By Prosper Mene
In the high-stakes world of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, where pipelines crisscross the Niger Delta and global markets hang on every barrel, Cecilia Umoren stands as a beacon of resilience and vision. As Executive Chairman of Millennium Oil and Gas since 2015, she has spent a decade steering the company through turbulent waters—both literal and figurative—while quietly carving a path for women in a sector long defined by male dominance. Her story is one of grit, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to sustainable growth, earning her a spot among the 100 Reputable Women of African Descent in 2025.
Umoren’s journey to the top of Millennium Oil and Gas is not just a personal triumph; it’s a testament to the slow but seismic shift unfolding in Nigeria’s energy landscape. The oil sector, which accounts for over 90% of the nation’s foreign exchange earnings, has historically been a tough arena for women. Yet, under her leadership, Millennium, a player in upstream exploration and production has weathered economic volatility, security challenges, and the global push toward cleaner energy. “It’s not about surviving the storm,” Umoren once said in a rare interview. “It’s about building something that endures beyond it.”
Taking the helm in 2015, Umoren inherited a company at a crossroads. Nigeria’s oil industry was grappling with falling global prices, rampant oil theft, and a government eager to diversify the economy. Her approach was methodical yet bold: streamline operations, invest in local talent, and prioritize sustainability. Over the past decade, she has overseen the development of key assets in the Niger Delta, navigating the region’s complex socio-political dynamics while fostering partnerships with communities often at odds with oil firms. Her tenure has seen Millennium bolster its production capacity, contributing to Nigeria’s fragile but vital oil output recovery—projected to hit 1.8 million barrels per day in 2025, despite setbacks like the recent pipeline explosions in Rivers State.
What sets Umoren apart, colleagues say, is her ability to balance profit with purpose. In an industry criticized for environmental negligence, she has championed initiatives to reduce gas flaring and integrate renewable energy pilots into Millennium’s operations. “The future of oil isn’t just about extraction—it’s about responsibility,” she remarked at an industry summit in Abuja last year. This vision aligns with Nigeria’s broader ambitions under the Petroleum Industry Act, which seeks to modernize the sector while addressing climate concerns.
For Umoren, leadership is personal. Raised in Akwa Ibom, a state rich in oil yet scarred by its extraction, she witnessed firsthand the paradox of resource wealth and local poverty. That perspective drives her advocacy for inclusion, not just for women, but for the communities her industry touches. At Millennium, she has pushed for training programs that elevate female engineers and geoscientists, a move that echoes across an industry where women globally make up only 22% of the workforce. Her efforts earned her accolades this month from the Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Initiative, which hailed her as a trailblazer for African women.
Her rise hasn’t been without challenges. The oil sector’s volatility—exacerbated by incidents like the March 2025 Rivers State crisis, where sabotage slashed output—tests even the steadiest hands. Critics argue her cautious approach to expansion has limited Millennium’s scale compared to giants like Shell or Chevron. Yet, supporters counter that her focus on stability has kept the company afloat where others have faltered. “She’s not here to chase headlines,” says a longtime associate. “She’s here to build a legacy.”
Umoren’s story resonates beyond the boardroom. She joins a growing cadre of Nigerian women reshaping the oil sector—from Elohor Aiboni, Shell Nigeria’s first female MD, to Senator Margareth Chuba Okadigbo, NNPC’s pioneering female chairman. Together, they signal a cultural shift in an industry at a pivotal moment, as Nigeria courts foreign investment (notably from China, with 74 oil-focused firms signing deals in 2024) while grappling with domestic unrest.
