In a significant move to strengthen its executive team, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has appointed Adesua Dozie as its first female Regional General Counsel for Africa Upstream, alongside three new directors. The appointments signal a strategic push to enhance operational efficiency and corporate governance within Nigeria’s state-owned energy giant.
New Appointments Bring Fresh Expertise
The newly appointed executives include:
- Rowland Ewubare – Group Chief Operating Officer (GCOO), overseeing NNPC’s daily operations and strategic execution.
- Mumuni Dagazau – Executive Vice President, Downstream, managing refining, distribution, and marketing operations.
- Sophia Mbakwe – Executive Vice President, Business Services, leading administrative and logistical support functions.
- Adesua Dozie – Company Secretary & Chief Legal Officer, ensuring regulatory compliance and providing legal counsel.
Dozie, a seasoned legal expert and former Vice Chairman of ExxonMobil Companies in Nigeria, brings decades of experience in corporate law and energy sector governance. Her appointment marks a milestone in NNPC’s push for gender diversity in top leadership roles.
Strategic Overhaul Underway
This reshuffle follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent reconstitution of the NNPC board, which included the appointment of Bashir Ojulari, a former Shell executive and Renaissance Africa Energy Company leader, as a key board member. The moves align with broader reforms aimed at optimizing NNPC’s operations, improving transparency, and attracting foreign investment.
What This Means for Nigeria’s Energy Sector
Analysts view these appointments as a deliberate effort to:
- Strengthen corporate governance with seasoned professionals in critical roles.
- Boost operational efficiency by streamlining upstream and downstream activities.
- Enhance investor confidence through experienced leadership in key positions.
With global oil markets fluctuating and Nigeria seeking to maximize its hydrocarbon resources, NNPC’s restructuring could play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s energy future.
Industry experts will be watching closely to see how these changes translate into improved performance and profitability for the national oil company.