The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, said he rose from being an Almajiri pupil to the Chief Executive Officer of Africa’s largest energy company.
Kyari, who hails from Borno State, said this in a statement shared via his official X handle to celebrate his 60th birthday as he reflects on his life’s journey.
The Almajiri is a system of Islamic education practiced in northern Nigeria, which encourages guardians to cede parental responsibilities to Islamic schools.
“Allah, by His grace, spared my life to this exceptional day, making it my 60th year from birth, even much earlier on the Hijra calendar.
“I am profoundly grateful to my country for giving me the opportunity to grow from an Almajiri (Tsangaya) school pupil to become the CEO of Africa’s largest energy company,” he said in a post on X.
The NNPCL boss also appreciated President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity to head the corporation.
“Even more particularly, 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 NNPC Ltd.
“Reflecting backward alone can’t account for the profoundly eventful life I have lived to this date, walking through good and bad times, travails and triumphs, pains and happiness, failures 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 elevated expectations 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, associates, colleagues at work, my teachers (both Western and of Almajiri extraction), and many unmentioned people who account for many of my accomplishments, unconditional support, and my overall well-being,” he added.
Media Talk Africa recalls that former President Buhari appointed Kyari as NNPC GMD on June 20, 2019, and he officially assumed the role in July of the same year.
