Lagos, Nigeria – Seplat Energy Plc has announced a major leadership transition, naming renowned businessman Tony Elumelu as its next Chairman and appointing veteran energy executive Engr. Effiong Okon as Chief Executive Officer.
The appointments, disclosed in a notice filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and signed by Company Secretary Edith Onwuchekwa, mark a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing growth and transformation strategy.
Elumelu will succeed the current Chairman, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, effective January 2027. His appointment brings to Seplat one of Africa’s most influential business leaders, widely recognized for championing long-term investments and private-sector-led development across the continent.
Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, a leading pan-African investment company, Elumelu has built an extensive portfolio spanning energy, banking, insurance, technology, real estate, hospitality, healthcare, and power. He is also the founder of Africapitalism, an economic philosophy that promotes strategic investments aimed at driving economic prosperity and social transformation across Africa.
Beyond Heirs Holdings, Elumelu serves as Chairman of the Transcorp Group, Nigeria’s largest publicly listed conglomerate, whose subsidiaries include Transcorp Power and Transcorp Hotels Plc. He also chairs the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group, one of Africa’s leading financial institutions.
Meanwhile, Seplat’s Board has appointed Engr. Effiong Okon as Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2026.
A seasoned industry professional with more than 35 years of global experience, Okon is no stranger to Seplat. Since joining the company in 2018, he has served in several strategic leadership roles, including Operations Director, New Energy Director, and most recently Managing Director of the ANOH Gas Processing Company (AGPC).
His leadership at AGPC was instrumental in delivering the project and achieving first gas production in January 2026, a milestone widely regarded as a significant achievement in Nigeria’s energy sector.
The company said the appointments position Seplat for its next phase of expansion, strengthening its ability to compete globally while advancing its ambitions in both traditional and emerging energy markets.
With Elumelu bringing decades of experience in corporate governance, institution-building, and value creation, and Okon providing deep technical expertise and operational leadership, Seplat Energy is poised to enter a new era of growth under a refreshed leadership team.
