The Public Policy Research & Analysis Centre (PPRAC) has confirmed its “2020 Zik Prize for Public Service Leadership’’ on the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari.
Conferring the award on behalf of the Centre, at the Eko Hotel, Lagos at the weekend, Mac Wabara acknowledged Kyari’s transformation of the fortunes of the Corporation from a position of loss-making into a profit- making venture.
At a well-attended event also witnessed by the Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero; Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage (rtd) and several other dignitaries, Kyari received the latest recognition from the Kebbi state governor, Abubakar Bagudu.
According to Wabara, Kyari was recognized following his distinguished leadership role and sterling achievements in the NNPC, which are all evident through the various reforms he instituted at the corporation through transparency and accountability.
“Mele Kyari continues to seamlessly transform the operations of NNPC, including deepening domestic gas utilization, rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries and public disclosure of NNPC accounts, the first in NNPC’s 44 years of existence.”
He added that Kyari’s greatest achievement, no doubt, was turning around the fortunes of the NNPC, from a loss of position, into a profit-making entity.
“Under Kyari’s watch at the NNPC, the company declared a profit after tax of N287bn in 2020 after losses were reduced from N803 billion in 2018 to N1.7 billion in 2019. This is unprecedented in the history of the NNPC,” Wabara stated.
He further explained that Kyari also consistently played a huge role in the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), stressing that with the coming of the legislation, the NNPC is now well-positioned to operate efficiently, like its global peers.
Responding, Kyari said in the last two years, the NNPC has automated its processes and systems; reduced its costs of operations and focused on delivering value to Nigerians, in line with his Management vision of Transparency, Accountability & Performance Excellence (TAPE).
He added that the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has placed huge responsibility on the NNPC to do things differently and be much more accountable to its shareholders, the over 200 million Nigerians.
He said the Zik Leadership award will spur him and his Management team to work harder towards becoming an International National Oil Company that is at par with its global peers.
Other recipients of the prestigious Zik Leadership Award include the Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Nasarawa state Governor, Abdullahi Sule; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Anyim; Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora; Director-General and CEO of the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Bashir Jamo and managing director of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Mr. Uche Orji.
Established in 1994 by the PPRAC and now in its 26th edition, the Zik Prize in Leadership is aimed at highlighting Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s legacy of patriotic fervor and nationalist vision.
