By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr Olufemi Soneye, has resigned from his position, days after he was named Spokesperson of the Year in 2025 by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR),

In a Facebook post on Saturday, the media practitioner thanked his colleagues for the support he received from them since he took the job as the spokesman of the state-owned oil agency almost two years ago, when he replaced Mr Garba Muhammad.

He said it was an honour to serve as the image maker of the NNPC, noting that his decision to step “aside from my role as Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd” was to “allow me to devote more time to my family and attend to personal responsibilities that now require my closer presence.”

“It has been a profound honour to serve both the company and our country and to contribute in my own way to the ongoing transformation of NNPC Ltd.

“I am deeply grateful for the trust reposed in me, the opportunities granted, and the incredible professionals both within and outside the organisation with whom I have worked.

“I remain a steadfast supporter and ambassador of NNPC Ltd wherever I go. I enjoin you, dear colleagues, to continue your robust, balanced, and constructive reportage to support the company’s noble mission and strategic role in Nigeria’s energy future. With sincere appreciation,” Mr Soneye said in his post.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The board of UPDC Plc has settled for Mr Francis Akinyemi Falola as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the company with effect from June 16, 2025.

His appointment followed the resignation of the former occupier of the position, Mr Grant Akata, a statement filed to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Friday said.

Mr Falola, a graduate of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (formerly known as Ogun State University), possesses extensive experience in financial reporting and tax, treasury management, credit control, financial reviews, financial analysis, auditing, accounting and budgeting.

He started his career with Phoenix of Nigeria Assurance Plc and later joined Custodian and Allied Insurance Limited where he worked in different roles, including Head of Credit Control and Debt Management and Head of Finance and Account.

The new CFO of UPDC is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) with over two decades working experience in Finance and Accounting roles.

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, he proceeded to the Lagos State University for a Master of Business Administration (MBA). He also completed a Senior Management Programme from the Lagos Business School (LBS).

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Felix Ogbe, has been appointed to the Executive Board of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO).

By the appointment, Mr Ogbe becomes Nigeria’s representative on the board of the 18-member continental body, which has its headquarters in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.

Mr Ogbe was picked for this role by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, who doubles as the Chairman of the NCDMB Governing Council.

The notice of the Executive Secretary’s appointment was conveyed in a congratulatory letter signed by the Director of Support Services, APPO, Mrs Philomena Ikoko, on behalf of the Secretary General of the organization, Mr Omar Farouk Ibrahim.

She applauded the NCDMB boss on the confidence reposed in him by the Minister, expressing her belief that he would make immense contributions to the development of the African oil and gas industry.

She stated that Mr Ogbe is joining the Executive Board of APPO at a challenging time for the oil and gas industry, especially in Africa.

“Your appointment is a major call to duty for Nigeria and the continent. The secretariat will give you the support you will need to make a success of your assignment,” she noted.

NCDMB played key roles in catalyzing the operations of APPO and the development of local content in the African continent, providing institutional support and mentorship to several oil producing countries in their formulation of local content policies.

NCDMB initiated the African Local Content Roundtable (ALCR) and hosted the inaugural edition at Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, in June 2021, which was attended by key officials of APPO and other oil industry players.

The idea for the Africa Energy Bank was mooted by NCDMB’s officials at the event, as one of the strategies that would accelerate the growth of the African oil and gas industry and deepen local content.

The board also collaborated with APPO to host subsequent editions of the ALCR including the 2023 edition held at Abuja.

The Africa Energy Bank, which APPO is setting up at Abuja is aimed at pooling financial resources needed to fund big-ticket oil and gas projects across the continent, and bridge funding challenges currently impeding the development of the sector.

According to the APPO Secretary General, the Africa Energy Bank seeks to fund oil and gas projects across economies in Africa, helping to plug critical financing gaps that exist through the continent’s overreliance on financiers from the West.

Each APPO member country is expected to raise $83 million with an objective of raising $5 billion capital for the establishment of the bank.

It was revealed recently that Nigeria, Angola and Ghana have contributed their share capital. The trio’s contributions represent 44 per cent of the minimum capital that is required from oil producing countries in the continent.