The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has integrated over 1,000 young professionals into its core workforce following the completion of a year-long internship, rigorous training, and assessment scheme.
On social media, NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari characterised the step as a major milestone for the state energy company. He emphasised that the intake reflects a strict commitment to meritocracy rather than nepotism or background. “Different paths, but the same door. And we opened it,” Ojulari remarked, adding, “That’s what NNPC Limited stands for today: not who you know or where you’re from, but what you can do.”
While addressing the newly appointed personnel, Ojulari stressed that while initial offers opened the door, their permanent roles were earned through sustained performance under pressure. Expressing confidence in the cohort, he urged them to speak up, contribute fresh perspectives, and take charge of their career progression. “To the over 1,000 newly deployed: you are not just our future. You are our present. Our energy. Our proof,” he said, calling on them to extend similar opportunities to others when they advance to leadership roles.
The fresh appointments align with the company’s broader operational overhaul and workforce expansion. It was initially launched in July 2024 under former GCEO Mele Kyari, following NNPC’s restructuring into a commercial venture under the Petroleum Industry Act.