Komolafe named CEO of the Year for energy reforms
Gbenga Komolafe received the CEO of the Year 2025 award from LEADERSHIP Newspaper for his work leading Nigeria’s upstream petroleum regulator. The West Africa Centre for Energy Policy and Reforms praised the selection on Friday, calling him one of Africa’s most effective energy officials.
Kwabena Mensah-Ashitey, who directs the policy center, said Komolafe changed the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission into a transparent organization that attracts investors and generates higher revenues. The commission exceeded its 2025 revenue goals by more than 80 percent under his management.
Other West African nations use Nigeria’s regulatory framework as a model for their petroleum sectors. Komolafe established digital monitoring systems and clear licensing rules that neighboring countries now copy for managing their oil industries.
The center highlighted its Drill-or-Drop policy, which revived inactive oil fields and reduced crude oil theft. His background as both an engineer and a lawyer helps him combine technical knowledge with strategic planning when setting petroleum policies.
