Bayo Bashir Ojulari: A Profile of NNPC’s New CEO and Petroleum Engineering Luminary

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Bayo Bashir Ojulari, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), is a highly experienced engineer specializing in petroleum, process, and production engineering.

Prior to this role, Ojulari served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. Under his leadership, Renaissance spearheaded a historic $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) by a consortium of local energy firms.

Ojulari began his career as Elf Aquitaine’s first Nigerian process engineer before joining Shell Petroleum Development Company in 1991. A Kwara State native, he later became Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) from 2015 to 2021.

He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering (1985–1989) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigeria Council) between 1998 and 1999.

With a career spanning decades, Ojulari has held key leadership positions in Europe and the Middle East, excelling in petroleum engineering, process optimization, production management, and health and safety.

In November 2015, he was appointed Managing Director of SNEPCo and General Manager of Deepwater Operations. Additionally, he served on the board of SPDC, overseeing onshore and offshore petroleum engineering, technical development integration, well engineering, and project management.

Beyond Nigeria, Ojulari has worked across Europe and the Middle East in various capacities, including as a strategic planner, field developer, and asset manager, solidifying his reputation as a global energy expert.