By Silverline Ifeanyi Onyeabor
When the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, commends a young female leader in the country’s critical power sector, it goes beyond a ceremonial gesture. It signals recognition of both individual excellence and the symbolic shift taking place in Nigeria’s corporate and public leadership.
At a recent courtesy visit in Abuja, Senator Tinubu lauded Engr. Jennifer Adighije, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), for her “diligence, passion, and deep sense of responsibility.” Describing her as a shining example of women in leadership, the First Lady’s remarks underscore a story that is bigger than the moment; it is about the transformative role of women in driving Nigeria’s development agenda.
But beyond symbolism, Adighije’s leadership is producing tangible results in one of the most challenging sectors of Nigeria’s economy: electricity.
NDPHC: A Strategic Institution in Transition
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) is a government-owned entity created to fast-track electricity generation and distribution under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP). Over the years, it has been at the forefront of constructing gas-fired power plants, transmission lines, and distribution infrastructure.
Yet, NDPHC has often faced challenges ranging from inadequate funding to bureaucratic bottlenecks and sector-wide inefficiencies. Leadership, therefore, has always mattered, especially when navigating reforms and executing complex capital projects.
It is against this backdrop that Engr. Jennifer Adighije’s appointment takes on significance. Tasked with steering an organisation pivotal to the nation’s power future, her mandate is both technical and strategic: restore capacity, expand access, and prepare for the energy transition.
Leadership in Action: Results that Speak
Since assuming office, Adighije has demonstrated that leadership is not about rhetoric but delivery. Within a short period, her team has:
Restored 230MW to the national grid, helping to stabilise supply in critical regions.
îDriven N500 billion in transmission upgrades, ensuring that generated power actually reaches consumers.
Pushed renewable energy integration, signalling a bold embrace of Nigeria’s green energy transition.
These achievements are not isolated technical wins; they represent a shift in NDPHC’s operational culture toward performance, accountability, and innovation.
The Gender Dimension: Breaking Barriers in Energy Leadership
Senator Tinubu’s pride in Adighije’s leadership also resonates deeply in a sector still dominated by men. Across Africa, the energy industry has struggled with gender parity, with women holding less than 25% of senior leadership positions.
Adighije’s rise represents a breakthrough moment: a young female engineer not only holding the reins of a strategic national company but also delivering measurable results. Her trajectory embodies the very ideals the First Lady championed: diligence, rare virtues, and inspiration for aspiring leaders.
This matters because representation shapes aspiration. For young women in engineering, energy, and public service, Adighije is proof that gender barriers can be dismantled and that competence remains the strongest credential for leadership.
Reshaping Nigeria’s Power Sector
Analysts argue that Nigeria’s power challenge is not merely about capacity but about visionary leadership that can align stakeholders around solutions. Engr. Adighije is demonstrating this alignment by:Prioritising collaboration with distribution companies (DisCos) to reduce losses.
Campaigning gas-to-power optimisation while simultaneously pushing renewables.
Engaging with communities to ensure local support for NIPP projects.
Her approach blends technical expertise with stakeholder diplomacy, a balance that has often been missing in Nigeria’s power institutions.
The First Lady’s Endorsement: Symbol and Substance
Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s commendation is more than ceremonial; it carries symbolic and policy weight. It signals governmental backing for young, competent leadership and reinforces the administration’s narrative around inclusivity and youth participation in governance.
In extending her warm regards to NDPHC’s staff and urging them to rally around Adighije’s leadership, the First Lady effectively institutionalised support for her mandate. This matters in a sector often plagued by internal politics and resistance to reform.
The Broader Picture: Women and Nigeria’s Development Goals
Globally, studies have shown that organisations with diverse leadership outperform their peers in innovation, governance, and stakeholder trust. Nigeria’s energy sector, long marked by inefficiency and underperformance, stands to benefit from this infusion of diverse leadership styles.
Adighije’s example could serve as a case study in gender empowerment and governance reform, reinforcing Nigeria’s international commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5: Gender Equality) and SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.
Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities
While the progress is commendable, the road ahead remains steep. Nigeria’s electricity deficit is still massive, with over 85 million citizens lacking reliable access to power. The financial liquidity crisis in the sector persists, and gas supply bottlenecks threaten generation capacity.
For Engr. Adighije, the challenge will be to:
Sustain momentum in restoring idle capacity.
Drive investment partnerships to complete stalled NIPP projects.
Balance the short-term need for gas-fired generation with long-term renewable integration.
Her leadership will be judged not just by projects completed but by her ability to embed systemic change in a sector that has resisted reform for decades.
Engr. Jennifer Adighije’s story is not just about personal achievement; it is about redefining what leadership in Nigeria’s power sector can look like. With the First Lady’s commendation, her achievements have entered the national spotlight, amplifying both the symbolism of her leadership and the substance of her results.
If Nigeria is to solve its chronic power crisis, it needs leaders who embody vision, competence, and resilience. In Adighije, NDPHC has found such a leader, and in Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s endorsement, she has earned national recognition that may well inspire the next generation of women leaders to step forward.