By Abiola Olawale
Bayo Bashir Ojulari was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on April 2, 2025, by President Bola Tinubu, replacing Mele Kyari.
His appointment came as part of a significant restructuring of the NNPCL’s leadership and board.
Here’s what you need to know about the new NNPCL boss:
Origin: Ojulari hails from the Yoruba-speaking part of Kwara State, Nigeria, in the North Central geo-political region.
Education: He is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering, providing him with a strong technical foundation for his career in the energy sector.
Career Highlights
Early Career: Ojulari began his professional journey at Elf Aquitaine, where he made history as the first Nigerian process engineer, marking the start of a distinguished career in the oil and gas industry.
Shell Experience: In 1991, he joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) as an associate production technologist. Over the years, he held various roles in Nigeria, Europe, and the Middle East, specializing in petroleum engineering, process engineering, production engineering, and strategic planning. In 2015, he rose to the position of Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), a role he held until 2021, overseeing both onshore and offshore operations.
Renaissance Africa Energy: Before his NNPCL appointment, Ojulari served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. Under his leadership, the company led a consortium of indigenous energy firms in a landmark $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC).
Expertise: With over three decades of experience, Ojulari is recognized for his deep knowledge of petroleum engineering, strategic planning, field development, asset management, and health and safety.
Industry Leadership: He has been actively involved in professional organizations, serving as Chairman and a Board of Trustees member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigeria Council) and as a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
