…Tasks Inaugural Board on Historic National Assignment

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially welcomed Nigeria’s formal admission as the newest National Member Committee of the World Energy Council (WEC), describing it as a proud moment for the nation and a strong vote of confidence in Nigeria’s energy reforms.

The President noted that Nigeria’s entry into the century-old global network of over 100 countries positions the nation to more actively shape global discussions on energy security, equity, and sustainability.

In an official statement released by the State House, President Tinubu congratulated the inaugural leadership and board of WEC Nigeria. The new governing body is chaired by Mr Abdulrazaq Isa, OFR (Co-founder and Chairman of Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited), with Mr Bala Wunti (former Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Limited) serving as Chief Executive Officer.

The President described Mr Isa as a distinguished patriot and trailblazing industrialist whose pioneering investments in indigenous refining have opened new frontiers for Nigerian enterprise. He also praised Mr Wunti as one of Nigeria’s finest energy strategists whose landmark reforms have significantly enhanced national revenues and restored investor confidence.

A Multidisciplinary Governing Board
Joining the executive leadership on the inaugural board is a distinguished panel of operators, regulators, academics, and industry strategists drawn from across the energy value chain:
Dr Ainojie ‘Alex’ Irune – Executive Director, Oando PLC
Dr Mustapha Abdullahi – Director-General, Energy Commission of Nigeria
Prof. Wumi Iledare – Professor Emeritus of Energy Economics
Dr Victor Ekpenyong – CEO, Kenyon International West Africa
Dr Emmanuel Okon – MD/CEO, Engineering Automation Technology (EATECH) Limited
Ms Aisha Farida Katagum – Chartered Accountant & Former GED, Corporate Services, NNPC
Dr Imamuddeen Talba – Chairman, Steering Committee, REEEAA.

Emphasising the weight of the task ahead, President Tinubu highlighted that the balance of seasoned industry captains, regulators, finance experts, and youth leaders gives WEC Nigeria the credibility required to succeed, stating:
“Nigeria has joined the World Energy Council to lead, not just participate – to ensure Africa’s voice shapes global energy decisions.”

The President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s full support for WEC Nigeria as a neutral, technology-agnostic platform for policy dialogue and investment mobilisation, wishing the entire board success in what he termed a historic national assignment.

The inaugural board brings together leaders with proven operational track records in frontier market solutions. Among them is Dr Victor Ekpenyong, whose firm, Kenyon International, recently achieved an industry milestone by deploying Nigeria’s first FlexSteel unbonded flexible pipeline technology at OML 123; a project that compressed standard offshore infrastructure timelines by 80%.

Reacting to his board selection in a post shared on his official LinkedIn page, Ekpenyong expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to serve, noting that joining the WEC Nigeria board represents a pivotal moment for indigenous capacity to actively contribute to global energy governance frameworks and support sustainable transition policies that reflect African realities.

With the official inauguration of the WEC Nigeria Committee, the country resumes its active role within the global energy body, restoring direct channels for over 3,000 member organizations worldwide to engage with Nigerian policymakers, investors, and technical operators.