Shell Nigeria has announced the retirement of Country Chair Osagie Okunbor after a 39-year career that spanned several international assignments and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s oil and gas development.
Okunbor’s retirement, effective June 2025, is being celebrated by key industry stakeholders, including government officials, regulators and executives from both indigenous and international oil companies.
The announcement was confirmed at a high-level event held in Abuja, where tributes were paid to Okunbor’s longstanding contributions to Shell and the Nigerian energy sector.
Okunbor joined Shell in 1986 after earning a degree in Business Administration from the University of Benin. He subsequently held leadership roles across Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Brunei and the Netherlands.
Shell Executive Vice President for Nigeria, Marno de Jong, will assume additional responsibilities as Country Chair following Okunbor’s exit. De Jong described Okunbor as “a respected leader in Shell and the broader industry,” adding that “his wise counsel and insights have proved invaluable.”
He also acknowledged Okunbor’s effective engagement across multiple stakeholder levels, including communities and regulators.
Okunbor served as Managing Director of the defunct Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) and assumed the role of Country Chair for Shell Companies in Nigeria in 2015.
His portfolio during this period included oversight of Shell’s Deepwater and Integrated Gas investments in Nigeria, as well as Shell’s participation in critical industry reform initiatives.
In his remarks, Okunbor said: “It has been an honour of a lifetime serving my country on a global platform offered by Shell. The Shell values of honesty, integrity, and respect for people have guided my modest contributions.”
Over the course of his career, Okunbor held various strategic positions, including Vice President, Infrastructure and Logistics in Nigeria; Vice President, Human Resources, Sub-Saharan Africa; and Senior Advisor, Upstream International Operated Business.
He also served two terms as Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) under the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In recognition of his contributions, Okunbor received the H.E. Dr. Alirio Parra Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, among other industry honours.
His retirement comes at a time when Shell Nigeria is recalibrating its operations to align with evolving global energy dynamics and national policy shifts.
Industry analysts view Okunbor’s retirement as the conclusion of an era defined by strong leadership, advocacy for Nigerian content, and operational transformation.
His departure will test Shell’s transition strategy as the company navigates new regulatory, environmental, and economic challenges in Africa’s largest energy market.
Shell Nigeria has yet to announce any additional changes to its management structure. However, the appointment of Marno de Jong as the new Country Chair is seen as a continuity move intended to sustain operational stability.
