Seplat Energy: Ibeno Monarch charges new CEO to prioritise host community development

Tony Okoh, Uyo

The Ibeno Traditional Rulers Council (TRC) has congratulated Engr. Effiong Okon, on his assumption of office as the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Seplat Energy Plc describing his appointment as a significant development for Ibeno Local Government Area and Akwa Ibom State.

The Council, while expressing optimism over the new leadership at Seplat Energy, urged the company to make cordial and mutually beneficial relations with its host communities a major priority of the new administration.

Speaking at his palace on Sunday, the Paramount Ruler of Ibeno, Akwaha Owong (Prof.) Effiong Archianga described Okon’s appointment as particularly significant because of his Akwa Ibom roots and his emergence as the head of a company that has acquired major oil and gas assets formerly operated by ExxonMobil, including the Qua Iboe Terminal located in Ibeno Local Government Area.

According to the monarch, Seplat Energy’s acquisition of the former ExxonMobil/MPNU assets has made the company an important corporate stakeholder and partner in Ibeno.

He said Okon’s emergence provides an opportunity to open a new chapter in the relationship between Seplat Energy and the people of Ibeno, stressing that sustainable operations in the oil and gas sector require mutual trust, respect, transparency and continuous engagement with host communities.

The Ibeno monarch, therefore, urged the new Seplat Energy helmsman to prioritise host community relations and ensure that the people of Ibeno are carried along in the company’s operations and development plans.

He called for stronger engagement with traditional institutions and community leadership, increased employment and training opportunities for qualified indigenes, sustainable community development programmes, effective grievance-resolution mechanisms and full compliance with statutory obligations to host communities.

The Paramount Ruler stressed that host communities should not be regarded merely as locations where oil and gas operations are carried out, but as important stakeholders and partners whose cooperation is essential to the long-term sustainability of the industry.

He expressed confidence that Okon’s extensive technical and managerial experience, coupled with his Akwa Ibom background, places him in a unique position to understand the aspirations and concerns of the people and build a stronger relationship between Seplat Energy and Ibeno.

The Council also congratulated the new Chief Executive Officer and wished him a successful and impactful tenure, while expressing its readiness to work constructively with his administration towards achieving peace, operational stability, community development and shared prosperity.

Okon’s extensive energy industry experience

Engr. Effiong Okon is a veteran energy executive with more than 35 years of experience spanning the oil, gas, power and broader energy sectors.

The Seplat Energy Board appointed him Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director in June 2026, and he assumed office on August 1, 2026, succeeding Roger Brown.

Okon began his professional career in 1992 when he joined Shell as a Petroleum Reservoir Engineer. During his 26-year career with the multinational energy company, he held several senior technical and executive positions across Nigeria, Africa, Europe, the United States and the Middle East.

His assignments at Shell included Chief Reservoir Engineer, General Manager of Offshore Assets, General Manager of Deepwater Production in Nigeria, Deputy Vice President Technical and Manager of the North Field Wells and Reservoir in Qatar, as well as Vice President of Cost Leadership and Continuous Improvement in the Netherlands.

He also played important roles in major international energy projects, including the commissioning, start-up and early production phases of Qatar Shell’s Pearl GTL project and Qatar Gas LNG Trains 7 and 8.

His professional experience covers reservoir management, field development, offshore and deepwater operations, project execution, production, asset optimisation, operational excellence and organisational transformation.

From Seplat Operations Director to CEO
Okon joined Seplat Energy in 2018 as Executive/Operations Director, where he was responsible for operational performance and led initiatives aimed at improving production efficiency, asset reliability and safety.

In July 2022, he became Director of New Energy, where he played a role in expanding Seplat’s midstream gas and power businesses and advancing the company’s energy-transition strategy.

He was subsequently appointed Managing Director of ANOH Gas Processing Company Limited (AGPC), a joint venture between Seplat Energy and NNPC Limited.

Under his leadership, the 300 million standard cubic feet per day ANOH Gas Processing Plant achieved first gas in January 2026, representing a major milestone in Nigeria’s domestic gas development.

Academic and Professional Credentials
Okon is an alumnus of the University of Benin, IMD Business School, Lausanne, Switzerland, and Harvard Business School, Boston, United States.

He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and a Fellow of the Energy Institute, United Kingdom (FEI).

He is also a registered member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

New Leadership at a Strategic Period
Okon’s appointment comes at an important period for Seplat Energy, following the company’s transformational acquisition of MPNU and the subsequent expansion of its offshore operations and production infrastructure.

The acquisition significantly strengthened Seplat Energy’s position in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and made the company a major operator of the relevant shallow-water assets on behalf of the NNPC/Seplat joint venture.

For Ibeno, the development is particularly important because of the presence of the Qua Iboe Terminal and other oil and gas assets within the area.

Against this background, the Ibeno Traditional Rulers Council said it expects the new leadership of Seplat Energy to deepen engagement with the community and ensure that the interests of host communities remain central to the company’s operations.

The Council maintained that stronger collaboration between Seplat Energy, traditional institutions, community leaders and other stakeholders would contribute significantly to maintaining peace and stability in the area.

It further expressed confidence that Okon’s experience, leadership capacity and understanding of the region would help strengthen the relationship between Seplat Energy and Ibeno.

The Council consequently wished the new Seplat Energy CEO a successful tenure, while reaffirming its commitment to constructive engagement aimed at promoting peaceful operations, sustainable community development, economic opportunities and shared prosperity for Seplat Energy and the people of Ibeno.