President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday has appointed Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), replacing Mele Kyari in a major restructuring of the oil company’s management and board.
Mr Tinubu also removed all other board members appointed with Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023.
Reconstituting the NNPCL board, Akinyelure was replaced by Ahmadu Kida as non-executive chairman, Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Ajiya as the chief financial officer last November, has been appointed to the new board.
Six board members, non-executive directors, representing the country’s geopolitical zones are: Bello Rabiu, North West; Yusuf Usman, North East, and Babs Omotowa, a former managing director of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas, NLNG, who represents North Central.
Mr Tinubu also appointed Austin Avuru as a non-executive director from the South-South, David Ige as a non-executive director from the South West, and Henry Obih as a non-executive director from the South East.
Lydia Jafiya, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will represent the ministry on the new board, while Aminu Ahmed will represent the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
President Tinubu, while invoking the powers granted under Section 59, subsection 2 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, emphasised that the NNPCL board’s restructuring was crucial for enhancing operational efficiency, restoring investor confidence, boosting local content, driving economic growth, and advancing gas commercialisation and diversification.
Below is a biography of the new head of Nigeria’s national oil company:
Early Life and Education
Bashir Bayo Ojulari hails from Kwara State and is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His technical background laid the foundation for a distinguished career in the energy sector, both in Nigeria and internationally.
Career Journey
Ojulari started his career at Elf Aquitaine, where he made history as the first Nigerian process engineer in the company. He later moved to Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) in 1991, beginning as an Associate Production Technologist.
Over the years, he worked across Nigeria, Europe, and the Middle East, holding strategic roles in petroleum process and production engineering, strategic planning and field evelopment, and asset management and corporate leadership.
Leadership Roles
Ojulari’s expertise and leadership propelled him to the top ranks of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), where he was appointed Managing Director in 2015.
Before his appointment as NNPCL GCEO, Ojulari served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company, a firm at the forefront of energy investments and acquisitions in Africa.
Notably, under his leadership, Renaissance spearheaded a $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC)—one of the most significant transactions in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Professional Achievements and Industry Influence
Ojulari is widely respected in the energy industry and has played active roles in professional organisations, including chairman and Board of Trustees Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigeria Council) and Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
His contributions to the development of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and his experience in energy asset management are expected to shape his leadership at NNPCL in the days to come.
Source: Leadership Newspaper
