The Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor will exit the oil giant this month after 39 years of service.
A statement issued on Wednesday by Shell’s Communications Manager, Mrs. Gladys Afam-Anadu, announced the development.
According to the statement, stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, including government functionaries, regulators, and chief executives of indigenous and international oil companies joined to honour Okunbor at the milestone ceremonies, which began in Abuja on Tuesday night.
According to Afam-Anadu, the dignitaries highlighted Okunbor’s contributions to the development of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, especially local content and playing key roles in Shell’s investments in deep-water and integrated gas in Nigeria.
The statement said Marno de Jong, Executive Vice President, Nigeria, will take on the additional responsibilities of Country Chair, Nigeria.
Jong said: “Osagie is a respected leader in Shell and the broader industry whose wise counsel and insights have proved invaluable.
“Over a career that has lasted nearly 40 years, Okunbor has related with a wide range of stakeholders, from communities to industry leaders, with empathy and excellent relational skills.
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“We will all miss his presence and wish him a most enjoyable retirement.”
On his part, Okunbor said: “It has been an honour of a lifetime serving my country on a global platform offered by Shell.
“The Shell values of honesty, integrity and respect for people have been useful in my modest contributions.”
A graduate of University of Benin in business administration, Okunbor joined Shell in 1986 and has served in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Brunei and the Netherlands.
He became managing director of the defunct Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and country chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, in 2015.
His previous roles include vice president, infrastructure and logistics in Nigeria, vice president, human resources, sub-Saharan Africa and senior advisor, upstream international operated business.
Okunbor has also been a key player in the Nigerian energy industry, serving as two-term chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of the Lagos Chamber of Industry.
He received the H.E. Dr. Alirio Parra Lifetime Achievement Award in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry in 2022, among several other honours.
