The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced the appointment of Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu as group managing director. 

This appointment marks the beginning of the reforms which will establish the NNPC as corporation which fights corruption and drives growth in the Nigerian economy.

Dr Kachikwu is a Harvard-trained lawyer and joins the NNPC having served as executive vice chairman and general counsel at ExxonMobil in Nigeria.

In a tenure lasting almost 15 years, Dr Kachikwu played a key role in devising corporate governance and investment policies for ExxonMobil in Africa, overseeing investments of over $10 billion by the group on the continent. 

Ohi Aligbe, spokesperson for NNPC, says: “I am delighted that Dr Kachikwu is joining the NNPC. With over 30 years’ experience in the private energy sector, Dr Kachikwu has the expertise to transform the NNPC into an efficient, transparent and modern energy company. Under Dr Kachikwu’s leadership, the NNPC will deliver a new vision for the Nigerian energy sector that serves its workforce and positively reflects the aspirations of Nigerian citizens.”

Commenting on his appointment, Dr Kachikwu said: “I am excited to be taking up this challenge.  Being in a position to manage the most important natural resource in Nigeria is a source of pride and responsibility for the NNPC and I am committed to taking this forward and helping the NNPC achieve its potential as a globally competitive national oil company.

“My priorities will be to focus on diversifying the energy sector in Nigeria through a strategic investment plan in new technologies and advanced R&D.  This will include building up Nigeria’s refining capacity to reduce the country’s reliance on oil swap program, and introducing sectoral reforms in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Bill to reward transparency, industry best practice and social responsibility.”