In a landmark move for Nigeria's energy sector, Chief Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan has been appointed as the Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), becoming the first woman to ever lead the nation's upstream oil and gas regulator. Her appointment, confirmed by the Senate in December 2025 following a nomination by President Bola Tinubu, marks a significant shift in the leadership of a critical national institution.
A Trailblazer's Journey to the Top
Chief Eyesan's appointment is the culmination of a distinguished career spanning over three decades in Nigeria's energy landscape. Her academic foundation was laid at the University of Benin, where she earned a Bachelor of Education in Economics in 1986. This background equipped her with essential skills in economic analysis and project evaluation, which proved vital for her future roles.
She began her professional journey in the banking sector, serving as a Branch Manager at People's Bank of Nigeria and later as a Treasury Officer at Gulf Bank. Her pivotal move came in 1992 when she joined the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Over nearly 33 years, she ascended through key positions in planning, procurement, corporate strategy, and sustainability. Her career at NNPC peaked with her role as Executive Vice President, Upstream, a position she held until her retirement in November 2024. In this capacity, she oversaw strategic upstream operations and guided critical reforms aligned with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Strategic Vision for a Revitalised NUPRC
Since assuming office, Chief Eyesan has initiated a fresh wave of strategic focus and collaborative governance at the NUPRC. She is aligning the Commission's objectives with President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasising several core pillars:
- Boosting Crude Oil Production: Prioritising increased output to enhance national revenue and energy security.
- Accelerating Gas Monetisation: Advancing Nigeria's Decade of Gas vision for both domestic use and export.
- Enhancing Transparency: Implementing robust measures to rebuild investor confidence in licensing rounds and asset management.
- Driving Digitisation: Integrating digital tools to streamline operations, improve accountability, and ease business processes.
Her leadership style is notably inclusive, characterised by an open-door policy and regular town hall meetings to engage staff and strengthen ties with industry stakeholders, labour unions, and professional bodies.
Early Actions and Future Outlook
Tangible steps are already underway under her guidance in early 2026. A key development is the advancement of the 2025 licensing round, with a crucial pre-bid conference scheduled for January 14 in Lagos aimed at attracting new investment into exploration and development. She is also fostering deeper collaboration with sister agencies like the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
Chief Eyesan inherits an agency, established by the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021, that faces persistent challenges including crude oil theft, data management delays, and the need to modernise regulation in a fluctuating global energy market. Her approach is to view these challenges as opportunities for transformation, leveraging her extensive experience to resolve legacy issues and unlock stranded assets.
With a strategic focus on fortifying regulations, nurturing technical expertise, and embedding sustainability, Chief Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan is positioned to steer the NUPRC towards becoming a premier regulatory body in Africa. Her historic leadership represents not just a symbolic breakthrough but a practical commitment to harnessing Nigeria's hydrocarbon resources for sustainable wealth and economic stability for future generations.
