In this edition of Member Focus, we spotlight Ibilola Amao, a trailblazer in engineering, energy, and sustainability, whose career reflects a powerful blend of technical excellence and purpose-driven leadership.

As the Principal Consultant of Lonadek Global Services, a multi-award-winning, ISO 9001:2015 certified engineering technology and innovation company, Ibilola has spent decades building solutions that sit at the intersection of engineering, digital transformation, and human capital development. Since its establishment in 1991, Lonadek has grown into a respected force providing engineering technology, asset and information management, STEM talent development, and training solutions across industries.

Beyond the structure of her work lies something even more compelling, a commitment to people. Ibilola’s journey is not only about building systems and driving innovation, but also about creating pathways for others, particularly women, to rise in industries where they have historically been underrepresented.

In this conversation, she shares insights into her journey — from how it all began, to the experiences that have shaped her leadership, her vision for the future of engineering and energy, and her unwavering dedication to mentoring the next generation of women in STEM.

Q: You trained as an engineer in an industry where women are often underrepresented. When was the first time you realized competence alone would not be enough, that you would also need to command space?

A: I have always focused on my competence, problem-solving DNA, and desire to add value. Uniquely and divinely orchestrated, my business is hinged on the thesis from my Ph.D. programme. I am in the business of sharing knowledge, building capacity, capability, and competence, while simultaneously trying to solve several value-adding problems. Naturally, this translates into innovation that commands its own space.

Q: Engineers are trained to think in systems and precision. Has that mindset ever clashed with the unpredictability of entrepreneurship?

A: Not at all. Engineering is about solving problems and making solutions widely available in a cost-effective manner. Entrepreneurship and engineering are so similar. Today, we call ourselves STEMpreneurs, TECHpreneurs, INTRApreneurs, or even EXTRApreneurs.

Q: Have you ever deliberately softened or sharpened your personality to survive certain boardrooms?

A: Not really. After several years of being a minority by gender or race in the UK, I have grown a very thick skin. I express myself professionally, and there has been no need to soften the reality. I focus on why I am on any board and then try to help diffuse herd thinking with alternative scenarios and out-of-the-box ideas, based on my ability to connect dots and solve problems simultaneously.

Q: What has being a woman in engineering cost you, and what do you think is the best thing that has come out of that career path?

A: I am grateful to God that I discovered my purpose very early in life, so my business, career, and profession are all aligned with my passion. My upbringing gave me the confidence to overcome several gender biases. I have always loved maths and problem-solving, and these attributes are at the core of engineering. At Lonadek, we solve problems for our clients too.

Q: When you founded Lonadek, what fear did you not admit publicly, but later overcame?

A: I started Lonadek by happenstance. The company exists by divine providence. It happened without a plan, and I have simply worked and walked with God on my problem-solving adventure.

Q: What season taught you about leadership under pressure?

A: Engineering is about deadlines, very tight deadlines, discipline, and focus. Over the years, I have learned it is better to work extremely hard at the start of a project than to face undue pressure towards the end. I front-load my activities.

When resources are tight, we take the scenario-based-choice route. We play to our strengths and focus on what we do best without compromising our standards. Furthermore, I am very collaborative and happy to work in TEAMS or outsource what others do best. Business for me has never been do-or-die.

Q: At what point did you realize your business was bigger than contracts and that it was about nation-building?

A: I have always been a patriotic Nigerian. My late father, Oba Engr. Adebayo Idowu Onadeko, raised us to love Nigeria. We traveled a lot with him by road during his career as a civil engineer building roads with the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing.

Every problem I see that resonates with my DNA is an opportunity to create a project, initiative, enterprise, solution, or product. I am wired and born to create wealth. My name, Ibilola, speaks prophetically to my purpose.

Q: Do you believe Nigeria’s engineering ecosystem is genuinely evolving, or are we still recycling dependency models?

A: It is definitely evolving, with technology as an enabler. The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) recently transformed into a global engine, with Nigerian engineers in the diaspora beginning to engage more locally. NSE’s most recent President, Engr. Mrs. Margaret Oguntala (FNSE), the first female president in 62 years, brought strategic partnerships to the fore. Lonadek signed an MoA with NSE, and we are looking at working closely with the Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN) to ensure gender diversity improves.

Many engineering companies have foreign technical partners, and many Nigerian engineers are chartered or members of other international associations. The engineering ecosystem is increasingly global.

Q: If you could redesign the way technical talent is trained in Africa, what would you dismantle first?

A: I would not dismantle anything but leverage what exists. I would introduce night and weekend school. Theory would be based on practice rather than what we currently have, where classes are filled with engineers who have little or no hands-on experience.

Q: Who are you when you’re not the engineer, not the CEO, not the advocate?

A: I am a patriotic Nigerian, dedicated Christian, sister to awesome siblings, and a committed mother of three young adults.

Q: Has leadership ever felt lonely for you?

A: Not at all. I enjoy my own company a lot! I am an avid reader and always busy trying to solve one problem or another. I am in continuous Learning & Development mode most of the time or on one course or another. I love to learn. My sisters and a few friends are in my inner caucus whenever I feel the need to engage. I am an introvert with some extrovert tendencies when I am with my inner circle.

Q: What belief about yourself did you have to completely unlearn to scale Lonadek?

A: I have tried to stop knowing who is doing what and wanting to lend a helping hand when they have a challenge that others can solve.

Q: In years to come, what do you think would still remain of Ibilola Amao’s impact?

A: My legacy will definitely be in people and the lives I have touched. I have worked hard to demonstrate ethics, fairness, and integrity in business. I am grateful to have played a role in domiciling, domesticating, and democratizing technology in Nigeria. What I learned during my Ph.D. and the discoveries in engineering technology are now widely used at all levels.

I am thankful to be known as an Apostle of Local Content and for playing a significant role in the passage of the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act and the establishment of the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB). Following my involvement in implementing the NNPC/Bechtel Technology Transfer Agreement—which birthed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) National Engineering & Technical Company (NETCO) Ltd—I have remained true to technology transfer and developing local talent.

Q: Twenty years from now, what do you want young African female engineers to thank you for?

A: I would like young female engineers to thank me for bringing clarity to the fact that becoming a STEMpreneur or TECHpreneur is a very exciting adventure for females.

Also, by the special grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, your Masters dissertation or Ph.D. thesis can become the foundation of a business plan. We need to practicalize theory as applied knowledge to create wealth and jobs!

Ibilola Amao’s journey is a powerful reminder that true leadership goes beyond personal success. It is reflected in the lives you influence, the opportunities you create, and the legacy you build.

Through her work at Lonadek Global Services and her continued advocacy for women in STEM, sustainability, and innovation, she is not only shaping industries but also shaping people, equipping the next generation with the tools, confidence, and guidance to lead.

Her story embodies the spirit of #GiveToGain — a belief that the more we invest in others, the greater the impact we create.

As a network, we are proud to celebrate her contributions and the path she continues to pave for women in engineering, energy, and entrepreneurship.