Shell Companies in Nigeria’s Country Chair, Osagie Okunbor, who retires at the end of this month after a distinguished 39-year career, has been widely celebrated for his exceptional contributions to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector — particularly in deepening local content and driving impactful social investments in communities across the Niger Delta and beyond.
At separate farewell ceremonies held in Abuja on Tuesday (June 24) and Lagos on Wednesday (June 25), industry leaders, colleagues, and government representatives paid glowing tributes to Okunbor’s legacy. He was praised for deploying his wealth of experience to advance Shell’s vision of “powering progress” in Nigeria through the various companies he led or served in: The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd. (SPDC), Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo), Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), Shell Nigeria Closed Pension Fund Administrator, All On, and Daystar Power.
Okunbor also played a pivotal role in the landmark acquisition of SPDC by Renaissance, a move hailed as a milestone in the empowerment of Nigerian firms in the energy sector.
“We are celebrating a legacy of momentum by someone who earned widespread respect across the industry, government, and host communities,” said Marno de Jong, Shell’s Executive Vice President for Nigeria, during the Lagos send-forth. He described Okunbor’s career as “an inspiring journey” and wished him a fulfilling retirement.
Also present was Peter Costello, President of Shell Upstream, who flew in from Australia for the occasion. Costello, a former Vice President for Nigeria and Gabon, described Okunbor as a calm and courageous leader, admired for his authenticity and skill in crisis management.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Bayo Ojulari, noted that the industry still expects Okunbor to contribute his leadership and strategic insight in retirement. “We want you to bring the same visionary leadership, resilience, and foresight to help the country benefit more from your vast experience,” he said.
In his response, Okunbor expressed gratitude for a fulfilling career. “Thirty-nine years is no small journey. I’m thankful to God for the grace to walk this path, and I’m deeply appreciative of the friends, mentors, and colleagues—both in Nigeria and abroad—who supported me along the way. I’m especially grateful to my wife, who has been my pillar, and to my family for their unwavering support.”
Earlier, on Wednesday (June 25), a special luncheon was held in Lagos by All On, the impact investment company where Okunbor served as pioneer board chairman since its inception in 2016. CEO Caroline Eboumbou thanked him for his visionary guidance in advancing All On’s mission to expand access to affordable, reliable energy in underserved and off-grid communities across Nigeria—particularly in the Niger Delta.
Under his stewardship, All On has enabled over 200,000 off-grid energy connections, positively impacting more than one million lives.
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