…225 nominations received as newspaper unveils distinguished personalities and corporate organisations for December 11 ceremony
The Governor of Jigawa State, Malam Umar A. Namadi, FCA; Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Engr. Bayo Ojulari; Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Rabiu Abdullahi Umar; and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Dr. Abba Aliyu, are among prominent Nigerians selected for honours at the fourth edition of the ENERGY TIMES Awards 2026.
Others billed for recognition include Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; Special Adviser to the President on Energy (Oil and Gas), Mrs. Olu Arowolo Verheijen; and several distinguished leaders and professionals whose contributions have helped shape Nigeria’s energy industry.
Organised by Energy Times, a leading Nigerian energy newspaper, the awards ceremony will hold on Friday, December 11, 2026, at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The recognition follows a nomination exercise conducted by the newspaper in September, which attracted 225 entries across individual and corporate award categories before nominations closed on September 20, 2026.
The nominations cut across oil and gas, power, renewable energy, infrastructure, finance, technology and energy services, reflecting the diversity of contributions driving the development and transformation of Nigeria’s energy landscape.
Speaking on the selection process, Chairman of the Editorial Board of Energy Times, Mallam Yakubu Lawal, said the awards were designed to identify and celebrate individuals and institutions whose leadership, innovation, professionalism and measurable achievements have contributed significantly to the nation’s energy industry.
He explained that the assessment considered contributions to policy and regulatory reforms, investment mobilisation, infrastructure expansion, operational efficiency, indigenous capacity development, local content, energy access and sustainable energy solutions.
Among the major individual recipients, Governor Namadi will receive the Governor of the Year Award, while Engr. Ojulari will be honoured with the National Energy Transformation and Strategic Leadership Award for his leadership in repositioning NNPC Limited and strengthening its strategic role in the nation’s petroleum industry.
Mr. Rabiu Abdullahi Umar will receive the Market Reform Leadership of the Year Award for his contributions to regulatory reforms and the development of the midstream and downstream petroleum market. Dr. Abba Aliyu has been selected for the Man of the Year Award in recognition of his leadership in expanding electricity access, promoting renewable energy and accelerating rural electrification.
Mrs. Olu Arowolo Verheijen will receive the Oil and Gas Reform Leadership of the Year Award, while Engr. Victor Okoronkwo, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Aiteo Group, will be recognised as CEO of the Year (Oil Sector) for his contributions to indigenous participation and upstream industry development.
Other prominent recipients include Dr. Musiliu Olalekan Oseni, Power Sector Public Servant of the Year; Prof. Omowumi O. Iledare, Lifetime Achievement Award; and Engr. (Dr.) Johnson Jaiyeola Alabi, Honourable Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Ondo State, Energy Leadership and Sectoral Transformation Award of the Year.
Mr. Osa Igiehon, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Energies Limited, will receive the Upstream Transformation CEO of the Year Award, while Engr. Kola Balogun, Chairman of MOMAS Group, will be honoured as Energy Icon of the Year.
Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), will receive the Local Content Leader of the Year Award. Mrs. Sophia Innih-Mbakwe, Executive Vice President, Business Services, NNPC Limited, has been selected for the Excellence in Corporate Leadership Award, while Mr. Nagendra Verma, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NIPCO Gas Limited, will receive the Excellence Award for his contributions to gas infrastructure development and utilisation.
Mrs. Sherifat Adegbenro, Acting Managing Director of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), will also be celebrated as the Amazon of the Nigerian Power Sector for her professional accomplishments and contributions to electricity distribution.
In the corporate category, NNPC Foundation will receive Sustainable Social Investment Award, Lekoil- the Independent Oil and Gas Company of the Year Award; Energia Limited, Social Impact Company of the Year; Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Distribution Company of the Year; SEEPCo, Indigenous Capacity Building Company of the Year; and Salpha Energy, Clean Energy Impact Company of the Year.
Other corporate recipients include the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Power Sector Regulatory Agency of the Year; Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), Most Integrated Energy Solution Company of the Year; Heirs Energies Limited, Indigenous Energy Company of the Year; and the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), LPG Advocacy and Market Development Organisation of the Year. NMDPRA will also receive recognition for Market Reform Leadership of the Year. Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), will receive two awards- GenCos Company of the Year and Brand of the year.
Lawal emphasised that the awards go beyond celebrating prominent personalities and successful organisations, noting that they are intended to promote excellence, accountability, innovation, professionalism and healthy competition across the energy value chain.
He observed that recognising outstanding industry contributions was particularly important at a time when Nigeria’s energy sector was undergoing significant reforms and structural changes requiring sustained investments, stronger institutions, technological innovation and effective collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders.
According to him, the ceremony will bring together policymakers, regulators, industry captains, investors, energy professionals, development partners and other stakeholders to celebrate achievements, strengthen strategic partnerships and stimulate conversations on the future of Nigeria’s energy industry.
Now in its fourth edition, the ENERGY TIMES Awards has established itself as an annual platform for celebrating individuals, institutions and organisations whose leadership, investments, innovation and professional excellence have contributed to the growth, resilience and transformation of Nigeria’s energy industry.
The 2026 ceremony is expected to attract prominent personalities from government, the oil and gas industry, electricity, renewable energy, finance, infrastructure and other critical sectors of the economy.
Beyond celebrating outstanding accomplishments, the event will spotlight the importance of indigenous capacity, investment, innovation and strategic partnerships in building a more competitive, efficient and sustainable Nigerian energy industry.
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