Marno de Jong named new Country Chair as industry leaders celebrate Okunbor’s legacy
Malik Yahya/
It was an evening of tributes, gratitude, and reflection on Monday as Shell Nigeria and stakeholders in the oil and gas industry honoured Osagie Okunbor, the outgoing Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, who is retiring after an illustrious 39-year career.
The farewell ceremony, which held in Abuja on June 24, 2025, drew dignitaries from across Nigeria’s energy sector, including government officials, regulators, and chief executives of both indigenous and international oil companies. They lauded Okunbor for his exceptional leadership, commitment to Nigerian content development, and pivotal role in Shell’s deep-water and integrated gas ventures.
Executive Vice President Nigeria, Marno de Jong, who will assume the additional role of Country Chair, praised Okunbor’s legacy. “Osagie is a respected leader in Shell and the broader industry whose wise counsel and insights have proved invaluable,” de Jong said. “We will all miss his presence and wish him a most enjoyable retirement.”
In an emotional response, Okunbor reflected on his journey. “It has been an honour of a lifetime serving my country on a global platform offered by Shell. The Shell values of Honesty, Integrity and Respect for people have been useful in my modest contributions,” he said.
A graduate of the University of Benin, Okunbor joined Shell in 1986 and served in various capacities across Nigeria, the UK, Brunei, and the Netherlands. He became Managing Director of the defunct Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Country Chair in 2015.
Over the years, he held strategic roles including Vice President, Infrastructure and Logistics in Nigeria; Vice President, Human Resources for Sub-Saharan Africa; and Senior Advisor, Upstream International Operated Business. He also chaired the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of the Lagos Chamber of Industry for two terms and was honoured with the H.E. Dr Alirio Parra Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.
As the curtain falls on a distinguished career, Okunbor leaves behind a legacy of integrity, innovation, and impactful leadership that shaped the Nigerian oil and gas landscape for nearly four decades.
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