NNPC Ltd GCEO Bayo Ojulari says the new employees earned permanent deployment through a year-long internship, intensive training and performance evaluation

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has deployed more than 1,000 young professionals into its workforce after a year-long internship, intensive training and performance evaluation programme, in what Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari described as a significant milestone for the national energy company.

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The deployment, announced by Ojulari on the company’s social media platforms, marks the culmination of a rigorous process designed to assess the young professionals under real working conditions before they were absorbed into the organisation.

The NNPC young professionals reportedly passed through internships, intensive capacity-building sessions and performance assessments before receiving permanent deployment.

“Today marked a huge milestone for us as we officially deployed over 1,000 young professionals into NNPC Ltd after one year of internship, intensive training, and evaluation,” Ojulari said.

The NNPC chief executive said the process reflected the company’s emphasis on merit and professional ability, rather than personal connections or an individual’s background.

“Different paths, but the same door. And we opened it. That’s what NNPC Limited stands for today: not who you know or where you’re from, but what you can do,” he stated.

Ojulari also emphasised that securing an offer letter was only the beginning of the journey for the new recruits. According to him, their performance throughout the internship period ultimately determined whether they would remain with the company.

“Their offer letters got them in, but their work this past year kept them here. They proved themselves day after day, under real pressure, and that’s the standard we’re building. Talent. Hard work. Fairness,” he said.

The deployment represents an important opportunity for the young professionals, who are joining the national oil company at a time when Nigeria’s energy sector is undergoing significant structural and commercial changes.

Ojulari urged the new employees to play an active role in shaping the organisation, encouraging them to contribute ideas, express their views and question existing practices where necessary.

He also challenged the new recruits to take ownership of their career development and to remember the journey that brought them into the organisation.

“To the over 1,000 newly deployed: you are not just our future. You are our present. Our energy. Our proof. So don’t hesitate to lend your voice, share your opinions, and challenge the status quo. Own your development,” Ojulari said.

His message extended beyond the immediate career prospects of the new employees, urging them to create similar opportunities for others when they eventually rise through the ranks.

“But don’t forget the wait. Don’t forget the process. Because one day, when you’re sitting where I am, you’ll remember this moment, and you’ll open that same door for someone else,” he added.

The latest deployment comes against the backdrop of NNPC’s transformation into a commercially oriented national energy company under the Petroleum Industry Act, which provided the framework for the company’s transition from its former structure.

The company has continued to focus on strengthening its workforce and developing technical and professional capacity as it navigates changes across Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

NNPC announced plans to recruit new employees in July 2024 under the leadership of the company’s former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.

The subsequent internship and assessment process provided the latest cohort with an opportunity to gain practical experience before being considered for permanent roles.

For the newly deployed professionals, the transition from internship to full employment marks the beginning of a new chapter rather than the end of their professional journey.

Ojulari’s emphasis on talent, hard work and fairness also presents the deployment as part of a wider effort to promote a performance-driven culture within the organisation.

As the young professionals take up their roles, the company will be looking to them to contribute fresh ideas, technical skills and new perspectives to an energy sector facing significant demands for efficiency, investment and innovation.

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The milestone offers a powerful reminder of the value of sustained professional development, while Ojulari’s appeal to the new employees to eventually “open that same door” for others places mentorship and opportunity at the heart of the company’s message to its newest generation of workers.