Again, Oil Mogul, Wale Tinubu, Shines!

If bells could ring for every achievement, Jubril Adewale Tinubu’s would chime ceaselessly.

In fact, it has become a tradition that any time Tinubu, the Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, appears on the scene, the bells will sound impressively in honour of the extraordinary oil and gas mogul, whose impact will resonate for generations to come.

He is one of Nigerian business magnates redefining the tapestry of the African economic sector, particularly the oil and gas business.

Many are aware that Tinubu had a background in Law.  But sometime in the early 1990s, the Lagos State-born serial entrepreneur found the allure of oil and gas so irresistible that he dumped his first love, law. Thereafter, he followed his heart’s desire by floating the Ocean and Oil business organisation.

Today, the business has not only earned him fame and wealth but has also contributed in great measures to the economic development of Africa and beyond.

Again, Tinubu shone brilliantly during the recently held Africa Energy Week (AEW), which is the African Energy Chamber’s annual event, uniting African energy leaders, global investors and executives from across the public and private sectors.

Quite expected, all eyes were on him at the recent interactive conference, exhibition and networking event held at the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CITCC).

In a category, comprising other high-profile deals in the sector and across Africa, Oando won the award in recognition of the Company’s recently completed landmark $783 million acquisition of the Agip from the Italian Energy firm Eni on 22 August 2024.

The Deal of the Year Award, it was gathered, recognises the most transformative and impactful deal in the energy sector – honouring excellence in negotiation, strategic alignment, innovation and collaboration, while celebrating deals that drive advancements in energy and economic growth.

Receiving the award, a visibly excited Tinubu said: “I am delighted and honoured to receive the ‘Deal of the Year’ award from Africa Energy Week.

“This award is more than just an accolade for a successful deal closure; it represents a public acknowledgement of the culmination of 30 years of grit, hard work, resilience, and sheer belief in our vision. It is a testament to my belief that with the Humans of Oando, impossible is nothing. I’d like to thank the dream team, the Humans of Oando, our financiers, and partners for their belief and role in making this award a reality,” he added.

The acquisition is the culmination of a decade of preparation, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment to a vision of becoming Africa’s first indigenous international oil company.

This development, no doubt, bears testimony to the fact that the outgoing year has been most remarkable on many fronts for him and the company.

First, the company marked its 30th anniversary recently. Thereafter, it concluded its strategic plan to acquire its second IOC in a decade, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and step up to the role of operator.