Meet seven executives leading Nigeria’s listed oil and gas companies

Since the discovery of commercial oil deposits at Oloibiri in present-day Bayelsa State in 1956, Nigeria’s economic fortunes have remained closely linked to its petroleum resources, particularly crude oil found across the Niger Delta.

The oil boom of the 1970s transformed Nigeria into one of Africa’s leading oil-producing nations, cementing petroleum’s position as a major driver of economic growth and foreign exchange earnings. The sector continues to play a significant role in the country’s international trade, accounting for 47.79 per cent of total exports, valued at ₦12.91 trillion, in the second quarter of 2026.

Over the decades, however, Nigeria’s oil and gas industry has undergone significant changes, confronting challenges such as crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and the longstanding dominance of international oil companies (IOCs). Indigenous operators have gradually expanded their presence, building on earlier milestones such as the listing of Mobil Oil Nigeria in 1978 and Unipetrol Nigeria, now Oando Plc, in February 1992.

Today, 34 years after Unipetrol’s listing, seven oil and gas companies are listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), with a combined market capitalisation of approximately ₦16.7 trillion. Executives with diverse educational qualifications and professional backgrounds lead these companies, and their decisions will shape the future of one of Nigeria’s most strategic industries.

According to a Nairametrics report, here are seven Nigerian executives heading listed oil and gas companies.

Effiong Okon became Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy on August 1, 2026, bringing more than 35 years of experience in the global energy industry. A University of Benin alumnus, he spent 26 years at Shell in senior positions across Nigeria, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. He joined Seplat in 2016 as Executive Director of Operations before becoming Director of New Energy. Under his leadership, Seplat reported a pre-tax profit of ₦1.34 trillion in the nine months ended September 2026.

Adegbite Falade is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aradel Holdings. A first-class graduate of Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Ibadan, he also holds an MBA from Warwick Business School. His career includes senior positions at Shell, Oando and Oilserv Group before joining Aradel in February 2021. He also became Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group in November 2025. Aradel recorded a profit before tax of ₦764.71 billion in the nine months ended September 2026.

Jubril Adewale Tinubu, popularly known as Wale Tinubu, is the Chief Executive Officer of Oando Plc. A trained lawyer, he studied at the University of Liverpool and the London School of Economics before being called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990. He co-founded Ocean and Oil Limited in 1994 and led major acquisitions that helped transform the business into Oando Plc in 2003. The company reported a pre-tax loss of ₦74.65 billion in the nine months ended September 2026.

Wilfried Konde became Managing Director of TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc on February 1, 2026, bringing more than 26 years of experience within the TotalEnergies group. He holds a postgraduate diploma in Accounting and Business Management from the University of Abidjan and has held senior finance and corporate affairs positions in Uganda, Madagascar, France and Nigeria. Before his latest appointment, he served as Senior Vice President, Finance and General Affairs, at TotalEnergies One Tech in Paris. Under his leadership, the Nigerian subsidiary recorded a pre-tax profit of ₦8.02 billion in the nine months ended September 2026.

Ikechukwu Emmanuel Oraekwuotu is the Chief Executive Officer of Conoil Plc, bringing more than 41 years of experience across banking, telecommunications and the downstream petroleum industry. He began his career at Bankers Trust Company in 1983, then held senior positions at African International Bank, Centrepoint Merchant Bank, and Equitorial Trust Bank, where he rose to Acting Managing Director. He joined Conoil’s board in 2014 and assumed an acting leadership position in April 2024. The company reported a profit after tax of ₦2.01 billion in 2025.

Dr Jude Nwaulune became Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Eterna Plc in May 2026 after building extensive experience in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry. A graduate of Ambrose Alli University, he holds postgraduate qualifications in journalism, marketing communications and strategic marketing management, including a PhD from Babcock University. He spent seven years at Rainoil, rising through several operational positions to become Chief Operating Officer and later Managing Director of Rainoil Logistics Services. Eterna recorded revenue of ₦365.56 billion in the nine months ended September 2026.

Henry Alakhume is the Acting Group Managing Director of Japaul Gold & Ventures Plc, bringing experience in corporate banking and energy management. According to his LinkedIn profile, he served as Head of Corporate Banking at Wema Bank between 2010 and 2020 before moving into the energy sector. He served as Chief Executive Officer of DOB Meadows Energy Ltd and later joined Japaul as Chief Operating Officer. The company appointed him Acting Group Managing Director on February 12, 2026. Japaul recorded a pre-tax profit of ₦1.50 billion in the nine months ended September 2026, representing a 202.3 per cent increase year-on-year.

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