JANE Onu, a Nigerian petroleum engineer and a researcher at Colorado School of Mines, United States, has been named one of only five global finalists for the Young Professional Award at the International Energy Awards, hosted by the Energy London.

The awards celebrate excellence and leadership across the global energy sector, recognising organisations and individuals making significant contributions to technical innovation, safety, workforce development, and the broader energy transition.
Presented at the centerpiece dinner of International Energy Week on February 12, 2026, in London, the awards attracted nominations from energy professionals and institutions across continents.
Being shortlisted as one of just five finalists worldwide places Onu among an elite group of emerging leaders selected from a highly competitive international pool.

The 2026 Young Professional Award finalists represented major global institutions and corporations, including EDF (United Kingdom), Universiti Teknologi Petronas (Malaysia), Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia), and the Carbon Capture & Storage Association (United Kingdom).

She was recognised for her engineering contributions tied to transformative energy infrastructure development.
Her nomination is linked to her work with Oilserv Limited (EPCIC) on the Aba Independent Power Project (Aba IPP), a landmark integrated gas-to-power development executed in partnership with Geometric Power. The project, with an installed generation capacity of approximately 140 megawatts, was designed to provide dedicated and reliable electricity to the Aba industrial city, one of Nigeria’s most significant industrial clusters.

Unlike traditional reliance on the national grid, the Aba IPP integrates gas supply infrastructure, transmission networks, and generation systems into a localized framework delivering more predictable and stable electricity to over 1,000,000 residents and businesses.

Aba is home to thousands of small- and medium-scale manufacturing enterprises, particularly in leather production, textiles, and fabrication. Improved power stability is expected to reduce dependence on diesel generators, lower operating costs, enhance productivity, and strengthen regional economic competitiveness.

As a key player in the engineering team responsible for critical gas pipeline and process systems supporting the plant, Jane contributed to the backbone infrastructure enabling consistent fuel delivery to the generation facility. Gas-to-power integration requires advanced engineering precision in pipeline design, pressure regulation, system integrity, and operational reliability elements essential for sustained electricity supply.

The energy institute’s decision to shortlist her reflects the broader impact of engineering leadership behind infrastructure projects that directly influence industrial growth and economic resilience.
Speaking on the recognition, Onu described the nomination as both humbling and symbolic of Nigeria’s growing presence in the global energy community.

“To be selected among five finalists worldwide is an honour that reflects the importance of technical excellence, and the role engineers play in delivering infrastructure that drives economic transformation. It highlights the global competitiveness of Nigerian professionals contributing to complex energy systems.”

Currently pursuing dual master’s degrees in petroleum engineering and data science at the Colorado School of Mines in the United States, Onu’s work bridges large-scale infrastructure engineering with advanced data-driven optimisation research. Her academic and professional trajectory reflects a blend of field-based engineering expertise and forward-looking technological innovation.

As energy systems worldwide undergo rapid transformation, recognition at this level affirms the significance of professionals contributing meaningfully to infrastructure development and technical advancement across borders.