Seplat appoints Tony Elumelu to board as M&P exits

SEPLAT Energy Plc has appointed Mr Tony Elumelu as a Non-Executive Director, marking a major boardroom shift following the exit of French energy group Etablissements Maurel et Prom SA (M&P) from the company.

The appointment, which takes effect immediately, followed Seplat’s recent announcement that M&P has sold its 20.07 per cent equity stake to Heirs Holdings Limited and Heirs Energies Limited, both affiliated with Elumelu’s investment platform.

Consequently, Mr. Olivier Cleret De Langavant, who represented M&P on Seplat’s board, has resigned as a Non-Executive Director, effective January 22, 2026, bringing to a close his six-year tenure with the Nigerian energy company.

In a statement signed by Mrs. Edith Onwuchekwa, Director Legal and Company Secretary of Seplat Energy, the company praised Langavant for his “exceptional service”, noting that his strategic and technical contributions were instrumental to Seplat’s growth trajectory during a period of industry volatility and transformation.

“Mr. Langavant has rendered invaluable service to the Board, providing insights and counsel that materially supported the Company’s progress,” the statement said.

Elumelu’s appointment signals a deeper strategic alignment between Seplat and indigenous capital as Nigeria pushes for greater local participation in its energy sector. He is the Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, a diversified African investment group with interests spanning energy, power, banking, insurance, technology, real estate, hospitality and healthcare.

He also chairs United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group, Heirs Energies, and Transcorp Group, whose listed subsidiaries include Transcorp Power Plc and Transcorp Hotels Plc.

Beyond business, Elumelu is widely recognised for his pan-African entrepreneurship advocacy through the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), established in 2010 to empower African entrepreneurs across all 54 countries on the continent.

His global standing includes being named among TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World (2020) and receiving Nigeria’s national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022. He also serves on influential international platforms, including UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited Global Leadership Council and the International Monetary Fund’s Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth.

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Commenting on the board changes, Mr. Udoma Udo Udoma, Chairman of Seplat Energy, expressed appreciation for the outgoing director while welcoming Elumelu.

“On behalf of the Board and Management, I wish to express our profound appreciation to Mr. Langavant for his outstanding contribution to Seplat Energy over the past six years. We warmly welcome Mr. Elumelu to the Board and look forward to leveraging his wealth of experience and leadership as we continue to pursue sustainable growth and value creation for all stakeholders,” Udoma said.

Seplat noted that Elumelu’s appointment strengthens its governance framework and reinforces its commitment to long-term growth, sustainability and value creation, particularly as the company consolidates its position as a leading indigenous energy producer with international listings.