Meet Effiong Okon, Seplat Energy’s incoming chief executive

Engr. Effiong Udofia Okon is one of Nigeria’s most experienced oil and gas professionals, with more than three decades of leadership across engineering, production, project delivery, business transformation, and energy transition initiatives.

His appointment as the incoming Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy, effective August 1, 2026, represents the latest milestone in a distinguished career that has taken him from a young reservoir engineer to one of the most respected figures in Africa’s energy industry.

Background

A native of Akwa-Ibom, a state in the Southern part of Nigeria, Okon is an alumnus of the University of Benin, Nigeria.

He has also attended executive programmes at IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and a member of several professional organisations, including the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

In addition, he serves on the boards of several public and private organisations, contributing his expertise to corporate governance and strategic decision-making.

Early career and rise in the energy industry

Okon began his professional journey in 1992 when he joined Shell as a Reservoir Engineer.

Over the next 26 years, he built an impressive international career, holding several technical and executive positions across Nigeria, Europe, the Middle East, and other regions.

During his time with Shell, he gained extensive experience in petroleum engineering, field development, offshore and deepwater operations, production management, project execution, and business improvement.

His leadership responsibilities grew steadily as he managed increasingly complex energy assets and large multidisciplinary teams.

Among the notable positions he held were Chief Reservoir Engineer, General Manager of Offshore Assets, General Manager of Deepwater Production, and Vice President for Cost Leadership and Continuous Improvement at Royal Dutch Shell in the Netherlands.

Key contributions in Nigeria and Qatar

One of the defining periods of his career came during his assignments in Qatar, where he served in senior technical and operational roles.

As Manager of North Field Wells and Reservoir, he worked on the world’s largest natural gas field. He also served as Deputy Vice President Technical for Qatar Shell.

During this period, he played an important role in the commissioning, startup, and early production stages of major energy projects valued at approximately $25 billion.

These projects included the Pearl Gas-to-Liquids project and Qatar Gas LNG Trains 7 and 8, both of which remain significant developments in the global energy sector.

His work in Qatar strengthened his reputation as a leader capable of delivering large-scale projects while maintaining operational excellence and efficiency.

Joining Seplat Energy

After leaving Shell in 2018, Okon joined Seplat Energy as Executive Director and Operations Director.

In this role, he oversaw the company’s operational performance and championed several initiatives aimed at improving efficiency, safety, and production reliability.

His contributions helped strengthen Seplat’s operational framework and supported the company’s growth ambitions within Nigeria’s energy landscape.

Recognising his expertise and leadership abilities, Seplat appointed him Director of New Energy in July 2022.

The position placed him at the forefront of the company’s efforts to expand its gas business, develop power projects, and advance cleaner energy solutions.

His work focused on promoting gas-based electricity generation and renewable energy initiatives designed to reduce dependence on diesel and petrol-powered energy sources while supporting Nigeria’s energy transition goals.

Leadership at ANOH gas processing company

In May 2024, Okon was appointed Managing Director of ANOH Gas Processing Company Limited, an incorporated joint venture between NNPC Limited and Seplat Energy.

As head of the company, he has been responsible for advancing one of Nigeria’s key gas infrastructure projects, helping to boost domestic gas processing capacity and support the country’s drive toward cleaner and more reliable energy.

His leadership at ANOH has further highlighted his expertise in both upstream and midstream energy operations.

Family life

Beyond his professional achievements, Engr. Effiong Okon is a family man. He is married to Bertha Mary Okon, and together they have four children.

As he prepares to assume leadership of Seplat Energy, industry observers see him as a seasoned executive whose combination of technical expertise, global experience, and strategic leadership positions him to guide one of Nigeria’s leading energy companies through its next phase of growth.

Vast industry experience

With more than 32 years in the industry, Okon’s experience spans virtually every major area of oil and gas operations. His professional background includes:

• Reservoir and petroleum engineering
• Exploration and production
• Project development and execution
• Commissioning and startup operations
• Offshore and onshore asset management
• Operational excellence and cost optimisation
• Strategy and business transformation
• Energy transition and renewable energy development
• Midstream gas infrastructure
• Leadership of large multicultural teams

His career has taken him across Africa, Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and Nigeria, giving him broad international exposure and experience working in diverse business environments.

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