Three senior officials of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) have been honoured at the 2026 Instinct Women Conference and Awards held in Nairobi, Kenya, for their outstanding leadership and professional achievements.

The award recipients were Sheila Addo, Deputy Chief Executive of the NPA, who received the Energy Woman Leader of the Year award; Maria Edith Oquaye, Director of Corporate Affairs, who was named Outstanding Woman in Corporate Communications; and Eunice Budu-Nyarko, Director of Consumer Services, who received the Outstanding Woman in Stakeholder Engagement award.

The awards recognise exceptional African women whose influence is transforming industries, strengthening institutions, reshaping narratives, and inspiring the next generation of female leaders across the continent.

The two-day conference and awards event, held from February 26 to 27, 2026, was organised under the theme “Women Who Move Nations: Leadership, Legacy & Impact.”

Delivering the keynote address at the ceremony, Dr. Addo reflected on the historic and ongoing contributions of women to global development.

She noted that across history and continents, women have stepped into moments of uncertainty and transformed them into milestones of progress, leading revolutions, rebuilding economies, shaping global institutions and redefining the meaning of power.

Dr. Addo emphasised that African women are not merely participants in global systems but are increasingly becoming architects of them.

She pointed out that women across sectors, including finance, technology, politics, business and public service, are breaking barriers, redefining excellence and transforming societies.

According to her, while women have long played leadership roles within homes, communities and grassroots movements, their influence today is increasingly visible at boardroom tables, in presidential offices, in global financial institutions and at the forefront of technological innovation.