Her peers in the nation’s Oil & Gas industry are few. Her reputation has become a reference statement of competence and resourcefulness while her accomplishments are ringing endorsements of the value of genius and productivity of vision.

Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi served as the Managing Director/CEO of Ingentia Energies Limited until the end of February 2026, and in March 2026, she assumed the role of Managing Director/CEO of West Africa Exploration and Production Company (WAEPCo).

With over twenty-five years of distinguished experience in the oil and gas industry, she is widely recognized as one of the pioneering female leaders in Africa’s upstream sector, bringing strategic vision, operational excellence, and deep industry expertise to every organisation she leads.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Geophysics from Federal University of Technology, Akure and a Master of Science degree in Applied Geophysics from University of Lagos.

Her professional journey began at Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (ExxonMobil). Over the years, her technical expertise and leadership capabilities propelled her through several reputable organizations, including Asharami Energy Ltd. (the upstream arm of Sahara Group), Centrica Resources Nigeria Limited (British Gas), Peak Petroleum Limited, and Degeconek Consulting.

Leadership at Ingentia Energies Limited

As the Pioneer Managing Director of Ingentia Energies Limited, Olajumoke steered the company through critical growth milestones. Under her leadership:

• A producing well averaging over 2,300 barrels of oil per day was successfully delivered.
• A 10,000 bopd capacity Production Processing Facility was constructed and installed.
• The Field Development Plan received Commission approval, resulting in the conversion of the Petroleum Prospecting License (PPL) to a Petroleum Mining Lease (PML).
• The asset ranked among the top-performing fields awarded in the post-2020 Marginal Field Bid Round.
• The company achieved over one million barrels of cumulative production since inception, with more than one million barrels successfully evacuated.
• Over one million man-hours were recorded with zero Lost Time Injury (LTI).

Projects are consistently delivered safely, within budget, and in record time—reflecting her unwavering commitment to operational excellence. Beyond operations, she has built strong, sustainable relationships with host communities, ensuring Ingentia operates as a responsible corporate citizen with a long-term community engagement focus.

Transformational Leadership at Asharami Energy

During her tenure at Asharami Energy, Olajumoke recorded numerous achievements. As Exploration Manager and later General Manager – Exploration & Development, she led the team that drilled and successfully delivered Asharami’s first five wells.

Upon her promotion to Managing Director during a critical downturn—when oil prices fell below USD 30—she skilfully transitioned the company from an exploration-focused entity into a producing business delivering 20,000 barrels of oil per day. She secured funding for new drilling initiatives, generating significant incremental value and driving sustained business growth.

Professional Leadership and Recognition

Olajumoke currently serves as President of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), becoming only the third female president in the association’s 50-year history. Notably, within NAPE’s first 40 years, she became the first woman to serve as Vice President.

She is an active member of several respected international professional bodies, including:

• American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
• Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS)
• European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE)
• Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG)

She is also COMEG certified.

Her excellence has earned her numerous accolades locally and internationally. In 2021, she was recognized by Africanshapers.com as one of the Top 100 Outstanding Female Executives in the African oil and gas industry and ranked among the 50 Most Inspirational Energy Executives by Africa Oil Week and Lean In Energy. In 2022, Women in Maritime and Energy (WIME) honoured her as one of the Outstanding Women in Energy (Upstream International). In March 2025, she was recognized by The Guardian as one of Nigeria’s Most Impactful Women in Leadership.

Governance and Philanthropy

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Olajumoke is deeply committed to philanthropy and capacity development. She actively supports children, women, emerging entrepreneurs, and young professionals. She serves on the Governing Council of Elizade University and is a board member of SheCan Nigeria Ltd.

Through her vision, expertise, and unwavering dedication, Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi continues to inspire and pave the way for future generations of leaders in the energy sector.