In Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, where technical complexity and global standards intersect, Suraju (Babatunde) Oyekade has established himself as a leading petroleum geoscientist, combining local knowledge with international best practices to advance field development and reservoir optimisation.

Oyekade began his professional journey in academia at the University of Port Harcourt, teaching geology and geophysics, before moving into the private sector. In 2002, he joined Laser Engineering and Resources Consultants Limited, contributing to reservoir modelling projects while mentoring emerging geoscientists. By 2006, he was seconded to Pan Ocean Oil Corporation, where his integrated 3D modelling work informed redevelopment strategies for assets including Ossiomo, Asaboro, and Ogharefe fields.

From 2009 to 2018, Oyekade served as Head of Geology and Team Lead for Integrated Reservoir Studies at Laser, overseeing multidisciplinary teams on projects spanning Mobil Nigeria’s Ekpe Field, Chevron Nigeria’s Agbami Sands, and NPDC’s Abura and Oredo fields. In parallel, he taught at the Laser Petroleum Geoscience Centre, reinforcing Nigeria’s local content agenda by training graduates and professionals in geoscience practices.

Since 2018, Oyekade has been Senior Production Geologist at Newcross Exploration and Production Limited, contributing to operations on OML 24. His work includes reservoir static modelling, volumetric estimation, production mapping, well planning, and seismic interpretation. Beyond technical responsibilities, he trains and mentors junior staff, ensuring that knowledge transfer strengthens local capacity.

“From static modelling to enhanced oil recovery, Oyekade’s work bridges Nigeria’s subsurface challenges with global best practices,” said a colleague at Newcross.

Oyekade’s influence extends beyond national boundaries. Between 2020 and 2025, he co-authored several Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) papers, presenting research on enhanced oil recovery (EOR), reservoir simulation, and production optimisation. His studies demonstrated significant recovery improvements using methods such as steam-assisted gravity drainage with CO2/N2 injection and polymer-alkali-surfactant flooding, achieving recovery factors up to 20 per cent—results that address heavy-oil production challenges worldwide.

What distinguishes Oyekade is his dedication to developing indigenous expertise. By mentoring technical teams and training young professionals, he has helped reduce reliance on foreign specialists in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. His work shows how local professionals can deliver world-class solutions while advancing national energy objectives.

“Nigeria’s petroleum future depends on indigenous expertise—and Suraju Oyekade has shown that local professionals can deliver world-class solutions in reservoir geoscience,” an industry observer commented.

As Nigeria balances the need to boost production from mature assets with the global energy transition, Oyekade’s career exemplifies how homegrown knowledge, combined with international standards, can drive sustainable growth. His reservoir models underpin field development plans worth billions, while his research in EOR intersects with global efforts in carbon management and sustainable resource utilization.

Through his dual focus on technical excellence and local capacity building, Suraju Oyekade represents a new generation of Nigerian petroleum leaders shaping the industry both nationally and internationally.