WIEN Young Professionals Host Flagship Mentorship Session with Industry Veteran Engr. Ifeoma Ukabiala

June 6, 2026 | Women in Energy Network

Wide-eyed and fully engaged, a group of young professional women in the energy sector gathered on June 6, 2026, for the flagship edition of the Women in Energy Network (WIEN) Young Professionals Mentorship session, held in the heart of Victoria Island. The session’s keynote speaker, Engr. Ifeoma Ukabiala, took attendees through the highs, challenges, and hard-won lessons of her decades-long career in engineering.

With over 30 years of experience in Nigeria’s energy sector, Engr. Ukabiala offered a rare, candid look into what it truly takes for a woman to build and sustain a career in an industry long dominated by men. Her own story is one of historic firsts: she made history as the first-ever female Portfolio Manager in ExxonMobil’s Upstream Nigeria Business Unit, where she oversaw complex, high-value asset portfolios worth over $15 billion.

Throughout her career, Engr. Ukabiala led more than 30 greenfield and brownfield projects with a combined value exceeding $30 billion, spanning EPCI (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Installation), vessel management, shutdowns, and power distribution upgrades. Among her standout achievements were major offshore infrastructure projects, including:

• The Wellhead and Platform Project (Usari B, Etim C, Asasa A & B).
• The Usari Development and Pipelines Project.
• The Oso 2Y-2 Development Project — completed with zero safety incidents, a testament to her unwavering commitment to operational excellence and safety standards.

A Room Full of Leadership

The session was further enriched by the presence of two of WIEN’s foremost leaders, both of whom brought their own decades of experience to the conversation.

Mrs. Eyono Fatai-Williams, WIEN’s President, brings over 30 years of management and leadership experience across Oil and Gas, IT, Banking, Security Printing, and Manufacturing. Formerly CEO of Africa Missions Global, she has been particularly vocal about extending WIEN’s reach to the grassroots—championing STEM-focused career fairs for girls in government secondary schools in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and beyond, helping young girls see careers in energy and STEM as attainable futures rather than distant dreams.

Also present was Engr. Asanimo Omezi, WIEN’s Executive Secretary—a registered Engineer with COREN and member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Chartered Institute of Directors. Previously Chief Operating Officer at Dateline Energy Services, she brings over three decades of experience in engineering, procurement, construction, business development, and strategic support. Today, she channels that expertise into uniting engineers, scientists, business leaders, policymakers, and students through mentorship, networking, and professional development. By her own account, she is deeply passionate about volunteering, coaching, and mentorship.

Why Mentorship Matters

For the young women in the room, hearing these stories firsthand was more than inspiring—it was a masterclass in resilience, strategic execution, and what it means to break barriers in a high-stakes industry.

Mentorship sessions like this do more than transfer knowledge; they bridge the gap between ambition and access, giving rising professionals direct insight into pathways that often aren’t visible from the outside.

In an industry where women remain underrepresented—particularly upstream—the presence of leaders like Engr. Ukabiala, Mrs. Fatai-Williams, and Engr. Omezi sends a powerful message: success is possible, and the road—however difficult—has already been forged by those who came before.

Their willingness to show up, share openly, and invest time in the next generation reflects WIEN’s broader mission: not just to advocate for women in energy, but to actively build the pipeline that will sustain that progress for years to come.

As the session wound down amid warm conversations and networking, one message rang clear: representation matters—and platforms like this mentorship session are where that representation takes root.

About WIEN

The Women in Energy Network (WIEN) is an association established in 2020 to provide a platform for women who work across the energy industry value chain to network, build confidence, and create links to progress their careers and businesses. WIEN unites engineers, scientists, business leaders, policymakers, and students from the energy sector in pursuit of greater gender diversity and inclusion.

The organization’s mission is to promote gender diversity and inclusion, creating opportunities for women to thrive and lead within a dynamic industry—through advocacy, capacity building, mentorship programs, and networking events.

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