The National Chairperson of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Women Commission, Dr. Ada Mbanaso, says the PENGASSAN Women Annual Convention (PWAC) 2026 is set to reposition women in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry to move beyond participation to influence, impact, and legacy.
The convention, with the theme “The Dynamic Woman Shaping Tomorrow: Influence, Impact, Legacy”, holding in Abuja from April 15 to 16, 2026, will reflect “the lived realities of women who, despite years of diligence and proven competence, still contend with limited visibility and recognition”.
According to Mbanaso, “There is a woman who has done everything she was told to do but somehow, she still has to fight to be heard. She still has to push harder to be seen. She still has to navigate spaces that were not built with her in mind.”
She noted that “the convention is also for the next generation coming into the industry with hope, who deserve a clearer path, not a tougher one.”
Mbanaso stressed the urgency of change, saying, “There are women in this industry who have carried the burden of proving themselves for years. It is time to make that journey easier for those coming behind. We cannot keep working without influence and call it progress. Something has to change.”
She described the gathering as more than a routine event but a platform for reflection and responsibility, designed to nurture women who will “speak without shrinking in technical and leadership spaces, influence decisions, build financial strength, and maintain mental and emotional stability amid industry pressures”.
This is not about coming to listen and then going back the same way. It is about taking responsibility. She emphasised that you are responsible for how you show up, for the decisions you influence, and for the changes that occur because you are in the room.
While acknowledging gaps, she noted that “a lot of women before now had to figure things out alone… Some worked hard, but their impact was never seen,” urging that we “cannot continue like that”.
Calling for a shift “from just doing the work to influencing outcomes, from effort to visible impact, and from personal success to something that outlives you”,this event is not a comfortable gathering. You will be challenged… What exactly is my influence in this industry? Am I using it or just occupying space? What is changing because of me?”
She underscored the need to redefine progress, stating, “The goal is not just to rise. The goal is to change the experience for the next woman… What will matter in the end is simple. What changed because you were here?” Mbanaso added,
The two-day convention seeks to reposition women as active shapers of the industry’s future.