Professor Zainab Gobir is a distinguished international energy executive, petroleum regulator, economist, strategic planning specialist, forensic accounting expert, and public sector transformation leader with over twenty-five (25) years of multidisciplinary professional experience spanning energy regulation, economic governance, strategic planning, finance, taxation, digital transformation, institutional reform, and regional economic integration.

She currently serves as the Acting Secretary General of the West Africa Oil and Gas Regulators Forum (WARF) and as the Executive Director, Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning (ERSP), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

In her role at NMDPRA, Professor Gobir provides executive leadership for economic regulation, strategic policy formulation, market intelligence, institutional transformation, investment facilitation, and long-term sector planning within Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum industry. She plays a central role in advancing regulatory effectiveness, strengthening market governance, supporting energy security objectives, and driving implementation of strategic reforms in alignment with Nigeria’s evolving petroleum sector framework.

As Acting Secretary General of WARF, she leads regional initiatives aimed at deepening regulatory cooperation, strengthening institutional capacity, promoting transparency, facilitating knowledge exchange, and supporting the development of integrated, competitive, and sustainable energy markets across West Africa.

Professor Gobir has earned recognition as a transformational leader with a strong track record in building institutions, advancing policy reforms, and delivering strategic outcomes across both public and regional governance platforms. Her expertise spans petroleum regulation, economic regulation, market development, tariff methodologies, digital innovation, public sector modernisation, and regional energy integration.