Nigerian independent oil firm Petralon Energy has appointed Uduak Equere as its new executive director, effective Monday, as the company positions itself for growth in the country’s oil and gas sector. Equere, who previously served as Petralon’s chief commercial officer, will maintain that role while taking on broader group-level responsibilities. He will also continue as executive director of Petralon 54, the company’s subsidiary focused on upstream operations.

The move comes as local independent producers increasingly aim to expand their presence in Nigeria’s petroleum market, capitalizing on opportunities from international oil majors reducing onshore activities due to security concerns and regulatory pressures.
Petralon has been actively strengthening its operational capabilities and financial position to compete effectively for these assets.

“The past year has seen Petralon achieve key milestones across its portfolio, enhancing operational efficiency, financial stability, and institutional foundations,” the company said in a statement.
Equere brings over 20 years of experience in energy finance and commercial operations, including equity research, corporate development, and upstream deal structuring. He began his career at Vetiva Capital Management, covering energy equities and providing market insights on Nigeria’s oil, gas, and power sectors.

He also held roles at London-listed Afren Plc, working on asset acquisitions and joint venture fiscal optimisation, and at Xodus Group Africa, where he provided petroleum economics analysis for upstream projects financed by the Africa Finance Corporation.

Equere holds an MBA in finance from Imperial College Business School and completed the Accelerated Development Programme at London Business School. He was the top graduate in economics from the University of Uyo and is a member of the International Association for Energy Economics.