Elumelu named Seplat Energy Chairman, Okon appointed CEO

The Board of Directors of Seplat Energy has appointed Tony Elumelu as its next Chairman and named Engr. Effiong Okon as Chief Executive Officer in a major leadership transition aimed at driving the company’s next phase of growth.

The appointments were announced in a notice filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on Tuesday and signed by the company secretary, Edith Onwuchekwa.

Elumelu will succeed Udoma Udo Udoma as Chairman effective January 2027, while Okon will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer from August 1, 2026.

Seplat said Elumelu’s appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter in its leadership as the company seeks to strengthen its position as a resilient and globally competitive energy firm.

Elumelu is the Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group. He also chairs Transcorp Group, whose subsidiaries include Transcorp Power and Transcorp Hotels Plc.

The company said Elumelu brings extensive experience in corporate governance, institution-building and long-term value creation, which will provide strategic guidance as Seplat advances its growth and transformation agenda.

Seplat also highlighted his role as the pioneer of Africapitalism, an economic philosophy that promotes long-term investments in critical sectors to drive economic development across Africa.

Okon, who takes over as CEO in August, has more than 35 years of experience in the global energy industry. He joined Seplat’s board in 2018 as Operations Director, later served as New Energy Director, and most recently led the ANOH Gas Processing Company (AGPC) as Managing Director.

According to the company, Okon played a key role in delivering the ANOH gas project and successfully drove the project to first gas in January 2026.

Seplat said his strong operational and strategic leadership experience positions him to steer the company through its next phase of expansion and value creation. The leadership changes come as the energy company continues efforts to expand its operations and strengthen its standing in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.