Stakeholders Honour Osagie Okunbor at Special Retirement Dinner
A special retirement dinner was held on Friday, September 12, 2024, at the Heliconia Park Port Harcourt in honour of Mr. Osagie Okunbor, former Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria.
Okunbor, who retired earlier this year after 39 years of service, is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. He also served two terms as Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of the Lagos Chamber of Industry, where he consistently advocated for Nigerian content development and sustainable industry growth.
The milestone ceremony drew a distinguished gathering of stakeholders from across the energy sector, including government officials, regulators, and chief executives of both indigenous and international oil companies. Among them was the Managing Director/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, who joined colleagues and industry leaders in celebrating Okunbor’s outstanding contributions.
Speakers at the event praised his remarkable career, inspiring leadership, and unwavering commitment to the advancement of Nigeria’s energy sector. They particularly highlighted his role in promoting Nigerian content, as well as his strategic input in Shell’s investments in deep-water exploration and integrated gas projects in the country.
Okunbor’s distinguished service has earned him several recognitions over the years, including the prestigious H.E. Dr. Alirio Parra Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Awards in 2022.
The evening was filled with goodwill messages from friends, colleagues, and well-wishers, who described him as a mentor, leader, and visionary whose impact will be felt for years to come.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Okunbor expressed heartfelt gratitude to all who honoured him at the dinner, marking what many described as a fitting conclusion to a career defined by excellence, service, and dedication to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
