Friday, 29 June 2012 00:00

Written by Charles Okonji

The newly-appointed Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Laah Yakubu, has fully assumed duty with a pledge to surmount all challenges towards moving the Corporation forward.

Yakubu made this pledge while receiving the official mantle of leadership from the outgoing Group Managing Director, Mr. Austen Oniwon, at a brief ceremony held in the NNPC Towers.

He said: “We know the task is enormous, but nothing is impossible. We can’t allow NNPC to stay where it is today. We’ll work hard to improve on what is on ground. We are determined to reinforce NNPC’s core values of transparency and accountability in the conduct of our business. We’ll remain collectively resolute and with God behind us, we shall survive the storm.”

He congratulated Oniwon for his tenure at the helm of NNPC affairs, describing their time and interactions together as “very productive and worthwhile.”

He called for the support, co-operation and prayers of NNPC staff for the new management team. “As one big family, I’m confident that we shall all succeed in our quest to move this Corporation forward.”

Earlier, Oniwon, who described his predecessor’s appointment as “well-deserved”, said he was confident that the caliber of individuals in the new management team would help reposition NNPC to better tackle the challenges ahead.

He charged him to remain focused on the core business of the corporation which at the end of the day, would be the yardstick for evaluating his tenure.

Oniwon also expressed his gratitude to the outgoing management team even as he urged the new management to remain united in the interest of the organisation and the Nigerian people.

He enjoined the new Group Managing Director to see the two in-house unions as “partners in progress” because according to Oniwon, “you’ll need each other for the betterment of the Corporation.”

Present at the handing over ceremony were Mr. Michael Arokodare (out-going Group Executive Director for Finance and Accounts) and Mr Philip O. Chukwu (out-going Group Executive Director for Refineries & Petrochemicals).

Also present at the ceremony were some members of the new management team, Dr. Atahiru B. Yusuf, Group Executive Director for Commercial and Investment; Dr. David O. Ige, Group Executive Director for Gas and Power; Dr. Peter S. Nmadu, Group Executive Director for Corporate Services; Dr. Timothy E. Okon, Coordinator Corporate Planning and Strategy; Mr. Anthony C. Madiche, Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser; and Mr. Victor Briggs, Managing Director of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).