President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has earned praise for a groundbreaking appointment in Nigeria's energy sector. The Women in Maritime and Energy (WIME) Awards have publicly commended the President for naming Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
A Milestone for Gender Representation in Energy
In a statement released on 22 December 2025, the Chairperson of the WIME Board of Trustees, Dr. Mrs. Chizoba Anyika, celebrated the decision. She described Eyesan's appointment as historic, inspiring, and thoroughly deserved. This move marks the first time in Nigeria's history that a woman will lead the country's upstream petroleum regulatory agency.
Dr. Anyika expressed immense pride in seeing a distinguished alumna of the WIME platform ascend to such a critical national position. She stated that Eyesan's leadership is expected to significantly enhance the effectiveness and operational efficiency of upstream petroleum regulation in Nigeria.
Eyesan's Formidable Track Record
The new NUPRC CEO brings a wealth of experience to the role, spanning over three decades within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and its subsidiaries. An Economics graduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Eyesan retired from NNPC in November 2024 as the Executive Vice President, Upstream.
Her extensive career includes several pivotal leadership roles:
- Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer
- Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy
In these capacities, she was instrumental in developing NNPC Limited's Sustainability Framework, enforcing financial discipline, and improving cost efficiency. She also guided mergers and acquisitions policy while coordinating long-term corporate strategy, budgeting, and capital allocation.
One of her most notable achievements was leading the commercial dispute resolution for the Escravos Gas-to-Liquids (EGTL) project. This effort resolved long-standing cost overrun issues and secured multi-million-dollar revenues for both NNPC and the Nigerian state.
Aligning with a Vision for Inclusive Leadership
Dr. Anyika emphasized that the appointment sends a powerful signal regarding forward-looking leadership, diversity, and inclusivity. She noted that it aligns perfectly with WIME's core mission of building an ecosystem where women are empowered to advance, lead, and innovate across maritime and energy value chains.
"Eyesan's appointment demonstrates a clear commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive leadership structure," said WIME Executive Director, Tunbosun Afolayan, during the press conference. "We are proud of what this represents for women across the industry."
Dr. Anyika further called for increased access and opportunities for women to assume leadership roles across both sectors, stressing that inclusive leadership is non-negotiable for sustainable industry development. She expressed confidence that Eyesan's profound experience would drive transparency, efficiency, and excellence in upstream petroleum regulation.
The Women in Maritime and Energy (WIME) Awards is Nigeria's leading platform for identifying, recognizing, and celebrating professional women in the maritime and energy sectors, dedicated to promoting leadership and sustainable growth.
