The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has named Andy Odeh as its new Chief Corporate Communications Officer, filling the role two months after the resignation of former spokesperson Femi Soneye.
In a statement released on Tuesday, NNPC also announced the appointment of Morenike Adewunmi as Chief Relations Officer, signaling a refreshed leadership structure in the company’s communications and public relations departments.
According to the oil firm, Odeh has over three decades of extensive experience in communications and business administration across the oil and gas, advertising, and broadcasting industries.
Before joining the NNPC, he had a 26-year career at Nigeria LNG (NLNG).
“There, he held various leadership roles in Community Relations and Development; Business Logistics and Services; Information Management and Technology; Corporate Communications and Public Affairs; Government Relations and Regulatory Compliance, and most recently, General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development,” the statement reads.
“He is recognised for his work on major public relations and advertising campaigns for top brands. At NLNG, he successfully managed the company’s rebranding and implemented one of Nigeria’s best-run micro-credit schemes for host communities.
“Mr. Odeh was also instrumental in instituting the NLNG Prize for Energy Reporting. He is an alumnus of the University of Jos, the University of Lagos, INSEAD Business School, and the Nigeria Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), among others.”
According to the NNPC, Adewunmi is a legal professional with over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.
“Her expertise is in stakeholder management and advocacy, particularly from her extensive tenure at the Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCIN),” the oil firm said.
“She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex external landscapes, ensuring regulatory compliance and protecting the company’s “License to operate”.”
Adewunmi is said to have held key roles at Shell, including regulatory affairs manager, where she managed all mandatory regulatory engagements and permits.
“As the Government Relations Manager, she built and maintained constructive relationships with the Presidency, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies,” the NNPC said.
“Mrs. Adewunmi is known for her strong leadership skills, emotional intelligence, and ability to build robust stakeholder networks.
“She is a subject matter expert on non-technical risks and has a background in law from the Nigerian Law School and Olabisi Onabanjo University.”
The national oil firm said the appointment of Odeh and Adewunmi reflects its dedication to enhancing communication and engagement with stakeholders