In a landmark initiative to prepare young women for professional excellence, NNPC Limited/SNEPCo PSC, in partnership with the Ascent Club and the University of Lagos, hosted the inaugural Career Clinic: Career Readiness Skills for the Real World. The event, held on October 11, 2025, brought together 150 final-year female students for an intensive day of mentorship, leadership training, and direct engagement with industry leaders.
The Career Clinic represents a pivotal step in NNPC Limited’s ongoing commitment to empowering women and nurturing the next generation of talent, particularly in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines that drive Nigeria’s energy sector.
Mentorship as a Tool for Growth
Delivering the keynote address, Mrs. Nkechi Anaedobe, Head of Business Services at NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), underscored the transformative power of mentorship in shaping both personal and professional growth.
“The event provided a golden opportunity to pay forward the mentorship that helped me grow in my career,” Anaedobe remarked. “Mentoring does a lot for the individual, the company, and society. It is a tool that is never too late to learn to use, and I am glad I was able to contribute to this while soaking up even more.”
She described the Career Clinic as a testament to the joy and impact of collaboration, emphasizing that collective effort and shared knowledge remain key to building a strong, equitable professional community.
Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry
Throughout the day, participants engaged in interactive sessions facilitated by professionals from NNPC Limited, SNEPCo, and a diverse range of industry experts. The sessions explored critical themes such as:
Employability skills and workplace readiness
Personal branding and career positioning
Leadership development and resilience
Long-term mentorship and networking for career growth
The practical workshops were designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world experience, ensuring that participants gain not only theoretical knowledge but also actionable insights to help them thrive in competitive professional environments.
Expanding a Vision of Female Empowerment
The Career Clinic builds on the momentum of the Top 100 Career Women in Africa Initiative, launched earlier this year, which seeks to highlight and support outstanding women making strides across industries on the continent.
This latest event marks a significant expansion of that mission, translating advocacy into hands-on empowerment by connecting aspiring professionals with mentors who have successfully navigated their career paths.
Through this initiative, NNPC Limited and its partners are championing a new era of female leadership, workplace diversity, and sustainable human capital development — reinforcing the belief that empowering women is key to powering the future.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Participants left the event inspired and better equipped to pursue careers in high-impact sectors. Many described the experience as transformative — a rare opportunity to engage one-on-one with leaders who are shaping Nigeria’s energy and innovation landscape.
By investing in mentorship and capacity-building for young women, NNPC Limited continues to demonstrate that the future of the energy industry — and indeed the nation — lies in the hands of empowered, confident, and capable women ready to lead with excellence and integrity.
