Nigeria’s state oil firm, NNPC Limited, has appointed Andy Odeh as Chief Corporate Communications Officer and Morenike Adewunmi as Chief Relations Officer, as part of a wider push to strengthen public trust and stakeholder engagement.
The company said the appointments, announced Tuesday on its website, reflect its commitment to “enhancing communication and engagement with stakeholders.”
Odeh, a veteran with more than 30 years of experience in oil and gas, advertising, and broadcasting, spent 26 years at Nigeria LNG (NLNG), where he drove rebranding efforts and oversaw one of Nigeria’s most successful micro-credit schemes for host communities.
“Mr. Odeh is recognised for his work on major campaigns for top brands and for instituting the NLNG Prize for Energy Reporting,” NNPC said in its statement.
Industry analysts say the choice of Odeh is strategic. “Communications is the soul of trust in the oil sector. Odeh’s record suggests he can deliver transparency and connection at a time when the industry faces rising scrutiny,” said one Lagos-based energy consultant.
Mrs. Adewunmi, a lawyer with more than 25 years in the industry, joins from Shell, where she managed regulatory affairs and government relations. Known for her emotional intelligence and ability to navigate complex external landscapes, she will lead stakeholder relations at NNPC. “She is highly regarded for protecting a company’s license to operate through constructive ties with regulators and government institutions,” the firm noted.
The appointments come just months after the resignation of former communications chief Femi Soneye, who left to focus on personal responsibilities. His exit left a gap that NNPC said needed “experienced hands.”
The moves are part of the national oil company’s broader transformation agenda, which includes a $60 billion investment drive aimed at raising crude oil production to 3 million barrels per day by 2030.
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