 1959, to Adut Makur, a Sudanese seamstress, Gas reserves on the domestic front in Nigeria.
and Emenike Mobo, a Nigerian Public Servant. She attended Queens School, Ilorin.
She introduced the Konica brand of photographic materials into the Nigerian market and West Africa.
Hajia Bola Muinat Shagaya is also a board member of Unity Bank plc, for about eight years now. She is also a member of the recently inaugurated Nepad Business Group, Nigeria and a patron of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN).
Haija Bola Shagaya has received several awards such as, Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
Bola Shagaya is a very colorful personality, who has made indelible marks in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. She is also heavily involved in philanthropy, and has sponsored many individuals from Ilorin in school.
The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Ibrahim Sulu- Gambari CFR, aappointed Bola Shagaya as the Sarauniya of Ilorin Emirate, in recognition of her outstanding works.
Awuneba Ajumogobia
The astounding Awuneba Ajumogobia is a co-founder and director of Multistream Energy Limited.
She is an Economics graduate from the University of Ibadan and worked with companies like Peat Marwick Ani Ogunde and Company, Deloitte and Arthur Andersen (now Accenture).
She has made good use of her experience in the financial sector, in her financial structure of Multistream Energy Limited.
Awuneba is a chartered accountant who is experienced in assurance, taxation, finance and advisory services. She is also an associate of the non-profit organisation, Women in Management, Business and Public Service, and the Chairperson of the Governing Council of Grange Education Limited.
The 63 year-old Awuneba Sotonye Ajumogobia, is also the Chairman of Chemical & Allied Products Plc, and also on the board of Youth Business Initiative, of Multistream Energy Ltd.
Nnenna Obiejesi
Nnenna Obiejesi is the Group Executive Director at Nestoil, Nigeria’s largest indigenous Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) Company in the Oil and Gas sector.
Nnenna has over 30 years of local and international experience in legal matters, as well as Business Planning and Development.
Nnenna Obiejesi obtained her law degrees from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and The London School of Economics, and holds a Master’s Degree (LLM) in International Business Law.
Her work career started with Messrs Chike Chigbue & Co. [SAN] and Ike Obiora & Co Awuneba Sotonye Ajumogobia serves as Non-Executive Independent Director of the Airtel Nigeria, where she is considered as an asset to the board’s decision making due to her experience. [Legal Practitioners], immediately after her call to the Nigerian bar, where she practiced forensic advocacy under experienced and versatile Principals. She is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of The United Kingdom, and a Member of The Nigerian Bar Association.
Barr. Nnenna Obiejesi who is deep into philanthropy as an advocate for youth empowerment, she is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Obijackson Foundation.
The Obijackson Foundation improves the socio-economic well-being of the people, through improved access to quality education and good healthcare, in addition to cultural enrichment.
