Published by Sola Akingboye, 18 April 2025
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) has been recognized as the Major Oil Company of the Year for 2024 by the Nigerian publication Energy Times. This accolade honors the company’s significant contributions to deep-water oil and gas development and the industry at large. Additionally, Mrs. Elohor Aiboni, the former Managing Director of SNEPCo, has been awarded the title of Amazon of Nigeria’s Oil Sector for her impactful work.
The awards were presented to Bolanle Odunayo-Ojo, SNEPCo’s Senior Operations Manager, who represented the Managing Director, Ronald Adams, at a ceremony attended by key stakeholders in the oil and gas sector. “We are honored to receive these recognitions for our company and our former Managing Director, as they underscore our dedication to excellence in the upstream sector,” stated Bolanle. “Our achievements are a result of teamwork and support from our partners, especially the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and regulatory agencies. These awards encourage us to continue working together to drive progress and innovation in Nigeria’s energy landscape.”
Since beginning production in 2005 from Bonga, Nigeria’s first deep-water well, SNEPCo has been a pioneer in the country’s deep-water oil and gas production. Gas from Bonga is also transported to Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited at Bonny Island. The company’s operations have led to significant discoveries, including Bonga Southwest in 2001 and Bonga Northwest, which commenced production on August 5, 2014.
The Board of Directors of Energy Times highlighted SNEPCo’s ongoing success with Bonga, notably the production of the one billionth barrel of oil in February 2023, along with the recent Final Investment Decision on the $5 billion Bonga North project.
Mrs. Aiboni’s award reflects her impressive career, which includes various business and leadership roles both within and outside Nigeria. She served as Managing Director of SNEPCo starting in 2021, where she led initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, promote local content development, and implement social investment projects across the six geopolitical zones in the country.
