Seplat Energy has announced the appointment of Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed and Mr. Larry Ephraim Ettah as Independent Non-Executive Directors, strengthening its board with extensive industry and corporate leadership experience.
The appointments were disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, confirming that both directors will assume their new roles with effect from Thursday, 1 January 2026. The decision follows the resignation of Mr. Bello Rabiu and Mr. Babs Omotowa in April 2025, after both were appointed to the board of NNPC Limited by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the company, the new appointments were made after a structured recruitment process conducted in line with the Board of Directors’ Succession Plan, aimed at maintaining strong governance standards and strategic continuity at the company.
Okay News reports that Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed brings more than 37 years of experience in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, with deep expertise in natural gas development, commercialization, and infrastructure delivery. He previously served as Group Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer for the Gas and Power Directorate at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, where he played a key role in shaping national gas policy and frameworks.
During his tenure at NNPC, Engineer Mohammed was involved in landmark projects including the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Expansion, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline, and the Nigeria LNG Train 7 project. He also contributed to the development of the Gas Masterplan, the Gas Network Code, and aspects of the Petroleum Industry Act. His international exposure includes representing Nigeria at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum and the West African Gas Pipeline Authority.
Engineer Mohammed has also held senior leadership roles as Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Managing Director of Nigerian Gas Company. In addition, he chaired the boards of several strategic energy-related entities, including West African Gas Pipeline Company, Nigeria LNG subsidiaries, and NNPC Retail. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, a registered engineer with COREN, and a graduate of Chemical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Mr. Larry Ephraim Ettah joins the board with nearly four decades of corporate and business leadership experience. He spent 30 years at UAC of Nigeria Plc, where he rose from Management Trainee in 1988 to Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, a position he held from 2007 to 2018.
As CEO of UACN, Mr. Ettah led major strategic partnerships with international firms including Tiger Brands, Imperial Logistics, and Famous Brands, while also overseeing acquisitions such as Livestock Feeds Plc and Portland Paints Plc. These moves repositioned the conglomerate for long-term growth across multiple sectors.
Following his retirement from UACN, he founded Barracuda Capital Partners Ltd in 2018 and currently serves as its Executive Chairman. He has held several board positions, including Founding Director of Coronation Merchant Bank Ltd and Non-Executive Director of Mixta Africa Plc. Until February 2025, he also served as Co-Chair of LEAP Africa.
Beyond corporate roles, Mr. Ettah has been active in major industry associations, including the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has also contributed to national economic discussions through presidential and technical advisory committees.
Mr. Ettah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Chemistry and an MBA from the University of Benin, along with executive education from leading global institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, INSEAD, IMD, and the University of Michigan.
Commenting on the appointments, the Chairman of Seplat Energy, Mr. Udoma Udo Udoma, said the board was pleased to welcome the new directors.
“On behalf of Seplat Energy, I am delighted to welcome Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed and Mr. Larry Ephraim Ettah to the Board,” he said. “Their experiences are complementary, combining extensive industry knowledge with extensive business success. We look forward to the significant contributions they will make in advancing the Company’s strategic growth objectives and driving our continued success.”
The company noted that the appointments reflect its commitment to strong corporate governance, strategic leadership, and sustainable growth as it continues to expand its operations within Nigeria’s energy sector and beyond.
