The Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Olufemi Soneye demonstrated the essence of the saying that one should quit when the Ovation becomes loud or loudest.
Earlier today, June 21, Soneye announced his voluntary resignation from the nation’s oil giant. He gave as reason for his action, his desire to have more time to attend to family matters and other issues.
In a statement which he addressed to his colleagues both in the media and public relations body, Soneye expressed gratitude to the NNPCL in particular and Nigeria in general for the opportunity offered him to serve. He promised to remain loyal and committed to the ideals of the company, even while outside its operation fueld.
The statement goes thus:
Dear Esteemed Colleagues,
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you all for the unwavering support, professionalism, and genuine commitment you’ve shown in helping to shape and amplify the NNPC Ltd story over the past 20 months. Your role in building a vibrant and effective communications presence for our national energy company has been nothing short of invaluable.
I wish to inform you that I have stepped aside from my role as Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd.
This decision will allow me to devote more time to my family and attend to personal responsibilities that now require my closer presence.
It has been a profound honour to serve both the company and our country and to contribute in my own way to the ongoing transformation of NNPC Ltd. I am deeply grateful for the trust reposed in me, the opportunities granted, and the incredible professionals both within and outside the organisation with whom I have worked.
I remain a steadfast supporter and ambassador of NNPC Ltd wherever I go. I enjoin you, dear colleagues, to continue your robust, balanced, and constructive reportage in support of the company’s noble mission and strategic role in Nigeria’s energy future.
With sincere appreciation,
Olufemi Soneye.
Dated June 21, 2025.
Femi Soneye was virtually brought from America where he was residence and practicing journalism and its paraphernalia, to come and head the image making section of the company in October 2023. His appointment was greeted with both hope and doubt about his ability to cleanse and or defend the image of the company. Hope by those who had close relationship with him before then, and doubt by those watching from distance.
As a matter of fact, when he was brought from America and appointed as Chief Corporate Communications Officer to replace GarbaDeen Muhammad, he was tasked with boosting brand penetration, strategic communications, crisis management, and stakeholder relations. He was expected to elevate NNPCL’s communications to become a proactive “business enabler” through transparent storytelling, digital engagement and stakeholder trust-building.
It is for all such innovative outing that he earned, among others, NIPR Spokesperson of the Year (overall) – 2025 after previously winning Distinguished Spokesperson – Oil & Gas in 2024. He also won Triangle International Image Maker of the Year, for reshaping NNPCL’s public image.
Soneye was named among Top 10 Perception Managers for 2024 by The Top10 Magazine. He was celebrated by GOCOP for his NIPR win and impact in strategic communications.
As he dropped the gauntlet today and moved on, Soneye has a gargantuan success story to tell as regard the strategic contributions at NNPCL. He literally humanized NNPCL’s messaging, particularly the Port Harcourt Refinery revival, reducing opacity and building public trust.
He optimized digital outreach to increase engagement and expand reach via 360° branding and advocated for proactive crisis response structures to preserve reputation in turbulent times .
Femi Soneye blended extensive global journalistic experience, military communications from his U.S Air Force tenure, and strategic corporate communications. Since October 2023, he spearheaded a transformation of NNPCL’s communications, making it more transparent, engaging, trusted and earned multiple prestigious recognitions and industry acclaim.
And who is Femi Soneye?
Olufemi Oladipo Soneye was born on October 29, 1974 and graduated from McLay College in Sydney, Australia in year 2000. He earned a Diploma in International Studies from Montgomery College, Maryland, USA from 2005 to 2006.
He was certified in Health & Applied Sciences at the Community College of the Air Force between 2008 and 2010, completed multiple professional development programs across London, Brussels, Paris and Italy, focusing on leadership, strategic communications, data protection and intelligence analytics.
He began journalism in 1999 with Independent Sports Weekly in Lagos, Nigeria and switched over as reporter to Sydney’s Leader Newspapers in 2000.
His roles in the United States of America include Business Sales Manager at Comcast Cable (2007) and Health Services Management Officer at the U.S. Air Force’s 459th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, where he also edited the “Air Force One” newsletter between 2009 and 2015.
Soneye held editorial and investigative journalism roles globally, covering corporate governance, economic and energy sectors, including the CBN and NNPC (pre-transformation).
He is a founding member of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Nigeria, and a past President of the Nigerian Media Practitioners in Washington, D.C. He is also a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), National Association of Black Journalists (USA) and Society of Professional Journalists, amongst others.
Femi Soneye really brought into play demonstrably redefined communication excellence at NNPCL, shaping a more transparent, credible, and stakeholder-aligned narrative, while winning top industry accolades. His strategies have helped transform not just the company’s image, but also its influence and public trust.
After achieving all such Laurels, what else would he be waiting to achieve, except perhaps to continue to build on them?
It’s not far from the truth to say that Femi Soneye came to NNPCL, saw, conquered and left when the Ovation Is growing to deafening point!
Ozi-Usman, nipr is the Editor-in-chief of Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper and hardcopy magazine, and an author.
