President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new Board and Management team for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) with Mele Kolo Kyari remaining as the Group Chief Executive Officer ( GCEO) . The appointment takes effect from December 1, 2023:

According to a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity),below are the members of the board and management:

(1) Pius Akinyelure — Non-Executive Board Chairman

(2) Mele Kolo Kyari — Group Chief Executive Officer

(3) Umar Isa Ajiya — Chief Financial Officer

(4) Ledum Mitee — Non-Executive Director

(5) Musa Tumsa — Non-Executive Director

(6) Ghali Muhammad — Non-Executive Director

(7) Mustapha Aliyu — Non-Executive Director

(8) David Ogbodo — Non-Executive Director

(9) Eunice Thomas — Non-Executive Director

Also, President Tinubu approved the appointment of two Permanent Secretaries:

Okokon Ekanem Udo — Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance

Gabriel Aduda — Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources

“President Tinubu anticipates the fullest measure of compliance with the performance-driven and results-oriented mandate of his Renewed Hope administration in the implementation of energy policy that will monetize all available oil and gas resources of today while paving the way for the total exploitation of new and cleaner energy sources of tomorrow by this distinguished team”, the statement added.

The National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dele Oye Esq., is set to deliver a keynote address at the 2023 ADR Conference scheduled for Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

The event taking place at the International Trade and Convention Centre in Abuja is themed, “The Role of Commercial Mediation in Africa’s Emerging Markets: Opportunities and Threat.”

At the conference, Oye will share insights on commercial mediation’s role in navigating challenges and harnessing opportunities in Africa’s emerging markets.

The forum will bring together thought leaders, legal experts, and stakeholders to engage in insightful discussions and exchange ideas on the transformative potential of commercial mediation in Africa and provide a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics shaping the continent’s business landscape, focusing on both opportunities and threats.

Oye, an experienced lawyer and astute entrepreneur with over 33 years of practice in litigation, will be leveraging his experience in charting a path for commercial mediation in Africa at the conference.

With a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern businesses and high-level skills in providing strategic advice to help businesses navigate complex challenges, Oye is well-positioned as an authority on the subject matter.

Dele Kelvin Oye is a 1988 graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1989. He is a Lawyer and founder/partner of Dele Oye & Associates Law Firm, partner in Consolidated Legal Practice.

He currently holds several professional and business positions, of which are the National President of NACCIMA; Nigeria-Turkey Business Council (NTBC) Chairman; Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Governing Council Member; Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) Fellow / Governing Council Member and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Member of the National Executive Committee.

Apart from ownership and board membership in several successful conglomerates in the real estate and oil and gas industry, amongst others in Nigeria, Mr. Oye has also previously held several prestigious positions, of which are Conference of Alumni Association of Nigerian Universities (CAANU) National Chairman, CAANU 2001 – 2003; Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chairman, National Conference Planning Committee, NBA 2004 & 2015; Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) President, ACCI 2008-2011; Council of Legal Education/ Nigerian Law School Member, Governing Council 2012 – 2016; Body of Benchers Member 2016 – 2019 and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Member, Governing Council 2021 – 2022.

The Ogun State Government has commenced the second phase of the disbursement of the N1 billion grant to micro and small enterprises (MSEs).

The initiative aims to alleviate poverty and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in the state.

Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment and a member of the Ogun State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (OGUN CARES) Steering Committee,
Mr. Adebola Sofela, in a statement on Monday,
announced that Governor Dapo Abiodun has directed the immediate commencement of the disbursement process for the second phase of the grants.

This phase will benefit entrepreneurs across the state.

He said that a stakeholder engagement session will be held for legitimate business owners in the Ogun Central Senatorial District at the Obas Complex Hall, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, to kick-start the second phase.

The objective of the sessions, according to the commissioner, is to provide participants with information about the application process and criteria for eligibility.

Sofela added that the date and time for the stakeholder engagement sessions in Ogun West and East Senatorial Districts will be communicated at a later date.

In the first batch, over N120 million was disbursed by the state government to more than 1,000 micro and small entrepreneurs across the twenty (20) local government areas of the state, with the beneficiaries expressing their gratitude in an appreciation letter addressed to the governor.

Trade associations, representing the beneficiaries, including the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Joint National Association of Persons Living With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Artisans Groups, and Market Men and Women, all commended the governor for his support during the challenging time.

They highlighted the significant increase in operational expenses and the struggle to pay workers’ salaries, as well as the costs of operational gadgets, utilities, and renting shops.

“We believe that this grant will provide much-needed relief to businesses in our state. We appreciate your continued support and encourage you to stay informed about future updates regarding the disbursement process,” Sofela added. Pool