Seplat Energy Plc has announced a major reshaping of its Board of Directors, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s governance and long-term strategic direction. The development was disclosed in a statement published on the company’s official website, following its earlier announcement on the sale of Etablissements Maurel et Prom SA’s (M&P) 20.07 percent equity stake in Seplat Energy to a consortium led by Heirs Holdings Limited and Heirs Energies Limited.
According to the release, the Board confirmed the appointment of Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, as a Non-Executive Director, effective 22 January 2026. Widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential business leaders, Mr. Elumelu brings decades of experience spanning investment, energy, finance, and corporate governance, as well as a strong commitment to sustainable and inclusive economic development.
Mr. Elumelu is the Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, a diversified investment group with interests across strategic sectors of the African economy, including energy, power, banking, insurance, technology, real estate, hospitality, and healthcare. He also serves as Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group, Heirs Energies, and Transcorp Group. The Transcorp Group portfolio includes Transcorp Power and Transcorp Hotels Plc, Nigeria’s foremost hospitality brand.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: 2025 Trends and 2026 Outlook in Nigeria’s Agricultural and Food Systems Sector
Beyond corporate leadership, Mr. Elumelu is a globally recognised advocate for entrepreneurship and Africa-led development. In 2010, he founded The Tony Elumelu Foundation, a pan-African philanthropy dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries. His influence has been acknowledged internationally, including his inclusion on TIME Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2020 and the conferment of the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022. He also serves on several global advisory bodies, including UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited Global Leadership Council and the International Monetary Fund’s Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth.
The release also confirmed the resignation of Mr. Olivier Cleret De Langavant as a Non-Executive Director, effective 22 January 2026, following the completion of M&P’s divestment. Mr. Langavant joined the Seplat Energy Board on 28 January 2020 as a nominee of M&P and, over the past six years, played a key role in providing strategic and technical guidance that supported the company’s operational growth and resilience during a period of transformation.
Commenting on the changes, Seplat Energy’s Chairman, Mr. Udoma Udo Udoma, expressed the Board’s appreciation for Mr. Langavant’s contributions and confidence in the company’s future direction.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: Inside Davos: Steven Bartlett, Brett Taylor on Scaling Trust, Technology, and Next Wave of AI Companies
“On behalf of the Board and Management, I wish to express our profound appreciation to Mr. Langavant for his outstanding contribution to Seplat Energy over the past six years. His expertise and commitment have been instrumental in driving our strategic initiatives,” he said. “We warmly welcome Mr. Elumelu to the Board and look forward to leveraging his wealth of experience and leadership as we continue to pursue sustainable growth and value creation for all stakeholders.”
The Board noted that the appointment of Mr. Elumelu is expected to further strengthen Seplat Energy’s governance framework, reinforce its long-term growth ambitions, and deepen its commitment to sustainable value creation within Nigeria’s energy sector and the broader African economy.
