Shell, Oil Industry Bid Farewell to Osagie Okunbor After 39 Years of Service
Shell Nigeria is bidding farewell to its Country Chair, Osagie Okunbor, as he retires after a distinguished 39-year career with the company. Celebratory events began last night in Abuja, drawing key stakeholders from across the oil and gas industry, including top government officials, regulators, and executives from both indigenous and international oil companies.
The tributes recognized Okunbor’s outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s energy sector, particularly in advancing Nigerian content development, as well as his pivotal role in Shell’s deep-water and integrated gas investments in the country. In light of his departure, Marno de Jong, Shell’s Executive Vice President for Nigeria, will assume additional responsibilities as Country Chair Nigeria.
“Osagie is a respected leader within Shell and the wider energy industry,” said de Jong. “His wisdom, insight, and ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders—from community leaders to industry executives—with empathy and grace, have made a lasting impact. We will miss his presence greatly and wish him the very best in retirement.”
Reflecting on his journey, Okunbor expressed deep gratitude for his time at Shell:
“It has been the honour of a lifetime to serve my country on a global platform like Shell. The company’s values of honesty, integrity, and respect for people have shaped my modest contributions over the years.”
A graduate of the University of Benin with a degree in Business Administration, Okunbor joined Shell in 1986. His career took him across Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Brunei, and the Netherlands. In 2015, he was appointed Managing Director of the now-defunct Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) and concurrently served as Country Chair for Shell Companies in Nigeria.
Over the years, he held various leadership roles, including Vice President, Infrastructure and Logistics in Nigeria, Vice President, Human Resources for Sub-Saharan Africa, and Senior Advisor for Upstream International Operated Business.
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Beyond Shell, Okunbor made a significant mark on Nigeria’s energy landscape. He served two terms as Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) under the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In 2022, he was honoured with the H.E. Dr Alirio Parra Lifetime Achievement Award for his remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, among other accolades.
As Shell and the wider industry pay tribute to a remarkable career, Osagie Okunbor’s legacy stands as a testament to leadership, dedication, and the power of long-term service in shaping the future of Nigeria’s energy sector.
