The above inspirational tune by Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) minutes after he took over the reins clearly underscores the key importance of his mission and desire to change the story of NNPC along the path of transparency and sustainable contribution to national economic growth.
The appointment of Kachikwu as GMD of NNPC by President Muhammadu Buhari was seen as part of the cleansing process by the new administration to reform the leadership and operations of the Corporation in line with the anti-corruption policy of the federal government.
Analysts and operators in the oil & gas sector believe the move was largely expected given the spate of allegations against NNPC in recent times from various quarters. Announcing the appointment, Mr. Femi Adesina, Presidential Spokesman said: “He (Buhari) said he was going to clean up the oil industry. There’s no way he could proceed with the same Board in place.”
Also, the NNPC said in a statement: “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.”
Prior to his appointment, Kachikwu was the Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel of Exxon-Mobil (Africa). He holds a first class degree in Law from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the Nigerian Law School.
This is in addition to a Masters and Doctorate Degrees in Law from the Harvard Law School, United States. Kachikwu started his career at the Nigerian/American Merchant Bank and later on to Texaco Nigeria Limited from where he joined Exxon-Mobil. He has over 30 years experience in the energy sector.
Kachikwu hails from Onicha-Ugbo in Delta State.
