By Fredrick Ameh
Female executives from NNPC Limited dominated the spotlight at the 2026 Ascent Top 100 Career Women in Africa Awards in Lagos, securing multiple honors for their leadership in the continent’s energy sector.
The awards recognized high-ranking officials, including Sophia Mbakwe, Executive Vice President of Business Services, as well as Nkechi Anaedobe and Uzo Ejidoh from the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS).
Themed “Power, Presence, and Prestige,” the ceremony highlighted women who have transcended traditional barriers to shape industry decisions.
During her keynote address, Mbakwe redefined leadership as a balance of influence and consistency, while officially launching the Women in NNPC (WIN) initiative, a dedicated platform for mentorship and sponsorship designed to accelerate the career trajectories of female professionals within the national oil company.
The recognition of NNPC women at this level is a mechanical necessity for the “New NNPC” following its transition into a limited liability company. In the global energy landscape, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics are increasingly used to determine investment attractiveness.
By promoting women like Mbakwe and Ejidoh to top-tier executive roles, NNPC is signaling to international partners that it is modernizing its “Social” pillar through gender inclusion.
The launch of the WIN initiative specifically addresses the “Sponsorship Gap” in corporate Africa. While mentorship provides advice, Mbakwe’s emphasis on sponsorship, where leaders actively advocate for subordinates in decision-making rooms, is a strategic move to ensure that the pipeline of female talent doesn’t stall at middle management.
For NNPC Limited, these awards are more than just trophies; they represent the successful rebranding of the energy giant as a progressive, merit-based institution that leverages diverse leadership to drive Africa’s economic development.
