Mele Kolo Kyari is a Nigerian geologist and the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd). He earned a BSc in Geology and Earth Science from the University of Maiduguri.
Kyari’s career with NNPC began in 1991. He held various roles, including Group General Manager of the Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD) and Nigeria’s National Representative to OPEC in 2018. In 2019, he became the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, and later the first GCEO of NNPC Ltd when it was incorporated as a limited liability company.
Under his leadership, Kyari has driven key projects such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline and the Nigeria LNG Train 7. He has also championed transparency initiatives, leading to NNPC’s first profit in its 44-year history and the publication of its audited financial statements.
Kyari has been honored with the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and the Outstanding Employer of the Year 2022 Award. His contributions have significantly advanced Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
