By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
THE Chief Executive Officer of Starz Investment Company Limited, Iroghama Ogbeifun, has urged women in the energy sector to view gender inequality as a platform for economic opportunities rather than a limitation.
She made the call during the Women Powering Women in Energy 2.0 webinar organised by Women in Energy, Oil and Gas (WEOG), themed “Fueling Ambition: How Women Can Start, Scale and Sustain Businesses in the Energy Sector,” held on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
The webinar is designed as a knowledge-sharing platform, focused on empowering women in the oil and gas industry to excel and close the gender gap through capacity building and mentorship.
Speakers highlighted the need for women to take advantage of emerging opportunities within the sector by developing competence and building sustainable businesses.
In her welcome address, the Director of Women in Energy, Oil and Gas, Delta Chapter, Dr Sarah Nwinee, said the initiative was created to build women and ensure they take their rightful place in the industry.
She noted that although progress is being made in closing the gender gap, more effort is required to achieve meaningful inclusion.
Similarly, the National President of WEOG, Mrs Tolu Longe, encouraged participants to go beyond listening by implementing lessons learnt from the session, stressing the importance of commitment to growth and development in the sector.
Speaking during her presentation, Ogbeifun said: “Despite all of our advocacy and the moves made by different women associations, women still make up only 18 per cent of Nigeria’s energy workforce and hold less than 25 per cent of leadership roles. This shows there is still a lot of work to be done.”
She added: “Instead of seeing the problem, I see opportunities. There is still room for women who are focused to step into the energy space, create a niche, and add value. This is not just about the gender gap, but about the economic opportunities that exist.”
Ogbeifun emphasised that success in the sector is driven by competence and relationships, not just hard work.
“If you are not displaying competence, you will not build credibility and trust. Also, if you are unable to manage and develop relationships, it will be difficult to scale,” she said.
She further advised participants to understand the industry structure, identify a niche, and build expertise around it, noting that credibility remains a key factor in attracting investment.
“People invest in you before they invest in your idea. Credibility is your first real capital,” she stated.
The session also underscored the importance of continuous learning, access to information, and strategic networking, with participants encouraged to attend trainings and seminars to deepen their knowledge.
The webinar was moderated by the founder of RejeeLively Consult, Rejoice Debekeme.
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