Mele Kyari, Rabiu Suleiman and Bello Rabiu have been frequently mentioned in the last weeks as front runners in succession to Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director of Nigeria’s state hydrocarbon company, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Next month Mr. Baru, a career NNPC staff, turns 60, which is the mandatory retirement age..
Kyari is both the Group General Manager in charge of the influential Crude Oil Marketing Division of NNPC, as well as the country’s National Representative to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Suleiman is Group Executive Director at NNPC but currently on secondment to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as Senior Technical Adviser Refineries, Gas & Power Infrastructure. He chairs the Ministerial Steering Committee (Steer Co) of the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP).
Rabiu is Chief Operating Officer, Upstream at NNPC. He joined the corporation in 1991 with a degree in Statistics, and has moved up rapidly, by NNPC standards, from senior planning officer through Technical Assistant to the GMD to Group General Manager, Corporate Planning& Strategy, the last job before the current position. He earned a Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from London’s Imperial College in 1998.
Kyari is a geologist by training. Suleiman joined the NNPC with a degree in Chemical engineering.
I personally had prayed for Engr. suleiman Rabiu to emerge as the GMD, based on the content of his character and intelligence but God knows best. Congrats Mr Mele Kyari
I believe Rabiu Suleiman has all it takes to emerge as successor to the out-going helmsman of NNPC. Under his leadership, the sky would be the beginning for the corporation. I wish him the very best.
I believe Engr Rabiu Suleiman has the requisite qualifications to succeed the out-going helmsman of NNPC. I see in him a man, when given the opportunity would turn around the Fortune of this corporation.
Wishing you all the best in your next assignment.
Rabiu Suleiman doesn’t have what it takes to run the affairs of NNPC. We were employed together same day at Port Harcourt refinery. He rose by virtue of being from the north not by competence. He doesn’t have the capacity. I believe Kyari would be given the job because he worked in the crude oil section and linked many godfathers with crude oil sales . None really has the capacity. NNPC will witness massive corruption.