To lead a national oil company is to navigate a complex intersection of geopolitics, economics, and national aspiration. It is a role that demands not only a masterful understanding of the global energy sector but also the diplomatic acumen of a statesman. This is the mantle now worn by Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, whose appointment in April 2025 marks the culmination of a distinguished three-decade career honed on the international stage.
Mr Ojulari’s journey to the apex of Nigeria’s energy landscape is rooted in a profound technical and operational foundation. His 24-year tenure with Shell was a progressive masterclass in leadership, taking him from hands-on engineering roles in Nigeria to strategic positions at the company’s headquarters in the Netherlands. He ascended through critical roles, including Development Director for Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Nigeria, where he managed the petroleum engineering for a vast portfolio of one hundred oil and gas fields. This role, overseeing a substantial operating budget and a workforce of thousands, provided an unrivalled grounding in the scale and complexity of the nation’s energy assets.
His executive capabilities were further demonstrated during his five-year tenure as Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo). There, he was responsible for the company’s deepwater assets, managing a production capacity of 320,000 barrels per day. A career highlight was his successful leadership in reframing and negotiating new commercial terms for the significant OML-118 growth project, a pivotal agreement that unlocked billions of dollars in potential investment and underscored his skill in high-stakes diplomacy.
Now, as Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Mr Ojulari has taken on what is perhaps one of the most significant roles in Africa’s energy sector. His mandate is vast and critically important: to drive the strategic direction and profitable management of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources while maximising value for the national economy. His stated priorities reflect a modern and holistic vision—focusing on operational excellence to combat oil theft and improve output, while aggressively advancing gas commercialisation and championing local content development.
Bashir Bayo Ojulari arrives at this position as a leader forged in the fires of both international corporate excellence and deep national industry knowledge. His career stands as a testament to the power of technical expertise, strategic negotiation, and transformative leadership. As he guides NNPC Limited into its next chapter, he does so not just as an executive, but as a steward entrusted with unlocking sustainable prosperity from Nigeria’s vast natural endowment.
