President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 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 management and board restructuring of the national oil company.

The appointment, announced early Wednesday morning, marks a significant shift in the leadership of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Ojulari, a seasoned petroleum engineer, brings over three decades of experience in the oil and gas industry, specializing in petroleum engineering, strategic planning, and corporate leadership. His vast expertise is expected to drive reforms and enhance efficiency within NNPCL as the company continues its transition under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

President Tinubu’s administration has reiterated its commitment to revitalizing the energy sector, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and economic growth through strategic leadership appointments.

Hereunder is all you need to know about 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.

LEADERSHIP reports that 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.

He also handed out an immediate action plan to the new board: to conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPC-operated and Joint Venture Assets to ensure alignment with value maximisation objectives.