Shell country chair bows out of service after 39 years

 Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

Mr Osagie Okunbor, Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, is retiring this month after 39 years of service.

The retirement was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by Mrs Gladys Afam-Anadu, the energy firm’s Communications Manager.

She noted that stakeholders in the oil and gas industry joined to honour Okunbor at the milestone ceremonies. These stakeholders include government functionaries, regulators, and chief executives of indigenous and international oil companies. The ceremonies began in Abuja on Tuesday night.

According to Afam-Anadu, the dignitaries highlighted Okunbor’s contributions to the development of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. They emphasized its Nigerian content. They also noted its key roles in Shell’s investments in Deep-water and Integrated Gas in Nigeria.

Marno de Jong, Executive Vice President Nigeria, will take on the additional responsibilities of Country Chair Nigeria.

Jong said: “Osagie is a respected leader in Shell and the broader industry. His wise counsel and insights have proved invaluable.

“Over a career that has lasted nearly 40 years, Okunbor has related with a wide range of stakeholders. These include communities and industry leaders. He does this with empathy and excellent relational skills.

“We will all miss his presence and wish him a most enjoyable retirement.”

Okunbor said: “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.”

Okunbor graduated from the University of Benin in Business Administration. He joined Shell in 1986. He has served in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Brunei, and the Netherlands.

In 2015, he became Managing Director of the defunct Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC). He also became Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria.

His previous roles include Vice President, Infrastructure and Logistics in Nigeria. He was also Vice President, Human Resources, Sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, he served as Senior Advisor, Upstream International Operated Business.

Okunbor has significantly impacted the Nigerian energy industry. He served as the two-term Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of the Lagos Chamber of Industry.

He received the H.E. Dr Alirio Parra Lifetime Achievement Award in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry in 2022, among several other honours.