The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, has expressed gratitude to God for the privilege of growing from an Almajiri School pupil to becoming the head of the largest energy company in Africa.
He also pledged to serve the nation with greater conviction and dedication.
Kyari said this in a post on X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate his 60th birthday, the retirement age for most public agency heads on Wednesday.
Kyari, born January 8, 1965, was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2019.
He is a veteran in the oil industry, having worked at the NNPC for the last 32 years.
The NNPC Boss, in the message, expressed deep appreciation for the exceptional privilege given to him by former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu to serve as the last Group Managing Director of the NNPC and the pioneer CEO of the NNPC Ltd.
His over five years on the job as NNPC’s boss is the longest that anyone has spent in the cushiest office in the Nigerian oil industry since the country’s return to democracy in 1999.
He stated in the post that reflecting backwards alone cannot account for the profoundly eventful life he has spent to this date.
The post read, “Allah, by his grace, spared my life to this exceptional day, making it my 60th year from birth, even much earlier on the Hijri calendar.
“I am profoundly grateful to my country for allowing me to grow from an Almajiri (Tsangaya) school pupil to become the CEO of Africa’s largest energy company.
“Even more particular, I deeply appreciate the exceptional privilege given to me by Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu to serve as the last GMD of the NNPC and the pioneer CEO of the NNPC Ltd.”
According to him, walking through good and bad times, travails and triumphs, pains and happiness, fails and successes, and many more are the events that only the sufficiency of Allah will explain.
He also sought forgiveness from those he might have unintentionally or unavoidably.
“Reflecting backwards alone can’t account for the profoundly eventful life I spent to this date, walking through good and bad times, travails and triumphs, pains and happiness, fails and successes and many more that only the sufficiency of Allah will explain.
“At this milestone, I feel the obligation to serve with even greater conviction and with the elevated expectation of eternal recompense so deeply pleasing.
“I am hugely indebted to my family for being nearly absent for most of my later years serving our nation and the common good.
“My deep appreciation to my family, friends and associates, my colleagues at work and my teachers (western and of Almajiri extractions), and many unmentioned people who account for many of my accomplishments, unconditional support and my overall well-being.
“This is a turning point, and I seek forgiveness from anyone I might have hurt unintentionally or unavoidably offended,” the post concluded.
