Safety culture drives Shell contractor conference

Nathan Tamarapreye

Shell has reaffirmed its uncompromising stance on safety in Nigeria, convening senior leaders from its contractor network at the annual Shell Leadership and Contractor CEO Conference in Lagos.

The event, held on Tuesday, brought together chief executives from across the energy sector to strengthen a shared culture of responsibility and reinforce the principle that safety is non-negotiable.

Themed “Learn. Adapt. Improve.”, the conference highlighted Shell’s belief that operational excellence must be measured first and foremost by how safely projects are delivered.

Elohor Aiboni, Executive Vice President and Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, emphasised that safety is the ultimate benchmark of success. “No matter how significant the opportunity or important the project, our success will always be measured first by how safely we deliver it,” she told delegates.

The programme featured exhibitions, panel discussions, and awards recognising outstanding safety performance among contractors. A central highlight was the signing of the Leadership Charter; a framework jointly developed in 2025 by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and its contractor partners. The charter sets out commitments designed to embed safety into leadership practices, engagement with employees, and daily operational routines.

Ronald Adams, Managing Director of SNEPCo, explained that the charter reflects the spirit of the conference theme. “To learn, we must be honest about what has worked and what has been difficult. To adapt, we must be willing to adjust our approach where realities demand better,” he said. Adams added that the commitments must be woven into performance reviews and everyday support for safe execution.

Aiboni reinforced the human dimension of Shell’s safety culture, stressing that every individual working for or on behalf of the company deserves to return home safely. “Every person who works for Shell or on behalf of Shell deserves to return home safely to their family, every day, without exception,” she said.

By focusing on learning from experience, adapting to operational realities, and continuously improving, Shell aims to ensure that safety remains the cornerstone of its contribution to Nigeria’s energy future.

The conference underscored that for Shell, safety is not simply a priority, it is the foundation upon which all success is built.