By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
In the heart of Nigeria’s energy sector, a new chapter unfolds as Bayo Ojulari, a seasoned engineer with a career spanning decades has stepped into a new role as chief executive officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
Ojulari took over from Mele Kyari, who had been the company’s CEO since July 2019. This is the longest anyone has spent in the cushiest office in the Nigerian oil industry since the country’s return to democracy in 1999.
With over 34 years of experience in the global oil and gas industry, Ojulari is a seasoned business leader whose expertise spans across the management of petroleum asset acquisition & divestments, exploration, field development, production management, strategic planning, economics, investment evaluation and commercial negotiations.
His appointment is pivotal as NNPC seeks to maximise oil production by achieving more than 2 million barrels daily while maximizing value for Nigeria’s economy.
Career
Ojulari graduated from Ahmadu Bello University with a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, and thereafter began his career at Elf Petroleum Nigeria as a Fields & Process Engineer.
He later joined Shell, where he spent over 24 years in various leadership roles across Nigeria, Europe, and the Middle East.
Shell’s era
One of the highlights of his career was his tenure as managing director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) from 2015 to 2021.
In this role, he oversaw deep-water assets with a production capacity of 320,000 barrels per day and an annual operating cost of $1 billion. Under his leadership, SNEPCo achieved remarkable milestones, including a 20 percent increase in production, a 30 percent reduction in operational costs, and a 40 percent reduction in capital project costs.
His efforts earned the Bonga Asset the prestigious “Asset of the Year” award in 2016.
Ojulari’s ability to negotiate complex commercial agreements was also instrumental in securing new production-sharing contracts and dispute resolution agreements for Oil Mining Lease OML-118, underpinning growth projects worth $6–8 billion.
A vision for NNPC’s Future
Ojulari’s appointment comes when NNPC faces significant challenges, including pipeline vandalism, oil theft, and the need to diversify Nigeria’s energy portfolio. However, his track record of delivering results in complex environments positions him as the ideal leader to steer NNPC through these challenges.
A leader with global perspective
Ojulari’s career has taken him across continents, giving him a unique global perspective on the energy industry.
From his early days as an Associate Production Technologist in Nigeria to his roles as Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Planner at Shell’s headquarters in the Netherlands and Asset Leader in Oman, Ojulari has consistently demonstrated his ability to lead diverse teams and deliver results in challenging environments.
In his most recent role as Board Chairman of BAT Advisory & Energy Company, Ojulari provided executive-level business and technical advisory services, including leading a major company acquisition worth over $2 billion.
His work with companies like ND Western Limited, Trewan Energy Limited, and Renaissance Africa Energy Company has further solidified his reputation as a strategic thinker and problem solver.