Shell Nigeria has officially bid farewell to its Country Chair, Osagie Okunbor, who is retiring after an impressive 39-year career with the company. The send-forth celebration began on the night of June 24, 2025, in Abuja, with top figures from the oil and gas industry, including regulators, government officials, and CEOs from both local and international oil companies, in attendance.

During the event, speakers praised Okunbor for his major contributions to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector—especially in promoting Nigerian content and helping drive Shell’s investments in deep-water and integrated gas projects across the country.

Shell’s Executive Vice President for Nigeria, Marno de Jong, who will now also serve as Country Chair, described Okunbor as a deeply respected leader whose wisdom and empathy made him a valuable presence in both Shell and the broader industry.

Reflecting on his career, Okunbor said:

“It’s been the honour of a lifetime to serve Nigeria on the global platform Shell offered. Values like honesty, integrity, and respect for people have guided my journey.”

Okunbor, who holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Benin, joined Shell in 1986 and served in several countries including the UK, Brunei, and the Netherlands. He was appointed Managing Director of the now-defunct Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) and Country Chair for Shell Companies in Nigeria in 2015.

He also held several key positions, such as Vice President of Infrastructure and Logistics in Nigeria, Vice President of HR for Sub-Saharan Africa, and Senior Advisor in Shell’s international upstream operations.

In addition to his work at Shell, Okunbor played a leadership role in the wider industry. He served two terms as Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and received the H.E. Dr. Alirio Parra Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for his contributions to the Nigerian oil and gas sector.