By Uche Amunike
The Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Femi Soneye, has resigned from his position, 20 months after coming on board, citing reasons of personal family responsibilities that need his attention.
Speaking through a post on his official Facebook page, Soneye made this announcement even as he thanked his colleagues for supporting him in the past 20 months that his tenure lasted.
His post read: ‘I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you all for the unwavering support, professionalism, and genuine commitment you’ve shown in helping to shape and amplify the NNPC Ltd story over the past 20 months. Your role in building a vibrant and effective communications presence for our national energy company has been nothing short of invaluable.’
‘I wish to inform you that I have stepped aside from my role as Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd.’
‘This decision will allow me to devote more time to my family and attend to personal responsibilities that now require my closer presence.’
‘It has been a profound honor to serve both the Company and our country, and to contribute in my own way to the ongoing transformation of NNPC Ltd. I am deeply grateful for the trust reposed in me, the opportunities granted, and the incredible professionals both within and outside the organization with whom I have worked.’
‘I remain a steadfast supporter and ambassador of NNPC Ltd wherever I go. I enjoin you, dear colleagues, to continue your robust, balanced, and constructive reportage in support of the Company’s noble mission and strategic role in Nigeria’s energy future’, he concluded.
Recall that in October 2023, NNPC Limited announced Femi Soneye as its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, replacing Garbadeen Muhammad, who was appointed in August 2021 during a management reshuffle.
In early April, President Bola Tinubu sacked the NNPC Limited board, including its GCEO, Mele Kyari, as well as the Chairman of the board, Pius Akinyelure. Bayo Ojulari became the new GCEO of NNPCL, while Ahmadu Kida was made non-executive Chairman. Also announced, by the NNPC, Was the appointment of an 8-member senior management team.
The NNPC also sacked the Managing Directors of the three state-owned refineries in the same April and directed management staff with less than a year to retirement to proceed umm signing out of the organization.
Femi Soneye is a seasoned journalist which full time and freelance experiences at some of the world’s most respected outfits in the country, the United states of America and Australia, where he led the corporate communications team, the brand penetration, strategic communications and stakeholder management themes.
He is a member of respectable bodies, including the Society of Professional Journalists, the Nigerian Union Of Journalists, as well as the Guild of Corporate Online Media Publishers.
He was also a former president of the Nigerian Media Practitioners in Washington DC, USA.
The NNPC is expected to announce a new spokesperson soon, to replace Olufemi Soneye.
