LAGOS — Shell has ushered in a new leadership era in Nigeria, with Elohor Aiboni assuming the role of Executive Vice President Nigeria and Country Chair, becoming the first woman to lead the energy giant’s businesses in the country.
Aiboni takes over from Marno de Jong, who bowed out after more than six years at the helm, a period marked by major portfolio changes, deepwater investments and milestones in Shell’s Nigerian operations.
The leadership transition was formally marked at a send-off ceremony on Tuesday night attended by senior government officials, energy industry executives, professional bodies and Shell leaders.
Chief Executive Officer of Shell plc, Wael Sawan, praised de Jong’s leadership and performance in a recorded message to the gathering.
“The way Marno drives performance is admirable,” Sawan said, thanking the outgoing executive for his contributions to the company.
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said investments undertaken by Shell during de Jong’s tenure aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope agenda.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bayo Ojulari, represented by Executive Vice President, Upstream, Udobong Ntia, also commended de Jong’s contribution to efforts to position gas as a major energy source for Nigerians.
“We look forward to the next chapter of Shell to deepen our strategic partnership,” Ojulari said.
Six Years of Portfolio Transformation
De Jong’s tenure coincided with some of the most consequential changes in Shell’s Nigerian business, including its exit from onshore oil production and the emergence of Renaissance as the new operator of the divested assets.
Shell also sustained production from the Bonga deepwater field, which achieved the milestone of one billion barrels of oil, while advancing major projects including Bonga North and HI.
Shell’s President, Upstream, Peter Costello, described de Jong as a leader who combined technical and commercial understanding with an appreciation of partnerships and relationships.
“He understands the technical detail. He understands the commercial choices. He understands the importance of partnership. And most importantly, he understands the value of people and relationships,” Costello said.
Other Shell executives, including former Nigeria Country Chair Osagie Okunbor, SNEPCo Managing Director Ronald Adams, Shell Nigeria Gas Managing Director Ralph Gbobo and General Manager, Deepwater Oil, Iyke Nnoaham, also paid tribute to de Jong’s leadership.
Aiboni Takes the Baton
The defining moment of the ceremony came with the formal handover from de Jong to Aiboni, whose appointment marks a milestone in Shell’s long history in Nigeria.
Aiboni, a former Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, returns from an international assignment to take responsibility for Shell’s businesses in one of Africa’s most important energy markets.
“The hard work starts now, and I look forward to the exciting years ahead,” she told guests after receiving the leadership baton.
De Jong, meanwhile, thanked government officials, regulators, employees and industry stakeholders for their support during his years in Nigeria. He also acknowledged his wife, Mickey, and their children for standing by him through the demands of his assignments.
Reflecting on his experience, he said Nigeria had taught him patience, resilience and the importance of listening.
“And above all, it reinforced my belief that progress happens when people come together around a shared purpose,” he said.
The ceremony drew leading figures from Nigeria’s energy sector, including Nigeria LNG Limited Managing Director and CEO Adeleye Falade, Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Limited CEO Elozino Olaniyan, ExxonMobil Nigeria Chairman and Managing Director Jagir Baxi, and Aradel CEO and Independent Petroleum Producers Group Chairman Adegbite Falade.
Aiboni’s assumption of office comes as Shell increasingly focuses its Nigerian portfolio on deepwater production and gas, placing the new country chair at the centre of the company’s next phase of investment and partnership in Africa’s largest oil-producing economy.
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