Elumelu to chair Seplat Energy as company names Effiong CEO

Seplat Energy Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous energy companies, has announced the appointment of renowned businessman and philanthropist Tony O. Elumelu, CON, as its new Chairman, alongside the appointment of Effiong Okon as Chief Executive Officer.

The dual leadership move is expected to strengthen Seplat Energy’s strategic direction, accelerate its energy transition initiatives, and reinforce its position as a major player in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and broader African energy landscape.

Tony Elumelu Brings Decades of Pan-African Leadership.
Tony Elumelu is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential business leaders. He currently serves as Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, where he has led the institution’s transformation into one of the continent’s largest financial services groups with operations across 20 African countries.

He also chairs Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) and Heirs Holdings, a pan-African investment company with interests in power, oil and gas, financial services, hospitality, real estate, and healthcare.

As the Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, he has championed entrepreneurship across Africa through catalytic philanthropy and impact investing, supporting thousands of African startups and small businesses.

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Elumelu’s philosophy of “Africapitalism” — the belief that the private sector should drive economic and social wealth creation on the continent — is expected to bring a bold, long-term strategic vision to Seplat Energy’s board.

Effiong Okon Takes the Helm as CEO
Effiong Okon, a seasoned energy executive with deep technical and operational expertise, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. He has been with Seplat Energy for several years, most recently serving as Managing Director of AGPC (the Seplat Energy Plc and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited joint venture) and previously as Director of New Energy.

Prior to his current roles at Seplat, Okon held senior leadership positions at Shell, including General Manager of Offshore Assets in Nigeria, where he managed significant production portfolios, and various technical and managerial roles in Qatar and Nigeria. His experience spans upstream operations, energy transition strategy, asset management, business transformation, and stakeholder engagement.

During his time at Seplat, Okon played a key role in driving the company’s energy transition roadmap, decarbonization efforts, and the development of integrated gas and renewable energy opportunities.