President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Mr Festus Osifo has urged Nigerian women to take the lead in driving change in the nation’s oil and gas sector. Osifo, made the call at the third PENGASSAN Women Annual Convention last week in Abuja, said women in the oil and gas industry should also focus on building a lasting legacy within the sector.
Speaking on the theme of the convention, ‘The Dynamic Woman, Shaping Tomorrow; Influence, Impact and Legacy,’ the PENGASSAN president urged women to go beyond participation to become leaders, innovators, and key decision-makers shaping the future of the union and Nigeria’s economy.
He emphasised that influence was not about position but the ability to inspire progress, promote equality, and drive meaningful change within the energy sector.
Osifo also called for stronger mentorship, capacity building, and the elimination of workplace discrimination against women across the industry, reaffirming the union’s commitment to promoting women into strategic leadership roles and encouraged them to sustain advocacy for national development.
He added that legacy should be defined by impact, values, mentorship, and opportunities created for future generations to build on. “Legacy is not about today’s applause but the lasting impact we create through mentorship, knowledge, and opportunities,” he said.
He also advised women to prioritise their health to ensure effective service delivery and sustained productivity in their professional roles. Speaking earlier, national chairperson of the PENGASSAN Women Commission, Mrs Ada Mbanaso said women’s empowerment remained central to the union’s progress and transformation agenda.
She said women in PENGASSAN had continued to break barriers, including winning elections into branch chairperson positions and other leadership roles. Mbanaso said the Women Commission represented courage, purpose, and evolution, adding that women were now positioned as catalysts for transformation in the energy sector.
She added that the 2026 theme reflected a shift in purpose, with women moving from participation to actively shaping systems, influence, and the future of the industry.
