She-Fix 2.0: NNPC pushes inclusion drive for women in technical sector

In its bid to advance inclusion, celebrate female excellence and strengthens women participation across technical and professional sectors, the NNPC Retail Limited (NNPC Retail), a subsidiary of the NNPC Ltd., hosted the second edition of She-Fix 2.0, its flagship, women-focused initiative, in Abuja, recently.

The event, held under the theme ‘Driving Diversity, Powering Progress’, was attended by over 300 women professionals, business owners, young technicians, and energy and industry leaders.

Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, minister of Women Affairs, who described inclusion as central to national growth, called for more opportunities for women in technical and STEM-related fields.

While commending NNPC Retail for its vision in establishing the initiative, the minister called for sustained collaboration between government and the corporate sector to scale the programme further.

In her keynote address, Sophia Mbakwe, executive vice president of the business services, NNPC Limited, noted that women’s contribution within NNPC Ltd. permeates every level, stressing that NNPC Retail, the company’s daily point of contact with ordinary Nigerians, is a space where diversity holds significant weight.

Huub Stokman, managing director of NNPC Retail Limited, who was represented by Valentina Kojo, executive director of finance, NNPC Retail, stressed that women empowerment must be practical, visible and sustainable. 

In his remarks, Andy Odeh, chief corporate communications officer, NNPC Limited said women in today’s energy sector are leading change, building institutions, and shaping the narrative of an industry already in transition.

He reiterated that when women lead, value follows, and when value follows, organisations grow and society prospers.

Highlights of the She Fix 2.0 initiative include a panel session, live car care demonstrations, a marketplace showcasing female-led businesses, an on-site car diagnostics center where participants accessed vehicle checks and basic servicing, interactive sessions, networking activities, and special discounts on Oleum Lubricants and NR-GAS LPG products, delivered in collaboration with partners CFAO Motors and Zenith Insurance, reaffirming NNPC Retail’s commitment to gender equity and inclusion across every part of the energy value chain.

The panel featured five senior women from across energy, finance, technology, and corporate governance namely: Emmanuella Arukwe, managing director, NNPC Foundation; Maryamu Idris, managing director, NNPC Trading Limited and OPEC national representative for Nigeria; Oremeyi Akah, chief Customer Officer, Interswitch Limited; Toyin Alasi, founder and CEO, Money Wise International; and Adaeze Nwakoby, general manager, governance, risk & compliance, NNPC Retail Limited.

The She-Fix 2.0 initiative builds upon the momentum of the 2025 edition held in Lagos. It symbolises a deliberate expansion of the programme’s reach and reaffirming NNPC Retail’s commitment to growing a platform which produces lasting outcomes for women across the nation’ energy sector.