By Balogun Kamilu Lekan
Biography
Catherine Uju Ifejika is a lawyer and oil mogul who currently serves as the chairperson and chief executive officer of Brittania-U Nigeria Limited and Brittania-U Ghana Limited, two domestic oil companies for upstream exploration and production.
She is regarded as one of the richest women in Africa and is among the top six oil and gas executives in the world.
Age
Catherine Uju Ifejika was born on October 28th, 1959 in Opobo, Rivers State to Chief Clifford Ogwu and Elizabeth Ikpeze. Going by her date of birth, Ifejika is currently 62 years old and would be 63-year-old by October 28, 2022.
Education
She attended the University Basic School in Nsukka for her primary education before continuing on to Queens School in Enugu for her senior schooling.
Later on, she proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria for her undergraduate studies, where she bagged both an LLB (Hons) and a Diploma in Law in 1985. She was admitted to the bar in 1986.
Husband and children
Catherine Uju Ifejika is married to Emmanuel Ifejika, and they have three biological children as well as three adoptive children.
Career
After her one-year mandatory national service, Catherine Uju Ifejika moved on to work for Texaco in the oil and gas sector.
She began working for Texaco in 1987 in the company’s Legal Department as a Junior Counsel, spent two years at Texaco Overseas Petroleum, and by 1991 was acting as Chief Counsel.
She gained knowledge of both the upstream and downstream components of the petroleum sector during this period.
In 1997, she served as the company secretary and the manager of public and government affairs.
In 2003, Catherine became the Company Secretary for Public and Government Affairs for West Africa.
Uju Ifejika was appointed Chairperson and CEO of Brittania-U Nigeria Limited in 2007, a Nigerian subsidiary of the oil and gas corporation Brittania-U Group.
Brittania-U Nigeria, which had a modest beginning in Nigeria in 1995, is now divided into three economic sectors that are interconnected: upstream; drilling; trade; and oil services; as well as geology and engineering consultation.
All facets of the oil and gas industry are covered by these three commercial sectors, including exploration, development, production, refining, petrochemicals, marketing, trading, and shipping.
In addition to Brittania-U Nigeria, Uju Ifejika also founded Brittania-U Ghana Limited, Nexttee Oil & Gas Trading Co. Nigeria Ltd., and Data Appraisal Co.
The Ajapa Marginal Field, an oil and gas field with estimated reserves of $4.3 billion, was purchased by Brittania-U Nigeria.
The company has also worked with neighbouring Nigerian communities, employed Nigerians, and taken part in community development projects.
The objectives of Brittania-Primary U, according to Uju Ifejika, are to enhance people’s quality of life, offer employment opportunities, and uphold a clean and safe environment.
Uju Ifejika served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture of Nigeria from 2001 to 2002.
Awards
Numerous honours and distinctions have been bestowed upon Uju Ifejika, including the 2013 African Businesswoman Award from Black Pumps, a non-profit group for women situated in Los Angeles, California.
In May 2022, the Federal Government conferred the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) award on Brittania-U Nigeria Limited.
Achievements
In 2019, Catherine Uju Ifejika made history as Brittania-U Group acquired the biggest vessel ever used for trading in Nigeria’s cabotage waters.
Catherine is the first and so far, the only woman to become chair and CEO of an Upstream E&P Company in Nigeria.
Net worth
The company is reportedly worth an estimated $5 billion.
Disclaimer
The information in this article was curated from online sources. All details cannot be independently verified by NewsWireNGR or its editorial team.
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