Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has reflected on his life’s journey.
In a statement shared to celebrate his 60th birthday, Kyari who hails from Borno state, said he rose from being an Almajiri pupil to the chief executive officer of “Africa’s largest energy company”.
The Almajiri is a system of Islamic education practised in northern Nigeria. It 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 Hijri calendar,” he said in a post on X.
“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.”
Kyari also appreciated President Bola Tinubu and former president Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity to head the NNPC.
“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,” he added.
“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 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 wellbeing.”
Buhari appointed Kyari as NNPC GMD on June 20, 2019. He officially assumed the role in July of same year.
