The Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company and Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, is set to retire this month after nearly four decades of service with the energy giant.
The disclosure was made in a statement issued Wednesday by Shell Nigeria’s Communications Manager, Mrs. Gladys Afam-Anadu. She revealed that Okunbor’s pre-retirement event commenced Tuesday in Abuja, drawing stakeholders from across the oil and gas industry including government functionaries, regulators, and chief executives of both indigenous and international oil companies.
Dignitaries at the event highlighted Okunbor’s significant contributions to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry development, particularly in Nigerian content advancement and his pivotal roles in Shell’s investments in Deep-water and Integrated Gas operations in Nigeria.
According to the statement, Executive Vice President of Nigeria, Marno de Jong, will assume the additional responsibilities of Country Chair Nigeria following Okunbor’s departure.
In his remarks, de Jong praised the outgoing leader, describing Okunbor as “a respected leader in Shell and the broader industry whose wise counsel and insights have proved invaluable.”
“Over a career that has lasted nearly 40 years, Okunbor has related with a wide range of stakeholders, from communities to industry leaders, with empathy and excellent relational skills. We will all miss his presence and wish him a most enjoyable retirement,” de Jong stated.
Okunbor, reflecting on his tenure, 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 been useful in my modest contributions.”
A University of Benin graduate, Okunbor joined Shell in 1986 and has served across multiple countries including Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Brunei, and the Netherlands. He assumed the position of Managing Director of the defunct Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria in 2015.
His career progression included roles as Vice President, Infrastructure and Logistics, Nigeria; Vice President, Human Resources, Sub-Saharan Africa; and Senior Advisor, Upstream International Operated Business.
Okunbor has been a key figure in Nigeria’s energy sector, serving two terms as Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section of the Lagos Chamber of Industry. His contributions were recognized in 2022 when he received the Dr. Alirio Parra Lifetime Achievement Award in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry, among several other honors.
The retirement comes at a significant time for Shell’s Nigerian operations. In March 2025, Shell completed the sale of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited to Renaissance, marking a strategic shift in the company’s Nigerian presence.
The divestment aligns with Shell’s strategy to simplify its Nigerian operations through an exit from onshore oil production in the Niger Delta while focusing future disciplined investment on Deepwater and Integrated Gas positions.
Renaissance now controls SPDC’s 30% stake in the SPDC Joint Venture, an unincorporated partnership with the government-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation holding 55%, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd with 10%, and Agip Energy and Natural Resources Nigeria Limited maintaining 5%.
