Board of Trustees
Empowered as an incorporated trustee, IPPG boasts a formidable Board of Trustees (BoT) meticulously assembled from individuals immersed in a wealth of industry knowledge and exposure, driving IPPG to the forefront of industry innovation and excellence with unparalleled insight and experience.
Abdulrazaq Isa
ChairmanAbdulrazaq Isa, Co-Founder and Chairman of Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, leads the indigenous Nigerian oil and gas company operating the Ibigwe field in Oil Mining Lease 16, Imo State, Nigeria. With over 30 years in banking and entrepreneurship, he guided WALTERSMITH to commercial export in 2008 and played a key role in the acquisition of Shell/Total/Agip's 45% interest in OML 34 in 2011. An alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Abdulrazaq is actively involved in philanthropy supporting science education development.
Engr. Charles Odita
Board SecretaryCharles Odita, a distinguished professional, earned a first-class Bachelors of Engineering in Chemical Engineering (1984) and a Masters of Engineering (1987) from the University of Benin. His career spans roles at Pinnacle Holdings Limited and a significant tenure at Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited. With over two decades in upstream Oil and Gas, he served as Head of Corporate Well Planning. In May 2007, he joined Notore Chemical Industries Limited, rising from Chief Technical Officer to Group Chief Operating Officer. Odita, a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (FNSchE), has authored technical papers and attended programs globally. In July 2014, he assumed the role of Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer at Midwestern Oil & Gas Company Limited, following his tenure as a Non-Executive Director since 2005.
Ademola Adeyemi-Bero
Ademola Adeyemi Bero, a seasoned E&P professional with over 25 years in the Petroleum Industry, currently serves as the Managing Director and CEO of FIRST E&P. Previously, he held leadership roles at BG Group Plc, UK, and spent two decades with Shell International. Ademola's diverse expertise includes business growth, venture management, and technical leadership across various countries, showcasing a profound understanding of the Nigerian oil and gas business environment.
Dr. Layi Fatona
Layi Fatona, a Petroleum Geologist with over forty years of experience, graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1973 and earned Masters and Doctorate degrees in Petroleum Geology and Sedimentology from Imperial College, London. After a notable tenure at Shell, he co-founded Geotrex Systems Limited and currently serves as its Chairman. Additionally, he is the Managing Director of Niger Delta Exploration and Production Plc and holds board positions at Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc and Skye Financial Services Limited. Layi champions indigenous control in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, emphasizing local exploration, production, and value creation. A distinguished professional, he has received numerous awards, including the "Aret Adams Award" and the NMGS/DPR/Chief M.O. Feyide Award. Layi, a past President and Fellow of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, is committed to industry awareness, growth, and local participation. Outside his professional pursuits, he enjoys playing golf and is happily married with children.