Seplat Energy has appointed billionaire investor and business leader Tony Elumelu as its next chairman, effective January 2027.
The company also named Engr. Effiong Okon as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2026. The appointments form part of a broader leadership transition as Seplat positions itself for its next stage of growth.
Seplat disclosed the appointments in a notice filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on Tuesday. Company Secretary Edith Onwuchekwa signed the notice.
Elumelu joins the board after Heirs Energies acquired a 20.07% stake in Seplat Energy. The $500 million deal made Heirs Energies the company’s largest shareholder.
He will take over from Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, the current Chairman of Seplat Energy. The company described the transition as the beginning of a new phase in its growth and transformation journey.
Seplat said Elumelu’s track record in corporate governance, institution building, and value creation will help support its goal of building a resilient and globally competitive energy business.
Elumelu founded and chairs Heirs Holdings, a pan-African investment company with interests across energy, power, banking, insurance, technology, real estate, hospitality, and healthcare.
He is also the founder of Africapitalism, an economic philosophy that promotes long-term private sector investment as a driver of economic development across Africa.
In addition to Heirs Holdings, Elumelu chairs the Transcorp Group, one of Nigeria’s largest listed conglomerates. The group has investments in sectors including power and hospitality through companies such as Transcorp Power and Transcorp Hotels Plc.
He also serves as Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group, one of Africa’s leading financial services institutions.
Engr. Effiong Okon will succeed Roger Brown, who has served as Seplat Energy’s Chief Executive Officer since August 1, 2020.
Okon brings more than 35 years of experience in the oil and gas industry and has held several leadership roles within Seplat since joining the company in 2018.
He first joined Seplat’s board as Operations Director, a position he held for four years, before taking on the role of New Energy Director. Most recently, he served as Managing Director of the ANOH Gas Processing Company (AGPC).
Seplat credited Okon with playing a major role in delivering the ANOH gas project, which achieved first gas in January 2026.
The company said Okon’s deep operational experience and knowledge of the business equip him to lead Seplat as it expands its energy portfolio and pursues long-term growth opportunities.
source: https://nairametrics.com/
African Energy Council