By Abiola Olawale
Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL
), has shared a personal reflection on his journey from being an Almajiri pupil to leading Africa’s largest energy company on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
Kyari, who took to his official X handle, highlighted how his story is one of remarkable progression.
He also expressed his gratitude to Nigeria for providing him with the opportunity to ascend from humble beginnings to a significant leadership role.
He attributed his journey to divine grace and expresses deep appreciation to former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the privilege of serving as the last Group Managing Director of the NNPC and the pioneer CEO of NNPC Ltd.
The New Diplomat reports that the Almajiri is a system of Islamic education practised in northern Nigeria. It encourages guardians to cede parental responsibilities to Islamic schools.
He said: “Allah, by his grace, spared my life to this exceptional day, making it my 60th year from birth, even much earlier on the Hijri calendar.
“I am profoundly grateful to my country for giving me the opportunity to grow from an Almajiri (Tsangaya) school pupil to become the CEO of Africa’s largest energy company.
“Even more particular, I deeply appreciate the exceptional privilege given to me by Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu to serve as the last GMD of the NNPC and the pioneer CEO of the NNPC Ltd,” he added.
“Reflecting backwards alone can’t account for the profoundly eventful life I spent to this date, walking through good and bad times, travails and triumphs, pains and happiness, fails and successes and many more that only the sufficiency of Allah will explain.
“At this milestone, I feel the obligation to serve with even greater conviction and with elevated expectation of eternal recompense so deeply pleasing.
“I am hugely indebted to my family for being nearly absent for most of my later years serving our nation and the common good.
“My deep appreciation to my family, friends and associates, my colleagues at work and my teachers (western and of Almajiri extractions), and many unmentioned people who account for many of my accomplishments, unconditional support and my overall wellbeing.”
It would be recalled that Buhari appointed Kyari as NNPC GMD on June 20, 2019. He officially assumed the role in July of the same year.
He was born on January 8, 1965, in Maiduguri, Borno State. Kyari graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Geology and Earth Science from the University of Maiduguri in 1987. His career began with the Department of Geological Survey of Nigeria as a Field Geologist before joining NNPC in 1991 as a Processing Geophysicist with Integrated Data Services Limited.
