Africa’s leading gender equity advocate, the Women in Energy Network (WIEN), is working to empower female entrepreneurs and professionals to seize opportunities that accompany prevailing reforms in the energy sector.
The group declared Monday that its WIEN Academy continues to deliver world-class learning interventions that strengthen technical competence, commercial acumen, leadership capability and professional resilience.
WIEN marked six months of strengthened learning and leadership development through the WIEN Academy, stressing a renewed commitment to delivering structured, consistent and industry-responsive programmes that equip women with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead across Nigeria’s rapidly evolving energy landscape.
The organisation said the Academy’s recent transformation comes at a critical period for Nigeria’s energy industry, as the country advances new licensing rounds, gas commercialisation, energy transition initiatives and increased investments across the oil, gas and renewable energy sectors.
Despite these opportunities, WIEN noted that women remain underrepresented in technical, commercial and executive leadership positions, creating an urgent need for deliberate capacity-building initiatives.
To address this gap, the WIEN Academy was formally established to deliver world-class learning interventions that strengthen technical competence, commercial acumen, leadership capability and professional resilience. According to the organisation, the Academy is designed to enable women to seize emerging opportunities while contributing meaningfully to the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Academy’s continued progress builds on the foundation laid by its former Directors, Dr. Ibilola Amao and Rosario Ososbase, whose leadership established it as a trusted platform for professional development within WIEN. Building on that legacy, the Academy has, over the past six months, introduced a more structured and consistent learning model that responds to the evolving needs of women across the entire energy value chain.
Between January and July 2026, the Academy delivered a broad range of executive masterclasses, mentoring sessions and career development programmes designed to provide participants with practical knowledge and strategic insights. The programmes commenced on January 20 with a masterclass on New Tax Requirements for Owner-Managed Businesses, followed by a session on Commercial Acumen and Energy Economics on April 7. On May 12, participants attended “The Smart Founder’s Guide to Shutting Down,” while a week later, on May 19, the Academy hosted a group mentoring session on Leadership and Decision-Making.
The learning programme continued on June 9 with a masterclass on “Nigeria’s Decade of Gas Initiative: Roadmap to Implementation, Quick Wins and Critical Enablers,” followed by another group mentoring session on June 24 focusing on Personal Development and Building Resilience as a Woman in the Energy Sector. On July 14, the Academy rounded off the period with its Career Clinic Masterclass, which focused on helping participants build and effectively manage their professional careers.
According to WIEN, these programmes have equipped participants with practical insights, strategic perspectives and leadership tools needed to excel in today’s dynamic and increasingly competitive energy industry.
Building on this momentum, the Academy is set to launch a flagship four-part Executive Programme on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) in the third quarter of 2026. The programme will be delivered by a distinguished faculty of industry experts and will take participants from ESG fundamentals to advanced application, covering governance and strategy, sustainability reporting, climate finance, social impact and leadership for organisational transformation.
Participants will develop practical competencies in ESG strategy development, sustainability reporting and disclosure frameworks, climate-related risk and opportunity management, carbon accounting, sustainability performance measurement, stakeholder engagement and social impact initiatives. The programme is also designed to prepare participants to lead ESG transformation that creates long-term business and societal value.
Speaking on the Academy’s progress, the Director of the WIEN Academy, Dorothy Eboh, said the institution was established to ensure that women are not merely participants in Nigeria’s energy transition but leaders shaping its future.
“The WIEN Academy was created to ensure that women are not merely participants in Nigeria’s energy transition but leaders shaping its future. We have intentionally strengthened the Academy’s learning experience through more structured programming, continuous engagement and practical executive development. Through continuous learning, mentoring and executive development, we are building the next generation of women leaders who will drive innovation, sustainability and inclusive growth across the energy value chain,” she said.
Also speaking, the President of WIEN, Eyono Fatai-Williams, said the Academy has consistently reflected the organisation’s commitment to developing a strong pipeline of women leaders capable of shaping Nigeria’s energy future.
“For many years, the WIEN Academy has reflected our commitment to building a pipeline of women leaders who will shape Nigeria’s energy future. The Academy’s recent evolution toward more structured, consistent and member-focused learning experiences has further strengthened that commitment. We have seen women gain confidence, sharpen their skills and position themselves to take advantage of the opportunities presented by Nigeria’s energy transition. This is only the beginning, and we are determined to scale our impact even further,” she said.
The Women in Energy Network remains Nigeria’s foremost professional platform dedicated to advancing women’s participation, leadership and influence across the energy industry. Through advocacy, mentorship, networking, executive education and strategic partnerships, the organisation continues to empower women to excel professionally while contributing to Nigeria’s energy security, economic development and a more sustainable future.
