Former Group Managing Director, (GMD) Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Chief Chamberlain Oyibo, has called for meritocracy and professionalism as veritable strategies to advancing Nigeria, especially in the oil and gas industry.
He stated that it is also important to harness indigenous talents for national development.
He spoke during the 22nd Annual Aret Adams Memorial Lecture Series 2025 organised by Aret Adams Foundation. Adams was a former GMD, NNPC and a former Chairman of Niger Delta Exploration & Production Plc and Multinational Expertise Limited.
The topic of the lecture was: “Aret Adams – Legacies And Impacts On Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry.”
Oyibo also extolled the late Chief Godwin Aret Adams for his humility, integrity, human capital development and overall contribution to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector development.
Other speakers who also called for meritocracy in national service and in the oil and gas sector and extolled Adams included: Former GMD, NNPC, Enhre Andrew Yakubu, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Aret Adams Foundation, Engr Charles Osezua, Chairman, Osuno Petroleum Consults, Ogbueshi Ben Osuno, former Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Mr. James Orife, former Head, Exploration, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Dr. Ebi Omatsola, former Exploration Manager, Elf/Total Company Limited, former Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, Engr George Osahon, former Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okaru, Director, Zebbra Energies Limited, Dr. Steve Okolo, Chief Executive Officer, Enuani Energy Limited, Mr. Louis Mbanefo, Chief Executive Officer, EnergyInc Advisors, Mrs. Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, member, Governing Council, Aret Adams Foundation, Mrs Patricia Ochogbu, and Mrs Izarene Adams.
The lecture also featured the presentation of the 2025 Aret Adams Msc Scholarship award in Geology, University of Ibadan to the winners, Mr. Levi, Daniel Ibeakalam and Miss Adetoye, Blessing Adesola.
Oyibo cautioned against the interference of the government in the operations of NNPC now Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd).
He said, “Of course, the government did not allow Aret to work. (5:17) Government has not allowed the GMD of NNPC to work. Because people in government, they think they know better when they don’t know anything about oil, but all they want to do is that, (5:35) they think you ought to be loyal, not loyal to the system, not loyal to the country, but loyal to them individually.”
Yakubu said it is important to exhibit the behaviours, skills, administrative acumen, and versatility of Adams by industry operators to grow the sector.
He noted how the organization transformed over the years, and Chief Adams, in the sense of a pioneer, the 1980s reforms and the restructuring that started within that institution.
He also agreed that one of the cardinal goals of Nigeria is to build a world-standard national oil company that can compare with Petrobras, Aramco, and others.
He stated that Adams’ legacies will be critical to achieving that goal that Nigeria has set out for the national oil company into the future.
He said, “I would say every aspect that we have heard about late Adams is necessary for moving the oil and gas industry forward.
“So what Adams brought to the table was an integrated and well-structured way of running the oil and gas industry. The reforms, and even before the reforms, for somebody who is a geologist and a downstream man, I’m an upstream man, to think downstream. Because when I joined, we had a well-structured development and training program, which was designed to throw up excellent people, materials, and the vehicles you are going to use to achieve your objectives.”
Omoigui-Okaru said, “But one of the things that’s also clear about Chief Adam’s legacy is his values-based leadership. How do some of those values resonate with you? And given the new generation of oil and gas stakeholders, professionals in the public and private sector, which of those values are going to help drive us to the future that we seek in this industry?”
