The Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu CON, has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at Africa Energy Week 2025, in recognition of his commitment to building Oando into one of Africa’s foremost integrated energy companies.
The award is presented annually to industry leaders whose careers have demonstrated extraordinary vision, resilience and a lasting impact on Africa’s energy landscape.
In conferring the award, the Africa Energy Chamber cited Tinubu’s “dedication to advancing Africa’s energy security, his bold leadership in navigating Oando through periods of uncertainty and transformation, and his pivotal role in demonstrating the power of indigenous companies in driving industrial growth and energy sovereignty across the continent.”
A statement by the company said throughout his career, Tinubu had been a steadfast champion of Africa, charting its own destiny by harnessing its abundant resources for the benefit of its people.
“A firm believer that anyone can achieve greatness with vision, determination, and the right team around them, he has led Oando from its modest beginnings as a local downstream operator into a multinational integrated energy player with a robust portfolio spanning exploration and production, power, and renewables. His leadership has not only positioned Oando as a continental leader but also symbolised African ambition, ingenuity, and resilience.
“The Lifetime Achievement Award is widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence at AEW, reserved for leaders whose contributions have left an indelible mark on Africa’s energy sector. It recognises individuals whose sustained, more than decade-long careers embody remarkable achievements and enduring contributions to the oil, gas, and energy industries.
“Tinubu’s recognition was a fitting and well-deserved tribute to a leader who has consistently inspired others to believe in the promise of Africa and the power of its people,” the statement read partly.
Past recipients include trailblazers such as President of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah, who received the Mohammed S. Barkindo Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024; former President of Namibia, Hage Geingob, and former President of Senegal, Macky Sall, who was awarded in 2023; and Minister of Hydrocarbons, Republic of Congo, Bruno Itoua, in 2022.
Tinubu is recognised for the transformation of Oando from a petroleum marketing company to a formidable integrated energy group.
He has received several awards and has been featured in articles and studies examining his work. He is known for his roles in business, social enterprise, and philanthropy.
Earlier this year, Oando Plc, a company listed on both the Nigerian Exchange Limited and Johannesburg Stock Exchange, said its upstream subsidiary, Oando Energy Resources, was awarded operatorship of Block KON 13 in Angola’s Onshore Kwanza Basin.
This followed a competitive bidding process organised by the Angolan National Agency for Petroleum, Gas, and Biofuels. According to the company, Block KON 13 is strategically located in the prolific Kwanza Onshore Basin, which represents significant exploration potential in both pre-salt and post-salt plays, with estimated prospective resources of 770 to 1,100 million barrels of oil.
