In a significant move impacting Nigeria’s crucial oil and gas sector, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today appointed Bashir Ojulari as the new Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Ojulari takes the helm immediately, replacing Mele Kyari.
The announcement came via an official statement from Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, titled �President Tinubu Reconstitutes NNPC Limited Board, Appoints New Chairman, Group CEO.� This leadership change is part of a broader restructuring initiative by the President.
Invoking his powers under Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, President Tinubu also dissolved the existing NNPCL board, which was chaired by Pius Akinyelure. Concurrently, a new 11-member board has been constituted to steer the national oil company forward.
Bashir Ojulari, a native of Kwara State, brings a formidable track record and extensive experience to his new role. His background is deeply rooted in petroleum, process, and production engineering. Before this high-profile appointment, he served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Renaissance Africa Energy Company. In that capacity, he demonstrated significant strategic acumen by spearheading the successful $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria�s equity.
Ojulari’s career foundation was laid at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He began his professional journey at Elf Aquitaine, marking a milestone as the company’s first Nigerian process engineer. His career trajectory saw him join Shell in 1991, where he spent a significant portion of his career ascending through various key roles.
His tenure at Shell included prestigious positions such as Managing Director of the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and General Manager of Deepwater, a role he assumed in 2015. His leadership capabilities were further recognized through his service on Shell’s board.
A Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ojulari’s expertise is not confined to Nigeria. He has garnered international experience working across Europe and the Middle East, specializing in critical areas like petroleum engineering, operational safety, and asset management.
This appointment signals President Tinubu’s intent to potentially reshape the strategy and operations of NNPCL. Ojulari’s immediate assumption of duties underscores the urgency and importance placed on this leadership transition for Nigeria’s energy sector.
10 Key Facts About the Appointment and Bashir Ojulari:
- New Role: Bashir Ojulari is the newly appointed Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) of NNPCL.
- Effective Date: The appointment took effect immediately on April 2, 2025.
- Predecessor: He replaces Mele Kyari as the head of NNPCL.
- Appointing Authority: The appointment was made by President Bola Tinubu.
- Legal Basis: The President invoked Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 for the appointment and board reconstitution.
- Board Changes: The existing NNPCL board, led by Chairman Pius Akinyelure, was dissolved and replaced by a new 11-member board.
- Origin & Education: Ojulari hails from Kwara State and is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
- Previous Role: He was recently the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Renaissance Africa Energy Company, overseeing a major $2.4 billion acquisition from Shell.
- Extensive Career: He started at Elf Aquitaine as its first Nigerian process engineer, joined Shell in 1991, and held top roles including MD of SNEPCo and GM Deepwater at Shell.
- Professional Standing: Ojulari is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) with international experience in Europe and the Middle East.
