Bolanle Olukoya
Nigeria’s state-owned oil company the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, is the very lifeblood of the nation’s economy, generating a major share of forex earnings and government revenues. As global energy dynamics shift, NNPCL has embarked on a mega transformation drive towards commercial orientation that can ensure its sustainability and competitive edge. This involved the transition to a fully commercial entity. The appointment of Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as pioneer Vice President for Upstream Operations in the revamped NNPCL has signified a major milestone in this journey.
With over 30 years of experience across NNPCL subsidiaries, Mrs. Eyesan has essentially grown up with the institution and brings that wealth of institutional memory. Her previous roles have encompassed managing vital facets like planning, building external partnerships, governance processes, infrastructure development, contract negotiations, gas commercial models etc. She has been at the forefront of unlocking several billions of dollars in investments, leading record contract renewals, pioneering gas commercialisation and acquisitions to boost downstream capacity. Such extraordinary accomplishments saw Mrs. Eyesan bag leadership awards from NNPC’s GMD, NAPE and multiple bodies.
Mrs. Eyesan is thus no outsider parachuted into the corporate stratosphere overnight by political patronage or ethnic connections. Few can match her dexterity in navigating NNPCL’s matrix or relationship rapport with its partners and global oil players. Appointing such a distinguished homegrown female talent to the VP level also broke glass ceilings and signalled meritocracy in play. Against this backdrop, the waves of coordinated criticism recently witnessed stand astonishingly incongruous and begs the question – what triggered this turmoil?
Certain media outlets gave play to statements by ambiguous groups like ‘Niger Delta for Truth and Justice’, casting Mrs. Eyesan’s ascent itself under ethnic bias lenses, baselessly linking her Itsekiri heritage as securing undeserved spoils. Another proxy outfit dubbed ‘Arewa Intelligensia Caucus’ alleged she unilaterally awarded contracts to her ethnic group against rules. On closer scrutiny, these seemingly disparate allegations peddle the same underlying disinformation – portraying her decisions as dictated by ethnic considerations above national interests or corporate governance.
However, the allegations display clearly the trappings of sponsored hatchet jobs driven by vested interests. For one, NNPCL’s appointments follow standard procedures. There currently are no proofs to corroborate accusations that she grants favours or overrides executive leadership, when by hierarchy she directly enables delivery of their strategy. If there have been dissenting incidents under her leadership in the decades she has spent in positions of authority, retaining such vital positions would be counterintuitive and her rise up the corporate ladder could have been truncated.
In reality, however, Mrs. Eyesan is renowned as a detribalised team motivator leveraging competence to extract optimal value. Her growth has seen her relate with diverse experts and operators across rungs united in pursuit of common goals. Far from the toxic work culture painted, her warmth and humility foster camaraderie and excellence at every level.
Mrs. Eyesan’s determination to stick to policies and rules may see her step on the toes of certain entities by ensuring ethics and standards are upheld above narrow interests, potentially earning their wrath. Forces habituated to extracting unchecked privileges now see their avenues blocked by her dedication to due process. Thus, they counter by framing her integrity itself under ethnic tags to fan divisive sentiments challenging her leadership.
In this context, the responsibility falls on discerning observers to parse through the noise and assess substantiated facts. If one reviews her decades-long trajectory, the qualities that distinguish Mrs. Eyesan and equipped her for VP duties encompass sharp commercial astuteness, strong operational management, relationship building, ethics and efficiency. The trajectory reveals no moment of administrative mediocrity or misconduct that justifies the present vilification.
Rather than rush to pass biassed judgements, well-meaning stakeholders must critique information sources and quality before internalising. That international oil investors reposed billions of dollars in upstream assets based heavily on her strategic planning and experience, demonstrates their evaluation of her commercial judgement. Statesmen from her native Delta who understand ground realities have denounced sinister agendas to soil her legitimacy.
The danger also lurks that blindly embracing divisive innuendo poses grave risks and consequences. If unchecked, weaponisation of ethnic sentiments can poison workplaces, divert policy from rational course, and pressure qualified, reformist figures from contributing. This undermines Nigeria’s immense potential by allowing partisan interests to prevail. Disinformation further fans societal fissures for political opportunism when truly inclusive, unifying leadership is the imperative.
It is thus our collective duty to stand up for truth – especially when forces shrouded in anonymity seek to derail progress by falsely framing equity as inequity. Every indicator from NNPCL’s operations signal Mrs. Eyesan is competently driving the organisation’s vision as a key leadership team member. Vilifying stellar performers who check the abuse of systems damages Nigeria’s future. Those who appreciate this position will reckon that in Mrs. Eyesan’s elevation and performance, there is much to applaud.
•Olukoya writes from Lagos.
