… expresses confidence in Eyesan to drive transparency, efficiency in upstream regulation

Adeshewa Oreoluwa

The Women in Energy Network (WIEN) has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), marking a historic milestone as the first woman to head Nigeria’s upstream petroleum regulatory agency.

The commendation was contained in a statement issued by WIEN’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Asanimo Omezi, and obtained by Advisors Reports on Friday.

Mrs. Eyono Fatayi-Williams, in the statement, WIEN President, congratulated Eyesan, describing her appointment as both inspiring and historic, and in line with the organisation’s mission to advance female leadership and expand opportunities for women across the energy value chain.

Fatayi-Williams said the appointment sends a strong message of inclusive and forward-looking leadership, stressing that Eyesan’s professional pedigree and proven track record make her well suited for the role.

She noted that the development represents a significant milestone for gender representation in the energy sector and reinforces WIEN’s advocacy for balanced leadership in the industry.

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

She retired in November 2024 as Executive Vice President, Upstream, where she oversaw Nigeria’s upstream petroleum operations.

Her career includes senior leadership roles such as Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer and Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy, during which 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 key role in government engagement on capital budgets and national development plans.

Among her notable achievements was leading the commercial dispute resolution of the Escravos Gas-to-Liquid (EGTL) project, resolving legacy cost issues and securing multi-million-dollar revenues for NNPC and the country.

According to Fatayi-Williams, Eyesan’s appointment reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to stronger governance, inclusive leadership, and a diverse executive pipeline, adding that appointing a technocrat of her calibre signals a clear resolve to build a modern and resilient regulatory framework for the petroleum industry.

She expressed confidence that Eyesan’s experience would support transparency, efficiency, and excellence in upstream petroleum regulation, while reaffirming WIEN’s support for women in energy leadership.

Also reacting, Engr. Omezi described the appointment as a major boost for gender inclusion and future-ready leadership in Nigeria’s energy sector, noting that it underscores a clear commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive leadership structure.

He added that WIEN remains proud of what the appointment represents for women across the industry and committed to ensuring they receive the support, visibility, and opportunities needed to rise.