The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said diplomatic shuttles by the Minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, helped in the appointment of Mr Mohammed Barkindo as the new Secretary General of OPEC.
This is contained in a statement signed by Malam Garba Deen Muhammad, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, on Friday in Abuja.
“After months of shuttle diplomacy anchored by Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Nigeria’s quest to clinch the top job at OPEC yielded dividend on Thursday with the appointment of Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo as the Secretary General of the Organisation,” it said.
It also commended the effort and support of President Muhammadu Buhari for his support in ensuring that Nigeria got the position.
The statement said Barkindo was expected to occupy the position for three years in the first instance with effect from Aug. 1.
It appreciated the outgoing Secretary General, His Excellency Abdalla Salem El-Badri, for his leadership of the secretariat and the organisation during his tenure.
It added that Barkindo was coming to the position with a 23-year career in the NNPC, and the oil and gas industry.
“Barkindo was a one-time Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
“He actually served as Acting Secretary General of OPEC in 2006 and handed over to his predecessor where he served with distinction,” it said.
According to the statement, other positions he held includes Deputy Managing Director and Chief Executive Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, Managing Director/Chief Executive, HYSON/CALSON, an international trading arm of NNPC.
It added that he was a former General Manager, NNPC London Office; and Head, International Trade, NNPC London Office.
It said that as a former NNPC GMD, he served for a record of 15 years on the OPEC Economic Commission Board as Nigeria’s National Representative.
“Apart from chairing the OPEC Economic Commission Board, he also chaired the Strategic Production Quota Committee of OPEC.
“Barkindo is an advocate of Climate Change Initiative and has led Nigeria’s technical delegation to the climate change negotiations,” it said.
This, he said helped to produce the United Nations framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto protocol to the UNFCCC during which he served on the Bureau of the UNFCC at various times.
On his academic qualifications, it said Barkindo obtained a BSc degree in Political Science in 1981 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Economics in 1988 from College of Petroleum Studies, Oxford University, UK.
It further noted that he obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the South Eastern University, Washington, DC.
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