- President Tinubu appointed Bashir Ojulari as NNPC CEO on April 2, 2025
- Ojulari, a mechanical engineer, has an extensive career with Shell and other major energy companies, including Renaissance Africa Energy
- TheRadar looks at his profile and how his background and experience can help in his quest to restructure Nigeria’s energy sector
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, April 2, appointed Bashir Ojulari as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
As announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president invoked Section 59, subsection 2 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, which emphasised that the board’s restructuring is crucial for enhancing operational efficiency, restoring investor confidence, boosting local content, driving economic growth, and advancing gas commercialisation and diversification.
Tinubu replaced the Chairman of the company, Pius Akinyelure and the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.
He also removed all other board members appointed with the Chairman, Pius Akinyelure and the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari in November 2023.
The new 11-man board now has Ojulari as the Group CEO and Ahmadu Kida as the Non-Executive Chairman.
Things to know about new NNPC boss Bayo Ojulari
1. Ojulari is from Kwara State, Nigeria.
2. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1985–1989).
3. Started as a Fields and Process Engineer at Elf Petroleum Nigeria (1989–1991).
4. He joined Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in November 1991 as an Associate Production Technologist.
5. Ojulari served in multiple roles at Shell, both in Nigeria and internationally.
6. He integrated Studies Team at Shell Netherlands (1994–1995).
7. He was Head of Planning, Economics, and Budgeting at SPDC (1997–1999).
8. Ojulari was the Asset Leader and Head Production Technologist at Shell Oman (1999–2003).
9. He was Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Planner at Shell headquarters (2003–2004).
10. Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy at SPDC (2005–2008).
11. Manager, Asset Development (Onshore and Shallow Water) at SPDC (2008–2010).
12. Development Director, SPDC Nigeria (2010–2015).
13. Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) (2015–2021).
14. He founded BAT Advisory and Energy Company Nigeria Ltd in September 2021, serving as Board Chairman.
15. He was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Renaissance Africa Energy Company (January 2024–2025).
16. His tenure at Renaissance coincided with the company’s acquisition of a Shell asset in Nigeria.
Mele Kyari seeks 4-month extension amid political intrigue, uncertainty over tenure
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that then NNPCL CEO Mele Kyari sought a four-month extension of his tenure amidst political intrigue and discussions about potential replacements.
According to the report, significant achievements in restructuring NNPCL marked Kyari's tenure, but questions about his future came as President Tinubu deliberated on the extension request.
