What to know about Bayo Ojulari, new NNPC Group CEO

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday appointed Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (Group CEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, replacing Mele Kyari.

The appointment is part of a major restructuring of the NNPC board, which also saw the removal of Group Chairman Chief Pius Akinyelure and the dismissal of other board members appointed alongside him in November 2023.

According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Ojulari will now take charge as the new CEO of the national oil company.

In this article, Tribune Online takes a look at some quick facts about the new NNPC Group CEO.

1. Hails from Kwara State

Bashir Bayo Ojulari is originally from Kwara State, Nigeria.

ALSO READ: UPDATED: Tinubu appoints Bayo Ojulari as new NNPC Group CEO

2. Top executive at Renaissance Africa Energy

Before his appointment, he served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company.

3. Played a key role in a major Shell acquisition

Under his leadership, Renaissance Africa Energy led a consortium of indigenous energy firms in acquiring Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) for $2.4 billion.

4. Alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University

Ojulari earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

5. Started his career at Elf Aquitaine

He was the first Nigerian process engineer at Elf Aquitaine, marking the start of his successful career in the oil industry.

6. Held key positions at Shell

After joining Shell Petroleum Development Company in 1991, he worked in various roles across Nigeria, Europe, and the Middle East. In 2015, he became the Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO).

7.  Respected figure in the engineering sector

Ojulari is a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and has served as chairman and a board member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigerian Council.

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