Sopuruchi Onwuka

Africa’s foremost gender equity advocate, Women in Energy Network (WIEN), was weekend recognized by the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) as the most influential voice and support platform for grooming and mobilizing female workforce for the energy industry.

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The Industry Advocate of the Year was one of the eight awards presented in the corporate category at the NAEC Energy Conference 2025, and WIEN was the only non-profit and non-enterprise organization featured in the awards. During the nomination and selection processes, WIEN displaced 18 other advocates in the industry advocacy category to emerge tops.

Interestingly, a founding member of WIEN, Mrs Audrey Joe-Ezigbo, also earned the NAEC award as the Industry Woman of the Year. Mrs Joe-Ezigbo, the Chief Executive of Falcon Corporation Limited, is an industry leader who was the President of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) at the critical moments when the country’s gas policies were being shaped to develop the actionable programmes that run today.

NAEC Industry Woman of the Year 2025, Mrs Audrey Joe-Ezigbo

Mrs Joe-Ezigbo is also one of the few Africans to sit on the board of International Gas Union (IGU), the international body driving coordinated gas industry policies and standards across the globe.

Presentation of the awards to WIEN and Mrs Audrey Joe-Ezigbo became a big moment at the conference as the President, Mrs Eyono Fatai-Williams, and other members of the group present at the event mounted the stage in solidarity.

They also received the award for Mrs Joe-Ezigbo who was running late to the event and was not yet on ground to receive her awards.

Other highlights of the NAEC Energy Conference 2025 were panel debates which also featured a prominent member of WIEN, Mrs Chichi Emenike, the Acting Managing Director and Gas Asset manager at Neconde Energy Limited.

Mrs Emenike has since carved a niche as prominent industry analyst who continues to feature as speaker and debater in many conferences. She is part of the WIEN’s squad of policy advocates and analysts in the global energy industry.

The group had advanced a team of analysts at the 2025 Gas Technology (Gastech) Conference in Milan, Italy, earlier in the year. Members of the group also attended and featured in the 2025 Africa Oil Week (AOW) in Ghana.

And just before the NAEC Energy Conference, WIEN members attended and featured at the just concluded Africa Energy Week (AEW) in Cape Town, South Africa.

Prominent members of WIEN also dominated discussions at the just concluded Gas Investment Forum in Lagos, where the group featured 11 speakers including President of the group, Mrs Eyono Fatayi-Williams; the Special Adviser to President on Energy, Mrs Olu Verheijen; and the Executive Secretary of WIEN, Engr Asanimo Omezi.

Other WIEN participants at the Gas Investment Forum also include the Corporate Communications Manager at Aveon Offshore, Olivia-Jean Jeje; the Head of Integrated Gas Ventures at Asharami Energy, Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel; and the Managing Partner at Y AWONUGA LP, – Yemisi Awonuga.

At the event were also Engr. Chichi Emenike of Neconde Energy Limited; the General Manager of Tergo Energy Limited, Isioma Martins; the Chief Executive Officer of MD/CEO Ingentia Energies Limited, Olajumoke C. Ajayi; and the CEO of Adelaar Energy Limited, Dr Grace Orife.

Other participants at the Gas Investment Forum are the Chief Executive Officer of EnergyInc Advisors, Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani; the Chief Executive Officer of Selai Gas Station Limited, Damilola Owolabi-Osinusi; and the Gas Commercial Analyst at ND Western Limited, Halima Dokpesi.

WIEN was also a supporting partner at the Nigeria Hydrocarbon Measurement Conference (NiHMEC) 2025.

As industry debates continue in the year, WIEN will also be exhibiting at the upcoming OTL Africa Downstream Week 2025.