Ladi Soyombo’s Heart of Gratitude  at 40

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SNL Technology, Ladipo Soyombo, is not just a seasoned professional or an entrepreneur; he’s a harmonious blend of both. His journey has been a rich tapestry of engineering prowess and a very rich contribution to the nation’s economy. Even at 40, he has impacted so many lives significantly.

Fondly called Ladi by friends and colleagues, he marked his 40th birthday celebration with gratitude, reflection, and a commitment to inspiring others through his journey in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

The event, which was held on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at the Delborough Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, had in attendance a seasoned entrepreneur and father of the celebrant, Kayode Soyombo, Chairman Troyka Group; Dr. Biodun Shobanjo, Chairman Renaissance Africa Energy; Dr. Layi Fatona; family, friends, business associates, well-wishers and several other distinguished guests.

Recalling his journey through the last 40 years, Ladi noted that the celebration is not just a time for merriment, but an opportunity to inspire, reflect, and honour leaders who have contributed to his growth. The oil and gas topshot revealed that he had never celebrated any birthday aside from the ones celebrated for him as a child, but decided to celebrate his 40th from an inspirational reflection perspective – “to inspire, to reflect, and to celebrate the goodness of God in my life and in others who have been part of my journey.”

He recalled that when he reflects on his life and the impactful moments that have shaped him, he remembers certain inspirational stories that instilled in him values, dedication, and ambition—such as becoming a petroleum technologist, founding his company in the oil and gas contractor space, and contributing meaningfully to the energy sector.

At 40, Soyombo’s focus is not only on building a stronger indigenous presence in the oil and gas sector, but also to inspire the next generation of professionals and entrepreneurs to pursue bold ideas with resilience and faith.

Soyombo holds a degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, and a Master’s in Petroleum Engineering from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland. He is also an alumnus of the London Business School, where he earned an executive management certificate.

Before establishing SNL Technology, Soyombo worked as Lead Petroleum Technologist at Afren, a London-listed exploration and production company, where his strategies significantly improved oil output.

With SNL Technology, Soyombo is blending technical expertise with digital intelligence, serving as the authorised sales agent for Swagelok Sub-Saharan Africa to provide fluid system solutions to upstream producers, while also partnering with IFS, a global enterprise software provider, to introduce digital operations intelligence for asset management in the Nigerian upstream sector.

Under his leadership, SNL technology has continued its giant strides with offices in Lagos and Port Harcourt.