The Chief Executive Officer of Falcon Corporation Limited, Audrey Joe-Ezigbo, has called on players in the Nigerian energy industry to deepen commitment to appointing women to top leadership positions, especially across the gas value chain.

In a statement, Joe-Ezigbo made this call as part of the global celebration of women’s social, economic, and political achievements.

Joe-Ezigbo hailed the growing number of female chief executives and managing directors in the industry, describing it as a major shift in a sector long dominated by men.

She commended the appointment of national leaders such as the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, and the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan.

She also celebrated other female energy leaders, including Folake Soetan, Jennifer Adighije, Wola Joseph-Condotti, and upstream industry figures Catherine Uju Ifejika and Seinye Lulu-Briggs.

“Each of these appointments sends a powerful message beyond boardrooms and balance sheets. It signals to the world that Nigeria’s energy sector is prepared to compete on the strength of its full talent pool.

It signals to investors that governance and leadership selection are becoming more merit-driven. And most importantly, it signals to the girl child that there is no part of the energy value chain that is beyond her reach, not the control room, not the trading desk, and not the executive suite,” Joe-Ezigbo stated.

She emphasised that as Nigeria expands its gas infrastructure, leadership diversity must go hand in hand with sector growth.

“Gas is central to Nigeria’s transition story. The leadership shaping that story must reflect the diversity of the nation it serves,” she said.

Joe-Ezigbo urged boards, regulators, and investors to institutionalise inclusive succession planning rather than treat female appointments as one-off milestones.

“At Falcon, we see inclusion not as a campaign theme but as a governance principle. The progress we are witnessing across the sector should not be episodic. It should be sustained, measurable, and irreversible,” the CEO said.

She added that International Women’s Day 2026 offers an opportunity to consolidate momentum and ensure the next generation of female engineers, economists, and energy executives inherit a sector defined by merit, opportunity, and equal access to leadership.