Toba Owojaiye reportingÂ
In a significant move aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s oil sector, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Bayo Bashir Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), effective April 2, 2025. Ojulari succeeds Mele Kyari, who has led the organization since 2019.
Truth Live News gathered that the enigma, Bayo Ojulari brings over three decades of extensive experience in the oil and gas industry, both within Nigeria and internationally. An alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Ojulari began his professional journey at Elf Aquitaine, where he made history as the company’s first Nigerian process engineer. His career trajectory saw him taking on various roles across Europe and the Middle East, encompassing positions such as petroleum process and production engineer, strategic planner, field developer, and asset manager.
In 1991, Ojulari joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd as an associate production technologist. His dedication and expertise led to his appointment as Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) in 2015, a role he held until his retirement in July 2021.
Following his tenure at Shell, Ojulari assumed the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited in January 2024. Under his leadership, Renaissance spearheaded a consortium of indigenous energy firms in the landmark acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) for $2.4 billion.
Ojulari’s commitment to the engineering profession is evident in his active involvement with key industry bodies. He has served as chairman and member of the board of trustees of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigerian Council) and is a distinguished fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
President Tinubu’s decision to appoint Ojulari aligns with a broader strategy to enhance operational efficiency, restore investor confidence, and transform NNPCL into a more commercially viable entity. With Ojulari at the helm, industry stakeholders anticipate a renewed focus on increasing oil production and revitalizing Nigeria’s refining capacities, crucial steps toward bolstering the nation’s economy.
While his appointment adds gun powder to the fight of a Yoruba dominance and long conspiracy theories link him as Tinubu’s oil guy, as Bayo Ojulari steps into his new role, the industry watches with optimism, expecting that his vast experience and visionary leadership will usher in a new era of growth and innovation for NNPCL and Nigeria’s oil and gas sector at large.