Managing Director of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Osagie Okunbor, has emerged winner of the 2021 Award for Excellence and Integrity in Corporate Leadership of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun in Delta State.
‘The university recognises your industry leadership and observed personal qualities, values and approach to leadership which is a source of inspiration to so many others,” said the Vice Chancellor of FUPRE, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, while presenting the award at the university on Thursday.
The award, recommended by the university award board, automatically confers on Okunbor the fellowship of the foremost petroleum university in sub-Saharan Africa and puts him in line for first choice of consideration for the honorary doctorate of the university at subsequent convocations.
Prof. Rim-Rukeh expressed his appreciation to Shell companies in Nigeria for the ongoing ICT Centre project in the university sponsored by Shell’s deep-water company, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo). “One impressive feature of the project is the sustained tempo of work without any break since construction started.”
Also speaking at the event, Country Director, African Child Foundation International, Amb. Donaldson Onosakponene, described Okunbor as model whose accomplishments and hard work should be a standard for younger generation of Nigerians.
Onosakponene said, “With your kind, the next generation has hope of a better society built on integrity, hard work and patriotism. We identify with your accomplishments at setting a new agenda for a prosperous Nigeria and Africa.”
Okunbor thanked the university leadership for considering him worthy of a fellowship and the award which he dedicated to the Shell family in Nigeria.
“I have had the privilege of working with some of the best professionals in the oil and gas industry in the world here in Nigeria with the majority of them being Nigerians. Whatever success I record as the country chair of Shell companies in Nigeria is not without them, and, of course, my family. I also recognise the tremendous support of our host communities and partners in making Shell an industry leader,” said Okunbor.
He promised Shell Nigeria’s continued support for education in Nigeria through scholarships and provision of infrastructure to develop local capacity to run the Nigerian economy.
Also at the award ceremony was General Manager External Relations for Shell in Nigeria and West Africa, Mr. Igo Weli.
