In a bold step to accelerate Nigeria’s energy transformation and institutional reform under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced the appointment of a new senior management team. The move comes just weeks after President Bola Tinubu appointed Mr Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), signalling a fresh chapter for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Leadership for a New Era
The new leadership team comprises seasoned professionals drawn from diverse backgrounds within the energy, legal, and finance sectors, each bringing decades of experience in global energy governance and enterprise management.
The appointees are:
- Rowland Ewubare: Group Chief Operating Officer
- Adedapo Segun: Group Chief Financial Officer
- Olalekan Ogunleye: Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy
- Udy Ntia: Executive Vice President, Upstream
- Mumuni Dangazau: Executive Vice President, Downstream
- Sophia Mbakwe: Executive Vice President, Business Services
- Adesua Dozie: Company Secretary & Chief Legal Officer
The appointments take immediate effect and are part of ongoing efforts to position NNPC Ltd as a commercially viable, transparent, and globally competitive energy company.
Strengthening Governance and Efficiency
According to the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, the appointments reflect a deliberate effort to “reposition NNPC Ltd as a strategic energy player with a clear focus on performance, accountability, and innovation.”
Energy experts say the restructuring aligns with international best practices in corporate governance, particularly in state-owned enterprises undergoing transformation. With the Petroleum Industry Act having redefined the legal and operational framework of Nigeria’s oil sector, effective leadership is critical in realising the Act’s objectives.
“NNPC’s future will depend not only on resources but on how it navigates a rapidly changing global energy landscape,” said Dr Tunde Owolabi, a petroleum economist based in Lagos. “These appointments are a step in the right direction for restoring confidence and driving investment.”
Driving Energy Transition and Growth
Key to NNPC’s strategic roadmap is its role in advancing Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy. With new divisions such as Gas, Power & New Energy, the company is expected to fast-track investments in gas infrastructure, renewable energy, and energy access.
Olalekan Ogunleye’s appointment as EVP of the new energy division signals NNPC Ltd’s commitment to aligning with Nigeria’s net-zero goals and broader global decarbonisation targets. Stakeholders anticipate more emphasis on gas commercialisation, floating LNG developments, and off-grid power solutions.
Simultaneously, the upstream and downstream portfolios will focus on production stability, refining capacity upgrades, and securing crude supply to the newly operational Dangote Refinery and NNPC’s rehabilitated plants in Port Harcourt and Warri.
Legal, Financial, and Business Stability
With Adedapo Segun as CFO and Adesua Dozie as the chief legal officer, the company is placing strategic emphasis on financial rigour and regulatory compliance areas previously criticised as weak points.
Business analysts suggest these appointments may also enhance the company’s readiness for a potential Initial Public Offering (IPO), a prospect hinted at since the company was commercialised in July 2022.
Sophia Mbakwe’s oversight of Business Services is also seen as a crucial anchor for human capital optimisation, digital transformation, and stakeholder relations in a post-reform environment.
Outlook
As NNPC Ltd navigates its evolution into a commercially-driven, transparent energy enterprise, the strength of its leadership will be tested by global oil price volatility, geopolitical tensions, and domestic expectations for energy security. This senior management reshuffle represents not only a personnel change, but a significant pivot towards strategic discipline, long-term sustainability, and global competitiveness.
